Investing to prepare for your future self – Alternative Lesson
Project summary
Over the course of ten days, you will assume two roles.
Role #1: You will explore, analyze, evaluate, and select investing options such as stocks, bonds, and mutual
funds for a stock market competition. You will explore and present the advantages and disadvantages of
alternative investments such as entrepreneurial ventures, real estate opportunities, and commodities. (Do
NOT split up topics. Research individually, collaborate, and create a collective finished product.)
You will present to the class the investment selections you made for the competition, justifying each decision
with supporting financial ratios and convincing rationale. You will include in your presentation at least one
alternative investment recommendation. Your peers will evaluate your presentation, and score your choices.
Role #2: You will evaluate your peers’ presentation, and score their selected investment choices.
Presentation requirement checklist
5-minute presentation
PowerPoint or similar presentation tool
Presenters did NOT read off the slides during presentation
Learning goals were met
Investment selections were convincing
Developing the presentation and presenting was a collaborative effort
Learning goals to clearly illustrate in the presentation
Illustrate how the key investing principles outlined in the first unit lesson can be used to achieve the goal of
increasing net worth.
- Why it is important to start young?
- What is the difference between a fiduciary and suitability standard?
- Why is important to consider hiring a financial planner who must adhere to the fiduciary standard?
- What is the advantage of automating investment contributions?
- Why should employees fully match a 401k before investing in an IRA?
Cite specific investment strategies applied in the investing plan that take into consideration time horizon of
the investment, the degree of diversification, the investor’s risk tolerance, how the assets are selected and
allocated, product costs, fees, tax implications and the time value of money.
- Over time, what type of financial investment returns the most? (Stocks, bonds, mutual funds)
- What diversification strategy did you select to win the 10-week Stock Market Game?
- What investments do you believe will have the greatest return over ten weeks? Justify.
- How would your diversification strategy differ from a long term investing strategy?
- How did you weigh risk vs. reward, and what was your appetite for taking on risk (risk tolerance)?
- What types of fees are associated with purchasing investments in the Stock Market Game?
- What are two specific tax advantages of a ROTH IRA or ROTH 401k?
- What are two specific tax advantages of a traditional IRA or traditional 401k?
- Why must investing earnings outpace inflation?
Name at least one government agency charged with regulating providers of financial services to help protect
investors.
Schedule
Day
Rules &
Project
Overview
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Investing
Principles
Stocks
Bonds
Mutual
Funds
Alternative
Investments
Make final
investment
selections –
Finalize
presentation
Presentations &
Test
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
Resources: All project resources can be found in my online classroom in the investing unit.
Rubric
Requirements
Learning Goals
0-5 Points (F)
Team failed to
exhibit stated
learning goals.
6 Points (D)
Team exhibited
some stated
learning goals.
7 Points (C)
Team exhibited
most stated
learning goals.
8 Points (B)
Team exhibited
all stated
learning goals.
Learning Goals
Team failed to
exhibit stated
learning goals.
Team exhibited
some stated
learning goals.
Team exhibited
most stated
learning goals.
Team exhibited
all stated
learning goals.
Learning Goals
Team failed to
exhibit stated
learning goals.
Team exhibited
some stated
learning goals.
Team exhibited
most stated
learning goals.
Team exhibited
all stated
learning goals.
Presentation
Checklist
Team failed to
meet most
presentation
checklist
criteria.
Peers would
never invest
with your
group.
Team failed to
meet much
presentation
checklist
criteria.
Some peers
would consider
investing with
your group.
Team failed to
meet some
presentation
checklist
criteria.
Many peers
would consider
investing with
your group.
Team met the
presentation
checklist
criteria.
9-10 Points (A)
Team exhibited
all stated
learning goals
with clear depth
of knowledge.
Team exhibited
all stated
learning goals
with clear depth
of knowledge.
Team exhibited
all stated
learning goals
with clear depth
of knowledge.
Team met the
presentation
checklist criteria
with excellence.
Most peers
would consider
investing with
your group.
All peers would
consider
investing with
your group.
Peer Review
Total x 2