Financial Literacy
Investing Wisely: It’s Not Just for Grown-Ups Anymore By Alicia Diefenbach aking a presentation on investing? Scary? Nah, not for you. You love it in spite of the fact that public speaking is listed as America’s number one fear. There’s just one group of people that you might be terrified to talk to.You may even be going out of your way not to talk to them. They’re the most critical audience of all. They’re the audience that will fall asleep in their seats even though they know it’s rude. They will snicker at you if your joke falls flat. They won’t even try to stifle a yawn from their front row seat if you have too many pie charts in your visual presentation. They can be the most intimidating audience, and yet, strangely, the most rewarding of all when it goes well. Who are these terrifying people? Teenagers. As a former financial services regulator and now, a self-employed financial educator and consultant, I’ve taught investing, fraud prevention and personal finance skills to teenagers for the last 13 years. I assure you that you can pull together a presentation that will impress, motivate, and entertain your teen audience using a handful of foolproof techniques.
Disregard What You Know about Impressing Grown-Ups
Everything you were taught to do to impress grown ups? Toss it out the window and do the opposite. Teens have, on average, 12 to 15 adults telling them what to do every day. You’re just another one until you show them you really might not fit into the grown up world so easily.They understand alienation. If you are scared of talking to them, admit it. If you know your topic is traditionally viewed as boring, confess this right up front. Tell them you really care about showing them a new way to look at things that changes those preconceived notions about investing. Let them know you want their feedback afterward so you can www.wscpa.org
There’s just one group of people that you might be terrified to talk to. You may even be going out of your way not to talk to them.
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improve the next presentation and ask if they’ve changed their perspective on the subject. Be prepared for a direct critique, but that’s a good thing. It let’s you know they listened.
Own Your Mistakes
Dramatic mistakes make for great illustrations of the time value of money. This can be difficult for some adults, but it works if you’re honest with them. Confess to that embarrassing Tasmanian Devil tattoo a friend dared you to get on spring break back in 1998, and show them how much the cost of that tattoo would be worth if you’d invested the money instead. Tell them about the brand new car you bought, and how the interest paid compounded for the loan company instead of you. Tell them how much that car cost you over time. Don’t judge their spending purchases. Avoid suggesting they stop upgrading their phones or drinking coffee with their friends. Teens are smart. If you tell them that everyone has a choice, that they can trade two coffee drinks a week today for a six figure payout from their IRA down
the road, you’ll raise some eyebrows – in a good way.
Be Sensitive to Social Issues and Keep it Appropriate
Today’s teens are politically active and socially aware. They value diversity in gender, heritage, and life choices more so than any previous generation. Avoid jokes about social or political causes. Instead of saying “husband” or “wife,” say “spouse” or “partner.” Use “he” and “she” alternately. Don’t assume everyone in your audience can respectfully sit through a presentation. If you have audience members who seem as if they are misbehaving, it could be the method they use to cope with having to quietly sit still as a result of a medical condition. Ask your host in advance about any specific challenges students might be facing during your presentation and ask for guidance and support ahead of time.
Money is Power, But Who Cares?
Today’s teens seem more motivated about their impact on the world than
WashingtonCPA September/October 2012
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