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| The CV Bethel Junior Investor team is flanked by coaches Tiffany Johnson (left) and Marilyn Fowler (right). CV Bethel is a past winner of the Junior Investor programme. Photo by Donald Knowles | |
Usually when students get together to gaze over the newspaper, it’s usually to take a gander at the Funnies, or the gossip column; however, Marilyn Fowler’s Business class at CV Bethel Senior High School is one of about a dozen in Nassau using the papers to grow their stock portfolio. These classes, along with coaches like Mrs. Fowler, are participants in the Junior Investor programme, developed by leading investment and financial analysis firm CFAL, as a financial literacy course that allows students an opportunity to manage a virtual $100,000 stock portfolio.
The students are self-motivated, says Mrs. Fowler. “It feels great watching my students pore over the business section of the newspaper trying to find the right mix of shares and using the lingo. Once they started the Junior Investor, I didn’t have to motivate or coerce them to watch the business news or read the business section of the newspapers – they actually bought the paper and brought the business section to our meetings.”
The class of 12 has individual career aspirations ranging from pharmacology to graphic design and aviation. Yet, this year, their focus is on besting their portfolio management skills that won them first place in last year’s competition.
They are also hoping to improve their knowledge of the securities industry in The Bahamas. Said the students: “We didn’t really have any misconceptions about securities – we just knew very little about it. A lesson we learnt this year is “It’s not always how much you make but how little you lose”.
“I am quite impressed that CFAL is willing to “loan” us their valuable personnel for the benefit of the young people of our nation,” said Mrs. Fowler. “I am most grateful to them for this, and then (as if that’s not already a lot) they actually give monetary prizes!”
The winner of the programme, now past its halfway point, will be determined by the school that has the highest return for their portfolio while maintaining a balanced investment strategy. The school that finishes in first place will receive $3,000. Second and third place prizes are cash awards of $2,000 and $1,000 respectively. Members of past teams are also afforded internships at CFAL.
As sponsor of the programme, CFAL donates the time of its securities analysts and traders to facilitate trade instructions and coach classes in the finer points of analyzing the Bahamian securities market and the global investment climate.
