Start your own investment club
Students who want to form a club can meet once or twice to discuss how the club should operate, and to elect its officers.
After that they can start contributing money to the club's treasury.
The first thing new club members do is set an overall policy for the club's investments, keeping in mind the club's purpose and the length of time its money will be invested.
The nitty gritty of starting a club.
Like all investors, club members want to think about when they might want to sell their stocks and use the money for some other purpose.
For example, a typical high school sophomore might want to sell her investments in about three years to use the money for college.
Stick with the stable companies
Eyleen anticipates good results.
Students who have chosen to invest for a fairly short amount of time would do best investing mainly in large, safe companies.
Anita says that her club "prefers stocks that have been good investments over a long time and are large companies because they are likely to be steady growers and less volatile."
She adds, "We are staying with more stable companies."
The companies the Youth Enterprise Club looks at have to pass this test before the club will consider investing in them.
Take time to decide
Here's a tip on how to make the most of your investments: dollar cost averaging. 
Investment clubs generally research a stock very thoroughly before deciding to buy it. Club members suggest stocks to be researched, and at a later meeting, present their findings and recommend whether the club should buy the stock they've studied.
All club members have the chance to ask questions and join in a discussion about the company and its stock.
Sydney says the Youth Enterprise Club "checks how a company's management is doing, finds out whether new products are coming out, and tries to decide if the company will continue to be prosperous."
She adds that the club will not invest in a stock if "its products have defects or if the company has a lot of debt."
The students also complete an NAIC Stock Checklist for each stock they study.
Mike says that they "try to find out what a company's main source of strength is, and its goals and plans for success." 
Madison, WI
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