In this NGPF Speaker Series episode, financial educator and investor Paul Merriman discusses the value of target date funds and teaching young people long-term investing habits. He notes that investing today is “more efficient, cheaper, and more diversified than ever,” making it far easier for beginners to get a strong start. He explains why target date funds now receive over half of new 401(k) contributions, calling them “the best thing I’ve seen happen for investors” because they automatically manage allocation throughout a lifetime. Paul emphasizes the power of compounding and low fees, reminding listeners that even a small cost difference can mean more than a million dollars over time. He also warns about the rise of gambling and crypto speculation among young people, saying he “could never encourage anyone to put money into something I can’t explain or value.” Listen to the full podcast to learn more. Join Us LIVE this Week with Intuit Co-Founder Tom Proulx The weekly Thursday NGPF Speaker Series virtual PD becomes the next NGPF Podcast episode. When you join live, you can ask questions in real time and connect with the speaker and other teachers. Tom Proulx will discuss Intuit's mission and offerings, including real-world tools like TurboTax, QuickBooks, and Credit Karma. He'll also share tools they offer to help teens build money skills as well as professional development for teachers. Register now for tonight's event (11/13) with Tom Proulx.