The Stock Market Game™
A hands-on investing simulation that builds financial confidence through experience. Using a virtual $100,000 portfolio, participants research real stocks, bonds and mutual funds, make investment decisions, and track how market events move their portfolio, all in a risk-free environment.
Connect students to the global economy
The Stock Market Game introduces young people to saving and investing through a simulation of the stock and bond markets. Teams research real companies, trade, and see how news and events change the value of their portfolio over time.
No prior knowledge of economics or finance is needed to run it. The program provides lesson plans, activities, step-by-step guidance and ongoing support from a local coordinator, so getting started is easy, fun and effective.
Students practice the content and skills they learn in math, English Language Arts, economics and social studies, and build leadership, teamwork, research and decision-making skills along the way.
Everything you need is in the Teacher Support Center
A searchable library of curriculum resources, lesson plans, assessments and standards correlations. Each lesson comes with a Teacher Background brief, so you don't need to know anything about investing to start.
- Five units for elementary, middle and high school, with lessons, projects, tests and rubrics
- Lessons correlated to Common Core State Standards in math and English Language Arts
- Guides for after-school and homeschool programs
- Free webinars and a local Stock Market Game coordinator
- Guest speakers from the financial industry through Invest It Forward
One game, many classrooms
The Stock Market Game works in school, after school and at home.
Learn by doing
Research real companies, manage a team portfolio and use the mobile app to follow the market. Under-18s join through a teacher or trusted adult.
Aligned to the school day
A version created for after-school providers, with teams of 2 to 5 and rotating roles so everyone gets a turn to lead.
Play together
Parents can register their child or a family team. Siblings in elementary, middle and high school can play on the same team.
How a class plays
Register
A teacher, parent or other adult registers through the local SMG program and finds session dates.
Get logins
The advisor login opens the Teacher Support Center; each team gets its own portfolio login.
Trade
Teams of 2–5 start with $100,000 and build the best-performing portfolio in a live trading environment, on the web or the mobile app.
Compete and extend
Teams compete for awards, then write for InvestWrite or meet a volunteer through Invest It Forward.
Source: SIFMA Foundation press release (June 2026); stockmarketgame.org; American Institutes for Research study funded by FINRA. To be confirmed by SIFMA.
Students and teachers on the game
“It's a pretend game but when you play it long enough, it doesn't feel pretend anymore. It feels like it's your money and you're investing it.”
Brenda9th grade, Pittman High School, Turlock, CA“It saves me time because I know when they are playing the game or doing research, all those state standards, all those topics are being hit upon at once.”
Jerry WeissbuchTeacher“You learn it without even knowing you're learning. In the end, when the SMG is finished, you're like 'Wow! I want to play again!'”
Parina5th grade student
Common questions
What if I don't know anything about investing?
Each lesson plan includes a brief Teacher Background, plus publications and links. You can also contact your local Stock Market Game coordinator.
Can a student play on their own?
Players must be 18 or older to register. Younger students can ask a teacher, family member or another trusted adult to register them as a Teacher With Classes and share the team login.
How much does it cost?
The Stock Market Game is available nationwide at no cost or low cost. Session dates and any fees are set by local programs and shown during registration.
Is it aligned to standards?
Yes. Lessons in the Teacher Support Center are correlated to the Common Core State Standards, shown in an interactive table in the Standards section.
Can siblings of different ages play together?
Yes. Teams of two to five are recommended, and elementary, middle and high school students can play on the same team.
Useful links
Take the tour
A slide-by-slide look at the portfolio, the Teacher Support Center and related programs.
The Stock Market Game app
Account summary, trades and market news on iOS and Android.
Impact research
The AIR study, NAEP analysis and Jump$tart survey findings.
Family InvestQuest
A free platform launched in 2026 to help families talk about investing.
Connected programs
Register your class for 2026–2027
Find your local program, session dates and requirements in a few minutes.