Lance Barnard

My name is Lance Barnard and devloped this website as a junior at the Montclair Kimberley Academy in Montclair, New Jersey. I am currently a freshman at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas majoring in business.  I have always been interested in investments, the stock market and the economy.  At first I invested in a virtual stock exchange.  But as I have learned more about the the financial markets, I have been investing my own money, most which I have earned.  Since Community service is a very important part of my life, for years, I have taken some of my profits and lend it, interest free to wonderful organization called KIVA (www.kiva.org).  Their mission is to alleviate poverty by lending money to entrepeneurs across the globe so they can help themselves.  I also have helped others with their investments, not just in the stock market but in other areas such as micro financing.

My financial education has come from an internship with Context Capital Partners, The Business World course at Cornell University, being Treasurer of my class (for 5 years), books newspapers, magazines, research on the web and an investment portfolio manager to name just a few sources.  In addition, my mother allowed me to open my own bank account, with an ATM card and online banking privileges, from which I learned about banking and fiscal responsibility.

Helping a senior citizen with his online banking, bill paying and managing his finances provided me with additional practical experience in the financial area.  My interest and knowledge in finances have prompted both teens and adults to ask me questions about the market and investments.  I have helped form a stock market club at my school, so students can share information and learn more about the market.  However, I am just at the start of my financial education, a life-long pursuit.

Unfortunately, I have found that most high schools no longer teach basic finance to students. Kids are leaving school unprepared to handle money.  Not just investing, but more importantly earning, saving and even making smart purchasing /spending decisions.  Some parents are well-equipped to teach their children about finances, and they do so.  However, many other parents either don’t have a firm grasp on finances or don’t take the time to discuss the subject with their kids.  This can lead to confusion and in some cases disaster.

Creating a site where teens can learn about finances is what motivated me to create this Website in January, 2010.  I don’t claim to be an “expert” on finance, I have much to learn.  This site does not make stock picks or recommend how you should invest your money.  Rather, it introduces you to important financial subjects and provides information on the basics of Earning, Saving, Investing and yes, Spending your money.  It also provides links to trusted expert sites.

I would also like to thank Wendy Love Barnard, who helped with the research and development of this site.

Lance Barnard