Investment tips for 9 year old?

[fiddlefaddle]

My daughter is finishing up 4th grade and did a stock market simulation and some basic learning about finance at school this year. She's been very interested in what she's learned and has been asking lots of questions. She has a bank account and some money in an index fund and she's been checking the balances, asking about interest rates on those, etc.

But what she really wants is to pick and buy her own stocks. I think it would be a great learning experience for her. We're talking small amounts of money here, maybe $100 to start and some allowance money over time.

Has anyone done something like this with their kids? What's the best (cheapest) way I can help her buy stocks? I don't want to spend more on transaction fees than she invests!

[the_gastropod]

You could use https://robinhood.com, which charges no trade fees. Alternatively, you could simulate it yourself with an excel/google spreadsheet. Google Sheets have access to stock info (https://support.google.com/docs/answer/3093281?hl=en), so it should be pretty easy to setup.

[Frugal D]

I pray my child wants to start investing at age 9.

[fiddlefaddle]

You could use https://robinhood.com, which charges no trade fees. Alternatively, you could simulate it yourself with an excel/google spreadsheet. Google Sheets have access to stock info (https://support.google.com/docs/answer/3093281?hl=en), so it should be pretty easy to setup.

Thanks! I'll take a look at Robin Hood. That sounds like a good option. Also good to know about Google Sheets. She has a Gmail account and it's never to early to begin the next generation of spreadsheet nerdiness!

I pray my child wants to start investing at age 9.

Ha ha, exactly!

[texastumbleweed]

wow!  robinhood.com is amazing.