Introduction to Investing is Live—And We Want Your Feedback! 🚀

A Message from Penny Forward Founder and CEO, Chris Peterson

Hey there, Penny Forward family! I’m absolutely thrilled to share some big news: our brand-new course, Introduction to Investing, is officially in beta and ready for our monthly and yearly members to dive into. This has been one of the most-asked-for courses in our community, and we can’t wait for you to explore it, break it, and help us polish it before the grand public launch at the ACB and NFB conventions this July. 🎉

Why Investing Matters:

Investing can feel like a foreign language—stocks, bonds, real estate, fees, taxes… the list goes on. Yet, it’s one of the best tools we have to build wealth, reach our goals, and gain financial security over the long haul. Whether you’re saving for retirement, a child’s education, or your dream home, having a clear, step-by-step roadmap makes all the difference between success and scrambling.

Here’s what makes this course extra special:

• Simple, jargon-free teaching: No confusing Wall Street speak—just plain English.
• Accessibility at its core: We’ve built in tips and tools for blind investors, screen-reader-friendly layouts, and advice on working with financial advisors who understand your needs.
• Benefit-friendly strategies: We cover how investing can interact with SSI, Medicaid, and other means-tested programs, so you don’t have to choose between growing your money and keeping vital supports.

Course Snapshot: What You’ll Learn

1. How money really grows: The magic of compound interest, time horizons, and why patience pays off.
2. The different investment vehicles: Stocks, bonds, mutual funds, ETFs, real estate, and special accounts (IRAs, 529 plans, and more).
3. Smart portfolio design: Diversification strategies, risk management, and avoiding the herd mentality.
4. Cost consciousness: How fees and taxes chip away at returns—and tactics to minimize both.
5. Accessible investing: Tools and platforms optimized for screen readers, plus tips on collaborating with advisors who get it.
6. Benefit-sensitive planning: How to invest without jeopardizing SSI, Medicaid, SNAP, or other supports.

Along the way, you’ll take a pre-test to measure your starting knowledge, quizzes after every lesson to reinforce learning, and a post-test at the end so you can see exactly how far you’ve come. Pass the course, and you’ll earn a shiny certificate plus lifetime access to every resource we’ve packed in.

8 Sections, 22 Lessons:

1. Getting Started
   • Lesson 1: Course Overview
   • Lesson 2: Understanding Behavioral Economics and Avoiding Common Mistakes
2. Core Concepts
   • Lesson 3: Investing vs. Saving
   • Lesson 4: Goals and Purpose of Investing
   • Lesson 5: Basic Investing Concepts
   • Lesson 6: How Financial Markets Work
3. Investment Vehicles
   • Lesson 7: Types of Investments
   • Lesson 8: Investing in Funds
4. Account Basics
   • Lesson 9: Types of Investment Accounts
   • Lesson 10: Opening and Managing an Investment Account
5. Costs & Strategies
   • Lesson 11: Understanding Investment Costs and Fees
   • Lesson 12: Portfolio Diversification
   • Lesson 13: Investment Strategies
6. Accessibility & Advisors
   • Lesson 14: Accessible Investment Tools
   • Lesson 15: Do-It-Yourself Investing vs. Working with an Advisor
7. Benefits & Special Considerations
   • Lesson 16: Means-Tested Programs
   • Lesson 17: Insurance Programs & Investing
   • Lesson 18: Countable Resources and Income
   • Lesson 19: Special Accounts for Benefit Recipients
8. Wrapping Up
   • Lesson 20: Conclusion

Every lesson is designed to be concise—about 10–15 minutes each—so you can fit them into your schedule. Plus, each ends with a short quiz to cement your learning and flag any areas that need a second look.

Why We Need Your Help: Beta Testing!

Because this course is in beta, you might stumble across:

• Typos or formatting quirks
• Broken links or missing alt text
• Content gaps or confusing explanations
• Quiz errors or answer mismatches

If you spot anything that’s not quite right—or if you have suggestions to make a lesson clearer—please let us know! Your feedback will directly shape the final version, making the course smoother, more accessible, and more effective for everyone.

To report a bug or send a suggestion, just drop us an email at pennyforward@pennyforward.com. When you write, it helps us if you:

1. Name the lesson (e.g., “Lesson 12: Portfolio Diversification”).
2. Describe the issue (e.g., typo in paragraph 3, quiz question has two correct answers).
3. Include screenshots or copied text if possible.

How to Get Started:

1. Log in to your Penny Forward account.
2. Navigate to “Programs and Services -> Courses” and click “Introduction to Investing (Beta)”.
3. Take the pre-test to see your baseline.
4. Work through each lesson at your own pace.
5. Complete the post-test when you’re ready for your certificate.
6. Email feedback any time—early and often!

What’s Next?

Over the coming weeks, we’ll be rolling out:

• An instructor-led version of this course held via Zoom (starting in September).
• Office hours for deep dives on complex topics like tax strategies and benefit-preserving investing (available to students in the instructor-led course).

Stay tuned for those announcements, and keep an eye on your inbox for invites.

Thank You for Being Part of This Journey!

Launching a new course is a team effort—and in our minds, you are the MVPs. Your insights, questions, and real-world perspectives make Penny Forward stronger and more attuned to the needs of blind and low-vision investors everywhere.

So go ahead, explore, learn, and —most importantly—tell us what you think. Together, we’ll build a course that not only teaches investing basics but also empowers every person with the confidence to make money work for them.

Ready, set, invest—beta starts now! 🚀

P.S. Don’t forget: if you find a defect in the course, please email us at pennyforward@pennyforward.com. Let’s squash those bugs!

Best Regards,

Chris Peterson, AFC®
Founder and CEO, Penny Forward