Learning the ABC's of investing

Jet, August 9, 2004

Learning the ABC'S of investing: Damon Williams (2nd, l) plays Monopoly with Amber Baker (l), Ashley Baker and Brianna Jordan (r) during a meeting of the Ujamaa Junior Investment Club in Chicago. After six years of investing, Williams, 11, has a portfolio of more than 30 companies worth more than $18,000, $4,000 of that profit.

Thousands of children nationwide are members of investment clubs as a way to train and sharpen their financial skills. At meetings of Ujamaa (Swahili for cooperative economics), Williams and two other mentors lead the group in games of monopoly, talks concerning smart investing and contests. The children's club has members ranging in age from 11 to 18.