SD High School Senior Essay Contest Rules
2012 - 2013 Contest Rules
Title for the Essay: How to Create Financial Independence by Understanding Five Principles of Investing
Required Topics:
- Mutual Fund vs. Variable Annuity: Compare and contrast the advantages and disadvantages of investing in a mutual fund vs. investing in a variable annuity. Specifically, explain and compare the key features, benefits, fees, charges and any potential penalties associated with each investment product.
- Using a financial calculator, illustrate how you can obtain $1,000,000 by the age of 65. To attain this goal, you must use at least three different investments from among the following: stocks, bonds, mutual funds and CDs using the current rate of return for the specific investments. Research and discuss the reasons why $1 million may not be enough money for your generation to retire.
- What does it mean to have a diversified portfolio? Discuss the advantages and any disadvantages of this theory of investing. Explain how dollar cost averaging affects an investment strategy and discuss the investment theory of time value of money.
- Explain two types of investment fraud. Give specific detailed examples and discuss how to protect yourself. Describe several sources you can consult to receive additional information on the investment.
- Discuss the differences between a securities broker-dealer and a securities investment adviser. Specifically, explain the services provided by each, how each receives payment for services, and how to determine whether either is registered to sell securities and provide investment advice.
Rules
Who: Participation is available to South Dakota high school seniors.
What: Every senior is invited to write a five page essay on the above-stated topics and choose any high school teacher from his or her school as a sponsoring teacher. Students can consult any person or area of information but must compose all information in their own words without any help. Copying from a source is not allowed unless properly referenced. An entry form and survey to be completed by the student and verified by the sponsoring teacher must be attached to the front of each essay upon submission. This form must be legible.
How: Essays must be written on all of the stated topics and must be in 12-point, Times New Roman font, single-spaced with 1 inch margins, no more than one page per topic, and a minimum of 250 words per page, with each page titled with a separate topic. The word count must be given at the end of each page. There should be five pages plus a cover sheet providing the name, mailing address and phone number of the student, in addition to the name, mailing address and phone number of the high school, and the name of the Sponsor-Teacher from that high school. The essay should be stapled in the top left hand corner with the Entry Form/Survey Form on top of the cover sheet. Do not put in a folder. No electronic submissions will be accepted.
Deadline: Entries must be postmarked no later than Tuesday, January 15, 2013.
The sponsoring teacher will sign the entry form and make sure the essay is in the proper order with a cover sheet. These essays will be judged based on the content related to the topics. Each of the five sections will be judged on a four-point scale. The Securities Division (Division) will grade the papers to determine winners for First Place through Fifth Place. Then remaining papers will be placed into four levels; for ex. A – B – C - D. All qualified (following rules) remaining papers will fall within one of these four levels.
When: Essays must be postmarked no later than Tuesday, January 15, 2013. Winners will be notified and announced by April 30, 2013. Winners' pictures and names may be used in a press release at the end of the contest.
Where: Send essays to:
Essay Contest
Division of Securities
SD Department of Labor and Regulation
445 E. Capitol Ave.
Pierre, SD 57501
The Division will be responsible for judging the essays and reserves the right to accept or reject any essay. The final scores will be at the sole discretion of the Division of Securities and any other person the Division may use to judge this contest. All essays received become the property of the Division and will not be returned.
Sponsor
The essay contest is funded by a grant from the Investor Protection Trust (IPT). IPT is a nonprofit organization devoted to investor education. Since 1993 the IPT has worked with states to provide independent, objective investor education to help all Americans make informed investment decisions.
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Contact Us
445 East Capitol Avenue
Pierre, SD 57501-3185
Phone: 605.773.4823
Fax: 605.773.5953
email
445 E. Capitol Avenue
Pierre, SD 57501-3185
Tel. 605.773.4823
Fax. 605.773.5953
