Saving & Investing

Never underestimate the power of a well-pinched penny – Anonymous

At the end of this workshop series, students will be able to:

Explain the difference between saving & investing.
Explain why saving and investing are necessary to accumulate lasting wealth.
Weigh the risks and returns of various financial assets including stocks, bonds, real estate and commodities.
Open a retirement account, buy and sell investments in such an account, and estimate all related transaction costs.
Explain what economic cycles are and why they’re likely to influence the future returns of different investments.
Discuss the pros-and-cons of investing for retirement in a Roth IRA vs. a 401K.
Evaluate different sources of investment information.
Explain how federal agencies protect investors.

Only 20% of Americans feel confident in their ability to make good investment decisions.

-- Boston Research Group

In a survey by USAA, 86% of teenagers rely on their parents for financial guidance. Meanwhile, 49% of parents rate their own financial knowledge is “okay” or “terrible.”

-- Money Magazine

Adults in this country with a net-worth of $1 million or more: 1.2%. High-schoolers who expect to become millionaires by age 40: 39%.

-- Money Magazine

This year, more people will file for bankruptcy than will graduate college; more Americans will file for bankruptcy than will divorce.

-- Natalie Ghidott, In Too Deep

Approximately 40% of families live off 110% of their incomes.

-- The Observer

On average, adolescents spend roughly $264 a month.

-- Coinstar, Inc.

One-in-five workers making $100,000 or more lives from paycheck to paycheck.

-- Careerbuilder.com

Median student-debt carried by college graduates: $16,432.

-- Kiplinger

Ninety-seven percent of workers over the age of 45 regret how they spent their money, in light of how much they could have saved.

-- Oakland Tribune, Money Mondays

It can take decades to pay off a $3,000 credit card balance by making only the minimum monthly payment.

-- My Vesta Organization

American households, on average, have saved only $40,000 for retirement.

-- Merrill Lynch, Retirement Preparedness Survey

Only seven states (Alabama, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Kentucky, New York, and Utah) require students to demonstrate a minimum level of proficiency in personal finance before graduating high school.

-- NCEF, Survey of the States

Sixty-four percent of consumers ages 18 to 24 don't know what interest rate they’re paying on their credit card(s).

-- My Vesta Organization

Personal bankruptcy filings in the United States jumped 40 percent in 2007.

-- Washington Post

Only 25% of Americans feel confident in their ability to manage their personal finances.

-- Fleet Boston

Seventy-percent of Americans live from paycheck to paycheck.

-- ComPsych

Forty-two percent of employees ages 25 to 34 don’t invest in a 401K.

-- Vanguard

Young adults, ages 18-to-24, are the fastest growing group of bankruptcy declarers.

--Barron's

Though 80% of college upperclassmen rate themselves as “financially knowledgeable,” many will still make mistakes that could tarnish their credit history.

-- BusinessWeek

From a survey of employees from 1,000 different companies, 28% reported that they are “one major setback away from financial disaster.”

-- Money Magazine

Saving & Investing

Never underestimate the power of a well-pinched penny – Anonymous

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