BI > FEBRUARY 2005

CompuFest 2005: Bring the Family

June 17-19, Buffalo, N.Y.

Tina Dressel

Singing star Jessica Simpson once asked, "Are Buffalo wings made from real buffalo?" If you have a shred of doubt about the answer, you can find out firsthand by coming to Buffalo for CompuFest 2005.

If you're a teen-ager with an interest in learning how to manage your money, how to invest and how to take control of your financial future (or if you're an adult with a teen-ager in your life who needs to learn money management skills), I invite you to come to Buffalo and attend the CompuFest Family Youth Program. You'll have a fun-filled weekend filled with education about financial responsibility and investing.

Financial success is within everyone's reach. The younger you are when you start investing, the less money you need to invest to become financially secure because of the effects of compounding over the long term. It's worth it to save those extra pennies and shop for bargains when you're young so that you can take advantage of compounding to the fullest.

Thinking through financial decisions is crucial but is often overlooked, especially by teens. Having the benefit of living with Mom and Dad and not having to deal with many living expenses is nice but can also put teens in a lazy mindset regarding money management. Putting all the money you can into a savings account and starting to invest early in the stock market can improve your financial future.

Think about that coffee drink you buy from Starbucks each day. How long did it take you to earn that $4 to buy it? For most teen jobs, it would take about 40 minutes (at about $6.50 an hour before taxes). Can you make your own coffee at home and save? Is it worth it to you?

There are so many instances in which we spend money unnecessarily. Taking the time to think frugally could have big payoffs down the road. While there's more to life than money, it sure doesn't hurt to be able to have the things you want when you want them.

To learn more, sign up to attend the Family Youth Program at CompuFest 2005. It will be a great chance to meet other teens from across the country while learning about personal finance. You'll have some fun, too.

The CompuFest Family Youth Program focuses on financial literacy, planning, budgeting, making intelligent choices and investing. The program is designed so that teens and adults work together to learn about finances while having fun.

Don't expect to spend CompuFest sitting in a chair and taking notes, either: While there will be some classroom-style discussions, a large portion of our program will get you involved. You'll get a chance to practice managing your money during the weekend, and we'll play some games.

You'll also have time to see what's happening elsewhere at CompuFest. Check out the CompuFest Web site (www.compufest2005.com) in the coming months for complete CompuFest program details and for additional information about the Family Youth Program.

Click to enlarge.

No Winging It When It Comes To Investment Education. Tina Dressel and Tristan Robinson will help lead the Family Youth Program at CompuFest in June.

Tristan Robinson and I are youth advisers to the Computer Group Advisory Board, and we're working hard to make the 2005 version of the CompuFest Family Youth Program an unforgettable educational experience. We're looking forward to seeing you in Buffalo.

Tina Dressel is an international accounting major at Indiana University and plans to study for an MBA. She formerly was the Youth Advisor, BetterInvesting Computer Group, and has taught at CompuFest.