Lesson
Investment Fees & Taxes
Summary
Every investment quietly takes a cut before gains land, through fund fees, trading costs, and taxes. This lesson unpacks how expense ratios and capital gains taxes can make or break long-term returns.
Bellringer: The $10,000 Disappearing Act
- Pose: two investors, same returns, very different ending balances — why?
- Quick pair-share on what could account for the gap.
Instruction
- Walk through expense ratios, capital gains, and dividend taxation.
- Use slide examples to anchor each concept.
Activity: Investment Calculator Scenarios
- Students model investments over 30 years at different fee levels using the Banzai Investment Calculator.
- Run two scenarios separately: a one-time $5,000 lump sum, then a recurring $100/month contribution.
- Compare outcomes across fee levels and discuss findings.
Discussion: Holding-Period Strategy
- Debrief calculator results — surface the biggest fee gap students found.
- Work through the 9-month holding scenario to show how patience converts short-term gains to long-term.
Wrap-Up & Assessment
- What's the difference between short-term and long-term capital gains taxes?
- Why does a 1% expense ratio matter over decades?
| Est. Time | Activity | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 5 min | Bellringer: The $10,000 Disappearing Act |
|
| 10 min | Instruction |
|
| 18 min | Activity: Investment Calculator Scenarios |
|
| 7 min | Discussion: Holding-Period Strategy |
|
| 5 min | Wrap-Up & Assessment |
|
Lesson Prep
Investment Calculator
Students explore how compound interest grows investments over time.
Class Presentation
Includes an 18-slide deck with teacher notes. Present from Banzai, download a PDF, or copy it to Google Slides.
Presentations, Ready to Go
- Built-in PresentationPresent full screen, straight from Banzai
- Copy to Google SlidesMake an editable copy for your class
- Download or PrintSave as a PDF or print
- Teacher NotesSlide-by-slide guidance, printable as one handout
Unit 7: Investing
Wealth Accelerators
Time is the fastest path to wealth, not total compensation. This lesson explores the mechanics that quietly turn small, boring deposits into a nest egg, covering the cost of waiting, dividends, and dollar-cost averaging.
Investment Fees & Taxes
Every investment quietly takes a cut before gains land, through fund fees, trading costs, and taxes. This lesson unpacks how expense ratios and capital gains taxes can make or break long-term returns.
Wall Street Scams & Safety Nets
If a deal sounds too good to be true, it usually is. This lesson unpacks common investment scams, the regulators who police Wall Street, and how SIPC and FDIC insurance protect your money differently.
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