Vancouver, BC (March 16, 2001): The job of parents and grandparents in educating their children and grandchildren on the values of investing is a true long-term process. We naturally want them to mature into young adults who are ready, willing and confident to look after their investments needs.

Therefore, to succeed in teaching children a series of investment values, fee-only investment counsel Adrian Mastracci notes, "School investment clubs are a great way for students to learn about the principles of investing."

Mastracci, president of Vancouver based KCM Wealth Management, comments, "The school investment club environment is very conducive to learning the art and science of investing. With some cooperation among school administrators, parents and grandparents, the environment for learning can be made to be fun while the same time very effective in teaching children the values of investing."

"I am a fan of school investment clubs because they teach children the methodology of investing that will help them secure their own financial success when they venture out," says Mastracci, "Thankfully, there is a vast amount of helpful resources for schools to initiate and maintain a successful student investment club."

Mastracci offers these thoughts for a successful school investment club:

• Make the process a fun experience for all participants within an environment conducive for learning. Don't forget the social atmosphere aspects.
• The first ingredient is for school administrators, parents and grandparents to get involved with the students and work together towards establishing a successful school club. This is an absolute must for all participants.
• Review the resources available from the Canadian Shareowners Association (CSA) found at www.shareowner.ca and the National Association of Investors Corporation (NAIC) found at www.better-investing.org that may be very helpful in assisting with the formation and operation of a school club.
• Decide whether the school will support of the cost of startup and running the investment club, or whether the invitation of a local business to help sponsoring the club is valuable.
• Get the students involved from the beginning, prepare the mission statement and goals of the club, the responsibilities of the various club positions and elect the officers of the club.
• Delegate the club responsibilities to a sufficient number of students so that nobody is overloaded and becomes disenchanted.
• Allow students the decision of whether the club will invest actual funds or whether it will begin with a mock paper portfolio.
• Involve the students in the decision of how much money to invest and how often.
• Render the club mission statement, goals, rules and regulations into writing and establish the duration and frequency of club meetings.
• Invite speakers from the investment community and investment media to club meetings to present their perspective on a chosen topic.
• Keep in mind that the club meetings should be fun. Perhaps have a slice of pizza for everyone at some of the meetings.
• For new investment clubs, devote the first two or three meetings learning and adopting the CSA and/or NAIC resource materials and strategies.
• Ideally, each student should select a stock, conduct the research and make a presentation to the group. If the club is sufficiently large, the students can work in groups of two or more.
• Decide how many stocks will make up the club portfolio. Of course, select the stocks from the student presentations.
• If possible, put the club and its portfolio online, perhaps on the school web site and the CSA or NAIC sponsored club links.
• Schedule one or two club visits per year to a local brokerage house, a company head office near you, a company annual general meeting, a stock exchange or a financial analyst meeting.
• Encourage debate and follow up, especially on the stocks not chosen for the club portfolio. Revisit the decisions periodically to include stocks that may have been previously turned down.
• Have the club make a presentation in front of an outside party, say at another school considering starting a club, to a service group or to investment professionals. Don't overlook a student presentation to the parents, grandparents and family members.
• Hold stock selection contests within the group, say a portfolio of at least eight stocks from at least five different industries. Report on this at each meeting and provide a prize to the annual winner.
• Discuss club strategy for when the school year ends. Generate awareness in the school newspaper, school web site and community newspapers to recruit students for the next school year so that the club can keep going. Send student members to speak to other classes and share their club investment experiences.

"School investment clubs are great environments to learn the methodology of investing," added Mastracci, "The clubs are very satisfying accomplishments for the students."

Mastracci summarizes, "An abundance of work and effort goes into the making of a successful school investment club. All that work will eventually mould the children into young adults with investment savvy - an accomplishment you will be very proud of as a parent, grandparent or school administrator. I've always said that this marathon is well worth your commitment."