Investing for the Future

Youth are developing an interest in investing at younger and younger ages – and beginning to invest earlier in life as opportunities to invest easily money are growing. It is important that youth know the various types of investments that exist and how they differ in terms of risks, possible reward, and costs. Youth should be aware that the higher return one seeks, the higher the risk of loss will be. There are important aspects of investing that will be important for youth to learn about – such as diversification, knowing your risk tolerance, how investment goals can change over the life cycle, and how investing is often key to increasing the value of savings and achieving longer term important life goals.

Please Note: Teaching Units provided are for support and consideration by teachers and are not prescriptive.

Learning Map and Supports for Instruction

The “Learning Map” identifies teaching opportunities in Alberta’s curriculum for each topic and you will find them as part of the Support Teaching Materials provided here. Teachers can, of course, integrate the target areas of financial knowledge, skills, attitudes, and behaviours anywhere they can find a fit. The Supports for Instruction provide videos, animations, and links to other resources to support teachers in their efforts to improve the financial literacy of their students.

Investing Money - Division IV: Gr. 10-12

Knowledge

  • Reasons why people invest money

  • How investing can increase the value of savings and help achieve goals

  • Different kinds of basic investments (GICs, stocks, bonds, mutual funds) and the concept of an investment portfolio

  • How various kinds of investments can differ in terms of risk and potential return

  • Different kinds of investment income (interest, dividends, capital gains) and differences in how they are taxed

  • Fees that can apply to acquiring, managing or selling some investments

  • How risk is different for different investments

  • How risk tolerance varies among people and why

  • Factors that can impact a person’s tolerance for risk when investing

  • Investments with potential high returns also come with higher risk

  • The impact of risk tolerance and can have on investment decisions

  • How diversifying investments helps to reduce risk

  • The impact compound interest can have on saving and investments

  • Calculate how much will be needed, and how to save, for their future education or training

  • How risk tolerance or appropriate levels of investment risk can change over time

  • Consider times when a financial adviser might help make better financial decisions

  • Understand there are usually fees to get help from an adviser

Skills

  • Verify sources and quality of information that can affect their financial decisions and actions

  • How to acquire different kinds of investments

  • Make an investment of time, effort, ideas, money to improve something in their class, school, or community

  • How to assess one’s tolerance for risk when making investment decisions

  • Explain how investments in stocks can earn money and lose money

  • Calculate interest that will be earned on a savings account or GIC investment over a certain period of time

  • If possible, participate in an investment simulation to acquire investment knowledge and skills

  • Sources of advice, and possible fees, if help is needed with investing

Attitudes/Behaviours

  • Look for opportunities to improve things by investing time, ideas, innovative thinking, and money

  • Make investments they understand and avoid investments they don’t understand

  • Use reliable, licensed, registered advisers as needed to help with investment decisions and purchases

  • Diversity investments to reduce risk

  • Invest in keeping with their risk tolerance

  • Review investments over time and adjust as needed