12 y/o wants to learn about the stock market and investing

[Anonymous]

12 y/o wants to learn about the stock market and investing. Any good online classes/programs for that age? Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Not really what you're asking - but I went through a similar phase at about the same age, and I have a suggestion for you. My dad let me pick a stock every month to put $25 in, and he provided the $25. He also brought me along to a meeting with his stock broker so I could learn a bit, but that's optional, I think. The only rule was - this was retirement money, I was not to touch it before then, and when I grew up, I would keep it going, with my own money, at least $25 a month. As the novelty wore off, I'd pick one and have it be the stock for the next several months. Sometime in college, I switched to funds rather than picking stocks. When I got my first job out of college, we switched the account to be totally in my own name, and switched the $25 a month to be coming from my checking account. At that point, it had a few thousand dollars in it, nothing huge. But this was the start of my retirement account.

I've never had a job that offered a 401(k) match (it was either nothing, or they just put in X% of your salary), so I've always just kept up with this transfer. Changed financial planners at some point. Now at age 36, put in way more than $25 a month (obviously), but even in times of unemployment/underemployment, I've always put in at least $25 every month.

That habit was worth way more than the $3k or so that Dad shelled out for this. So many people wake up at age 29 and realized they haven't saved a penny. I've always been ahead of the curve! Something to consider.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not really what you're asking - but I went through a similar phase at about the same age, and I have a suggestion for you. My dad let me pick a stock every month to put $25 in, and he provided the $25. He also brought me along to a meeting with his stock broker so I could learn a bit, but that's optional, I think. The only rule was - this was retirement money, I was not to touch it before then, and when I grew up, I would keep it going, with my own money, at least $25 a month. As the novelty wore off, I'd pick one and have it be the stock for the next several months. Sometime in college, I switched to funds rather than picking stocks. When I got my first job out of college, we switched the account to be totally in my own name, and switched the $25 a month to be coming from my checking account. At that point, it had a few thousand dollars in it, nothing huge. But this was the start of my retirement account.

I've never had a job that offered a 401(k) match (it was either nothing, or they just put in X% of your salary), so I've always just kept up with this transfer. Changed financial planners at some point. Now at age 36, put in way more than $25 a month (obviously), but even in times of unemployment/underemployment, I've always put in at least $25 every month.

That habit was worth way more than the $3k or so that Dad shelled out for this. So many people wake up at age 29 and realized they haven't saved a penny. I've always been ahead of the curve! Something to consider.

Nice! I like this approach! Thank you for sharing your story.

[Anonymous]

Open a Robinhood account but it has to be under your name. It's easy, cheap and you get a free stock.

[Anonymous]

one of the best ways to learn about the nature of markets (herds, panic selling, etc) is to get a Predict It account. Because the scale is so much smaller, you can learn about these patterns more easily and more quickly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not really what you're asking - but I went through a similar phase at about the same age, and I have a suggestion for you. My dad let me pick a stock every month to put $25 in, and he provided the $25. He also brought me along to a meeting with his stock broker so I could learn a bit, but that's optional, I think. The only rule was - this was retirement money, I was not to touch it before then, and when I grew up, I would keep it going, with my own money, at least $25 a month. As the novelty wore off, I'd pick one and have it be the stock for the next several months. Sometime in college, I switched to funds rather than picking stocks. When I got my first job out of college, we switched the account to be totally in my own name, and switched the $25 a month to be coming from my checking account. At that point, it had a few thousand dollars in it, nothing huge. But this was the start of my retirement account.

I've never had a job that offered a 401(k) match (it was either nothing, or they just put in X% of your salary), so I've always just kept up with this transfer. Changed financial planners at some point. Now at age 36, put in way more than $25 a month (obviously), but even in times of unemployment/underemployment, I've always put in at least $25 every month.

That habit was worth way more than the $3k or so that Dad shelled out for this. So many people wake up at age 29 and realized they haven't saved a penny. I've always been ahead of the curve! Something to consider.

Father's day is coming up and I think you should thank your dad for teaching you about the stock market. I bet he would get a kick out of it.

[Anonymous]

Outschool has some classes online on the stock market right now...

[Anonymous]

Here’s a financial literacy site on it - my kids have learned a lot:
https://www.personalfinancelab.com/

[Anonymous]

MarketWatch has a simulator account thing where you can trade real stocks with "pretend money", I think there are a few others out there if you google. My 11 y/o has been doing one with his father