Paul Merriman Talks Target Date Funds and Retirement Investing

Paul Merriman Talks Target Date Funds and Retirement Investing

Author: Next Gen Personal Finance November 13, 2025 Duration: 1:07:16

This episode of the NGPF Speaker Series features personal finance educator Paul Merriman in conversation with Tim Ranzetta, delivering insights especially relevant to teachers. Paul shares practical, research-backed advice on helping students and young investors understand investing basics, with a spotlight on target date funds, index fund fees, and the behavioral pitfalls that commonly trip up new investors. Teachers will gain actionable strategies to help their students avoid common mistakes, appreciate the long-term value of low costs, and make investing approachable through concepts like dollar-cost averaging, diversification, and automated investing. The episode equips educators with memorable analogies, evidence-based recommendations, and free resources that can be used directly in the classroom to promote lifelong financial well-being.


Behind the mission of Next Gen Personal Finance-a nonprofit dedicated to ensuring every U.S. high school student takes a personal finance class-is a vibrant community of educators constantly refining their craft. The NGPF Podcast sits at the heart of that conversation. It’s a space where teachers, curriculum specialists, and sometimes even students share their real-world experiences and challenges in bringing financial literacy to life. You’ll hear practical discussions about what actually works in the classroom, from innovative lesson plans to navigating tricky topics like investing, credit, and behavioral economics. The episodes, often born from the organization's deep investment in teacher professional development, feel less like formal lectures and more like insightful coffee-break chats with colleagues who are just as passionate about empowering the next generation. Tuning into this podcast offers a direct line to the strategies and stories that are shaping financially capable young adults, all grounded in the high-quality resources NGPF is known for. It’s an essential listen for anyone invested in the practical side of financial education, whether you're in a classroom or simply believe in the critical importance of these skills for the future.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

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