New data from Federal Reserve provides a great jumping off point for classroom discussion and a chance to refine students’ analytical skills.  Here are some sample questions:

1)  Why do you think the percentage of households holding stock has declined for almost every income group since 2007?  Which group had the sharpest decline?  

2)  BONUS:  How has the stock market performed since it bottomed in 2008?

3)  What are the implications of this trend (fewer households investing in the stock market) in the long-term?  

About the Author

Tim Ranzetta

Tim's saving habits started at seven when a neighbor with a broken hip gave him a dog walking job. Her recovery, which took almost a year, resulted in Tim getting to know the bank tellers quite well (and accumulating a savings account balance of over $300!). His recent entrepreneurial adventures have included driving a shredding truck, analyzing executive compensation packages for Fortune 500 companies and helping families make better college financing decisions. After volunteering in 2010 to create and teach a personal finance program at Eastside College Prep in East Palo Alto, Tim saw firsthand the impact of an engaging and activity-based curriculum, which inspired him to start a new non-profit, Next Gen Personal Finance.