Help Lucas Brennan figure out where to invest his $1,200! In this real-world activity, students meet Lucas, a 16-year-old who wants to invest but is nervous about losing money. Before recommending an investment, students analyse his pre-filled risk profile to determine what type of investor he is, then use the math to back it up.

Students use the compound interest formula (A = P(1 + r/n)^nt) to compare three investment options over 5 years, then calculate bad, average, and good year scenarios for the Tech Stock Fund to see what volatility actually looks like in dollars, not just percentages.

The result: a concrete, memorable moment where a single bad year costs more than the savings account earns in five years.

What's included:

• Pre-filled risk tolerance quiz for Lucas — students analyse his profile and classify him
• Three investment options: High-Interest Savings (2%), Balanced ETF (6%), Tech Stock Fund (10%)
• Calculations for his 5 year investment, and volatility scenarios (bad (-15%), average (+10%), and good (+25%) year calculations)
• Written recommendation and reflection prompts
• Student hint page with step-by-step guidance
• Fully worked answer key including sample reflection responses

Can be completed individually or in groups.

Ontario Curriculum Aligned:

• Grade 8 Math — Strand F Financial Literacy (F1.3, F1.4)
• Grade 9/10 Math — F1.3
• Grade 10 Careers (GLC2O) — A1.4, A1.5

Part of the Millar Time Teaching Financial Literacy series — pairs naturally with Help Maya Patel (Saving vs Investing) and Help Ethan Morales (Compound Growth).