Flagship The Stock Market Game™
A hands-on investing simulation. Teams manage a virtual $100,000 portfolio of real stocks, bonds and mutual funds from the NYSE and Nasdaq, with standards-aligned lessons for teachers.
Programs
Five programs built around one investing game
The Stock Market Game is where most students start. The other four programs let them try investing in half an hour, write about it, compete with their Members of Congress, or learn from people who work in finance.
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SMG InvestQuest™
A short investing experience focused on diversification and long-term investing. Start with $100,000 and make quarterly decisions over a simulated three-year market, at beginner, intermediate or advanced level.
InvestWrite®
A national writing competition for students in The Stock Market Game. Students write about long-term investing, teachers pick the best essays, and volunteer financial professionals judge the national round.
Capitol Hill Challenge™
Each spring, public middle and high schools are matched with their Senators and Representatives for a special edition of The Stock Market Game. The top 10 teams are honored at the U.S. Capitol.
Invest It Forward®
A skills-based volunteer program that connects financial professionals with Stock Market Game classrooms. Volunteers share their career paths and bring market concepts to life, in person or by video.
How they connect
A learning path, not a list
The Stock Market Game is where most students start. SMG InvestQuest lets anyone try investing in half an hour; InvestWrite, the Capitol Hill Challenge and Invest It Forward take the game further with writing, civics and real professionals.
Try it
SMG InvestQuest gives anyone a 30–40 minute taste of investing, with no registration.
Play the game
The Stock Market Game runs for several weeks or a full school year in class or after school.
Go further
Write for InvestWrite, compete in the Capitol Hill Challenge, and meet volunteers through Invest It Forward.
Compare
Programs side by side
| Program | Who it's for | Time | Cost | Sign-up | When |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Stock Market Game | Grades 4–12, post-secondary, adults | Several weeks to a school year | No cost or low cost | Teacher or adult registers | Fall, spring, full year, summer |
| SMG InvestQuest | Anyone; great for classes | 30–40 minutes | Free | Not needed | Any time |
| InvestWrite | SMG students, grades 4–12 | One essay per semester | Free | Through SMG advisor | Fall: Dec 9 · Spring: Mar 19 |
| Capitol Hill Challenge | Public middle and high schools | 14 weeks | Free | By invitation | Jan 25 – Apr 29, 2027 |
| Invest It Forward | Financial professionals and SMG educators | 45–60 minute session | Free | Volunteer or educator portal | Year-round |
Not sure where to start?
Tell us about your classroom or organization and we will point you to the right program.