Cartoons: What Can Dilbert Teach Us About Investing?
By Tim Ranzetta
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Jul 18, 2017
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Cartoons, Research, Index Funds, Investing, Teaching Strategies, Stocks, Current Events
I was doing some research for an upcoming presentation and looking for ways to bring some levity to that “heavy” topic of investing. I didn’t realize that Dilbert could be such a great source of investing advice but I found myself nodding my head in agreement as I enjoyed this series of cartoons:
Message: Don’t mistake an increase in the stock price with “pure genius” when your stock pick may have benefitted from an overall increase in the level of the stock...
Having Fun With Investing Cartoons
Here are three cartoons focused on investing and a few questions for your students to ponder:
What is happening in the cartoon?
What is the motive of the cartoonist?
What lessons can you glean from these cartoons to help your financial life?
In this case, the experts are right! Check out this NGPF Activity on Compound Interest. Create an activity to see what happens when parents invest in college saving or 529 plans when their children are born.
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Let's Make Investing Fun: Cartoons That Will Make You Laugh (and Teach You Too!)
By Tim Ranzetta
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Nov 03, 2016
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Investing, Index Funds, Teaching Strategies, Stocks, Current Events, Cartoons, compound interest
Some good laughs here but also some good messages (which I have paired with corresponding NGPF resources):
Message: With the power of compound interest, it is important to start saving as soon as possible!
NGPF Activity: Calculate Compound Interest
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Message: Take advantage of 401(k) match programs that your employer offers.
NGPF Activity: 401(k) Missing Millions
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Message: How will investors feel about robo-advisors when the stock...
Ethics Activity: The L.L. Bean Return Policy
By Tim Ranzetta
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Jul 26, 2016
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Ethics, Activity, Purchase Decisions, Current Events, Audio Resource, Activities, Cartoons
I was listening to this audio segment (20.5 minutes) of This American Life’s podcast “Get Your Money’s Worth” (Act 2: Bean Counter) about retailer L.L. Bean’s return policy and thinking “what a great discussion starter about the ethics of customer returns.” We have an ethics lesson on our curriculum roadmap so please send along any other ways that you bring ethics into your classroom.
Here are some questions for your students to ponder as they...
Let's Get Serious (or Not): Cartoons To Consider
By Tim Ranzetta
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Jul 05, 2016
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Cartoons, Mortgages, Behavioral Finance, Teaching Strategies, Advertising, Purchase Decisions, Current Events
Ran across a few cartoons that you might bring some levity to the classroom or amplify a key point.
From Barrons:
Why did I select it?
Too often people think just because the bank lends you money, you can afford to take it. Since housing is the largest purchase most people make in their lifetimes, buying too much house has long term implications
Use in conjunction with NGPF Lesson on Mortgages
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Why did I select it?
Most people do not know that they can bargain to reduce...
Cartoons: What's So Funny About Checking Accounts?
One of the teachers at the recent New Hampshire workshop mentioned how much she liked using cartoons with her personal finance classes. Well, I haven’t done a post for a long time on the topic so here is how cartoonists find humor in checking accounts:
Ask your students to research how you deposit money into an online bank.
Discuss how students can protect themselves from people hacking their bank account.
What are the most common fees associated with checking...
Activity Idea: Name and Tame The 10 Cognitive Biases That Hurt Us Financially!
By Tim Ranzetta
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May 10, 2016
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Activity, Behavioral Finance, Investing, WebQuest, Teaching Strategies, Tips for Teachers, Cartoons
Hat tip to Big Picture Blog, which shared some cartoons highlighting the cognitive biases (see Bandwagon Effect above) that we all suffer from which impact our money management decisions.
So, how to incorporate into your class?
Here is an idea:
Have students work in pairs to do online research (a Webquest of sorts) about ONE cognitive bias. You can assign them to ensure that all ten are covered.
Their research should include:
Description of what the bias is.
Three ways that this bias can...
Question: What Is Two Factor Authentication?
By Tim Ranzetta
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Mar 29, 2016
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Question of the Day, Identity Theft, Checking Accounts, New Products, Current Events, Cartoons
A good question to kick off your Identity Theft class or your checking lessons. As more and more banking shifts online, it becomes more imperative than ever for consumers to protect their log-in credentials. This is where two factor authentication comes in (full disclosure: I use two factor authentication for all of my financial accounts). This process goes one step beyond your username and password to prevent the situation described above.
From Brian Krebs blog (a noted security expert):...
Interpreting Cartoons: Credit Cards
New idea…providing you with three cartoons focused on one personal finance topic (credit cards in this post) and have students answer a few questions:
What is happening in the cartoon?
What is the motive of the cartoonist?
What lessons can you glean from these cartoons to help your financial life?
I hope you and your students enjoy these first three (I provided one takeaway to get you started):
Cartoon 1:
Takeaway: The cards may be small enough to fit in your wallet but the potential for...
