Intro to Investing: A Middle School Competition with Wharton Global Youth

About This Course

Developing strong financial skills has never been more fun! Using a world-class stock market simulation from business education leader Wharton Global Youth Program, you and your teammates will start with $100,000 to build a solid investment plan, competing with other teams to create the most robust strategy for meeting your client’s financial goals amidst a volatile market. This competition framework is designed to get you thinking about financial goals while making decisions based on a real client’s needs. Throughout the course, you'll make adjustments to your investment plan, constantly evaluating your progress. Top participants will be recognized based on their insights and planning, and each student will earn a certificate upon submitting their final project.

In this course you will:

• Understand key investment concepts and put your skills to the test with the Wharton Investment Simulation (WInS) and $100,000 in virtual funds
• Develop a plan and make adjustments based on a real client’s needs
• Apply analytical thinking to stock investments
• Embrace creativity to differentiate your team's strategy
• Work with a team of peers to create and execute on a shared vision

Sample Schedule

Sessions 1-5: Investing 101
Begin by building a collaborative investment team on the Wharton Investment Simulator (WInS). As you explore the world of risks and return, you’ll track stocks in real time using the Google Finance API with mathematical formulas and charts to analyze historical prices and changes in the current market.

Sessions 6-10: Personal Financial Planning
While building your team’s stock portfolio for your client, you’ll analyze high-risk investment situations like cryptocurrency and GME, and then develop your own sense of financial literacy by designing budgets and crunching numbers to see how investments, rent, and expenses play against net income.

Your Child's Certification

The Wharton Global Youth Program and iD Tech grant a certificate of completion to participants. To receive the certificate, teams must submit their final projects at the conclusion of the course.

After successful completion of the course, your child’s blockchain encrypted digital certificate will be emailed to you, at no additional cost, with the name you used when registering for the course. All certificate images are for illustrative purposes only and may be subject to change at the discretion of Wharton and iD Tech.

Learn from the best.

• 100% USA-based, adult instructors
• Recruited from top universities like Stanford, Caltech, and NYU
• Rigorous background and reference checks
• Robust training programs and certification
• Adherence to American Camp Association accredited guidelines

When does your teen want to learn?

School Year 2022-2023: Weekly for 10 Weeks Supercharge your teen’s school year with an online group class meeting once a week for 10 weeks! For maximum flexibility, you can choose the ideal day of week and time to learn—perfect for teens juggling multiple after-school activities! Each two-hour session includes a live instructor, individual attention, and access to exclusive curriculum. Office hours are included for further help and personalized guidance.

Summer 2023: Daily for 2 Weeks Maximize your teen’s summer learning with an online group class meeting Monday-Friday for two weeks! This focused schedule will help them boost their resume as quickly as possible, with plenty of summer left for travel, hangouts with friends, and other favorite activities. Each two-hour session includes a live instructor, individual attention, and access to exclusive curriculum. Office hours are included for further help and personalized guidance.

What Parents Are Asking

Why does my child need this course?
A survey of U.S. youths revealed that 18% of respondents did not possess fundamental financial skills that are used in everyday life, like budgeting, comparison shopping, and reading invoices (youth.gov). This course will help your child build their knowledge by immersing them in real-world situations where they can put their insights and planning skills to the test.

Is this course right for my child?
This course is ideal for business and finance-minded students interested in investing, leadership, and management. It’s also perfect for those who want to boost their college resumes with official certification and prepare for the prestigious Wharton Global High School Investment Competition!

Is this course right for kids who are new to finance?
Yes! Kids of all skill levels will benefit from this course. Our iD Tech instructors provide individual attention so each child can progress at their own pace.

What are the technical requirements for this course?
In order for your child to participate, they will need a Mac or Windows computer, webcam, and stable internet connection with access to Zoom video conferencing. Curriculum will be delivered through Canvas.

How will my child receive their certificate?
After successful completion of the course, your child’s blockchain encrypted digital certificate will be emailed to you, at no additional cost, with the name you used when registering for the course. All certificate images are for illustrative purposes only and may be subject to change at the discretion of Wharton and iD Tech.

Will Wharton faculty be teaching this course?
This course is taught by live iD Tech instructors and features content from Wharton.