Investing 101 with Linden Parent Ole Biilmann

By Martha Muraira, Linden Teacher

The Grade 12 Advanced Functions class just finished their unit on exponential and logarithmic functions. One of the topics we learned about was interest rates and calculating the amount of an investment after a period of time. Anne invited her dad, Ole Biilmann, who is a financial advisor, to speak to the class about investing. Ole spoke about making your money work for you and the importance of having a rainy-day account. Life is full of unpredictable events. It’s better to be prepared to face them financially. 

Ole gave us practical advice on selecting solid stocks to build a solid foundation for our portfolios. He also mentioned that not all stocks pay dividends, so it’s a good idea to do our homework and research the investment company’s history. When it comes to how much you need to start investing, it can be as little as $20 or $50. Aim to put away 10% of your paycheck every month and always pay yourself first. 

According to Ole, we should always use our common sense when evaluating investment opportunities. If an investment seems too good to be true, stay away from it. Also, be careful with cryptocurrencies. There’s no regulation, and it’s a speculative market. 

Thank you, Ole, for spending your time with our class! The investment simulation competition sounds like a great idea!