The Blog

Teens Learn to Invest at Washington Business Week in SW Washington State

March 26, 2010

Filed under: Investor Education In Your Community, News, Saving — Alicia @ 10:23 pm

Business tycoons from southwest WA?  All under the age of 20?  Yep.  All thanks to  the Washington Business Week program, local business and education professionals, and the generous sponsorship of the IPT and WA State’s DFI.

60 teens spent this school week learning how to become the next generation of successful business professionals.  Divided into teams and led by educators and business professionals in tandem, students competed with one another over the course of the week while running a business simulation to become the most profitable business. 

In addition to learning how to run a lucrative business, these teens learned about the stewardship responsibilities associated with being a successful professional.  Learning how to treat value co-workers, to respect the environment, and how to plan for emergencies beyond our control – all of these are skills needed in today’s workplace.

Students also had the chance to learn about creating and building their own most profitable life.  Through a generous grant from the Investor Protection Trust and the Support of the Dept. Of Financial Institutions, teens heard the Investor Education in Your Community presentation and learned about the magic of compounding interest and the ease with which tomorrow’s nest egg is created by a commitment to saving just a little bit each and every day.

When the audience was asked who would be starting on the path of saving and investing for the future, over 75% of the hands in the room went up. 

When investor education reaches the ears and eyes of teens, everybody wins.

Seattle Teens Battle Identity Theft, Learn to Save

March 18, 2010

Filed under: Credit University, News — Alicia @ 5:58 pm

You know you’re making a difference in the classroom when at the end of your presentation, students ask if they can stay an extra hour to learn more about money.  That’s what happened yesterday in Cindy Kegley’s class at Nathan Hale High School in Seattle.

Cindy  knows full well the difference credit unions are making in the classroom.  Every year she invites the credit union sponsored Credit University program into her classroom at Nathan Hale High School in Seattle.  Students in class learn how to avoid identity theft, use credit wisely, and save for the future the smart way:  In partnership with a credit union.

Yesterday, Kegley’s students learned how a lost cell phone without password protection can make their social and financial identities easily accessible to identity thieves.  They also learned the importance of shredding their junk mail, and being smarter about what they post on their profiles. 

In addition to avoiding identity theft, students learned how being a victim of this crime can impact their credit.  Understanding the importance of earning and maintaining a good credit score was also emphasized, and at the end of the day, students knew that when it comes to earning interest on their personal savings, it’s rare to find anyone willing to pay them more interest on their savings than a local credit union.

Schools interested in bringing Credit University to their classrooms can reach us at ach (at) aliciahaus (dot) com.

How Many Millions Will You Need? White Pass, WA Learns to Save and Invest

March 16, 2010

Filed under: Investor Education In Your Community, Saving — Alicia @ 11:45 pm

How much do you need to retire?  Just ask the students at White Pass High School. 

While answers varied from as high as a billion dollars to considerably less, most agreed that one million dollars would buy them a retirement that started around their 60s.  While the actual dollar amount varied, the answer is ultimately the same:  Retirement costs a heck of a lot, and these students knew it.

During the Washington Business Week business and free enterprise education program at White Pass High School this week, local business professionals and educators are teaming up to teach students the skills they will need both in their personal, and professional lives.  As part of the program, students had the opportunity to experience the Investor Education in Your Community program.

The investing basics presentation for teens asked students to look at retirement as something we all purchase for ourselves.  When you’re young, time is on your side and compounding interest will do the work for you.  You have the option to purchase that one million dollar retirement at a reduced rate of savings and let the compounding interest do most of the work for you. 

Wait until you’re in your 20s, and it costs much more.  Wait until you’re in your 30s, and you’ll have to save more than 10 times what it would cost you in your teens… and you still end up with one million dollars.

Students were invited to ask and answer the following question:  Do you want to pay more, or less, for the retirement you will someday purchase?   By the end of the presentation, many agreed that saving consistently for the future while young is not only smart, but it allows you to use more of your hard earned dollars for the things you care about while you’re young. 

These students are lucky to be led by a crack team of local business professionals and educators.  I had the pleasure of  meeting and presenting to this group of leaders later in the day.

Discussing the most common types of investment fraud and the resources and services that the WA State Dept of Financial Institutions offers to Washingtonians, these WBW advisors learned how to identify, avoid, and report the most common types of investment fraud.  Additionally, they learned about the role of the Investor Protection Trust and how unbiased, non-commercial resources are a must when it comes to safely and wisely investing.

Want investor education in your community?  Get in touch!  Investor Education in Your Community wants to hear from you!

Bothell High School Students Receive the Credit University Experience

March 10, 2010

Filed under: Credit University — Alicia @ 7:26 pm

Madeleine asked a great question in class.

‘My sister is getting a ton of magazines she didn’t order. Could someone have stolen her identity’?

The answer? Perhaps. Madeleine learned that her sister’s best course of action was to cancel the subscriptions and check her credit report. Those 18 and over can obtain their credit reports for free at www.annualcreditreport.com. Looking at her credit report will reveal if someone is using her personal information for more than just a prank.

Identity theft prevention, credit scores and how they work, and understanding how to get the best interest rate on their savings (pssst… it’s by banking with a Credit Union) are just some of the cool financial literacy morsels that Mr. Ley’s students got to snack on earlier this week.

If you’re looking for more information on identity theft, credit, and savings, check out these sweet resources.