Past Events
Our Workshop Events:
Our Workshop Events bring in knowledgeable guest presenters who deliver deep yet accessible insights on important economic, financial, and civic topics. Tailored for both high school students and adult community members, these sessions break down complex concepts in a way that’s easy to grasp without losing depth or usefulness. Each workshop concludes with a Q&A session, giving attendees a chance to engage directly with the speaker. For those looking to explore further, we provide additional resources in our blog and follow-up emails after the event.
What’s Included:
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Expert-led presentations on timely, impactful topics
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Simplified explanations for high school understanding with real-world depth for adults
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Interactive Q&A sessions
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Blog posts with further learning and summaries
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Follow-up email with key takeaways and additional resources
Our Community Events:
Our Community Events are all about engaging with others and learning through action. These events involve our nonprofit members stepping out into the community to share knowledge, collaborate, and create meaningful experiences. Whether we’re leading an activity, co-learning with local residents, or spreading awareness on economic and civic topics, these events promote hands-on understanding and real-world connection.
What’s Included:
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Interactive, hands-on learning experiences
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Opportunities to collaborate and connect with the community
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Peer-to-peer education and outreach
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Real-life application of economics, finance, and civic engagement
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Accessible and inclusive learning environments
Workshops
The Economy
This event marks the debut of the Economics Awareness Program as this was our first Zoom session held on June 15th, 2023. In this session led by Wells Fargo financial expert James Yule, over 100 people came to our debut session, making us both grateful and inspired to do future events for our community.
Session Covered:
● Debt Consolidation & Social Security
● Economy & Money History
●Economy Size & Productivity Measurement
● Monetary Policy and Economic Policy
● Market Economy & Planning Economy
● Learning Finance Based on Experience & Knowledge
Entreprenuership
The second webinar of the Economics Awareness Program focused on entrepreneurship, featuring Dr. James Edge. With over 110 attendees, this session was a tremendous success, filled with insightful discussions and high engagement. We are incredibly grateful for the opportunity to learn from such a qualified expert and to see so many people eager to expand their understanding of entrepreneurship. The level of participation and enthusiasm from the audience made this event truly special, reinforcing our commitment to hosting more valuable sessions in the future.
Session Covered:
● Monetizing Skills and Hobbies
● The Importance of Iteration
● Conducting Customer Interviews
● Strategies for Customer Acquisition
● Overview of Intellectual Property, Patents, and Trade Secrets
● Business Models and Revenue Streams
● Scaling a Startup and Managing Growth
● Networking and Building Business Relationships
● Overcoming Challenges as an Entrepreneur
Financial Markets
The Economics Awareness Program hosted an insightful webinar on financial markets, led by Dr. Thomas Hu, a high-level manager from Wells Fargo. With over 110 attendees, this session provided a deep dive into critical financial concepts, offering expert insights into how various markets operate. We are truly grateful for the opportunity to learn from such a distinguished speaker, and the incredible engagement from our audience made this an unforgettable experience. The discussion shed light on complex topics in a way that was both accessible and thought-provoking, equipping attendees with valuable knowledge about the financial world.
Session Covered:
● Equity/Stock: Market Valuation, Risk Premiums, and Dividend Yield Analysis
● Stock Exchange: Market Microstructure, Order Types, and Liquidity Considerations
● Fixed Income: Yield Curve Dynamics, Credit Ratings, and Duration Management
● Bond Market: Pricing Mechanisms, Interest Rate Risk, and Corporate vs. Government Bonds
● Derivative Trading (CME): Futures, Options Strategies, and Hedging Techniques
● FX Trading: Currency Pairs, Exchange Rate Determinants, and Carry Trades
● Mortgage Market: Mortgage-Backed Securities (MBS), Prepayment Risk, and Interest Rate Sensitivity
● Market Efficiency: Arbitrage Opportunities, High-Frequency Trading (HFT), and Algorithmic Strategies
● Central Bank Policies: Quantitative Easing, Interest Rate Impact, and Liquidity Injection
● Systemic Risks: Financial Crises, Volatility Index (VIX), and Black Swan Events
Personal Finance
The Economics Awareness Program hosted a powerful webinar on personal finance, led by Mr. Brian Li, a leading advocate for integrating financial education into school curricula. This session broke our previous attendance benchmark, drawing over 125 participants eager to learn essential financial skills. We are incredibly thankful for the enthusiasm and engagement from our audience, as well as the expertise shared by Mr. Li. His insights provided attendees with actionable strategies to manage their finances effectively, reinforcing the importance of early financial literacy.
Session Covered:
● Income Awareness and Tax Implications
● Spending Ratios and Budget Optimization
● Establishing a Saving Safety Net and Liquidity Management
● The Importance of Investing: Compound Interest and Asset Allocation
● Risk Management in Personal Finance
● Credit Scores, Debt Management, and Responsible Borrowing
● Retirement Planning: IRAs, 401(k)s, and Pension Funds
● Understanding Inflation and Its Impact on Purchasing Power
● Behavioral Finance: Psychological Biases in Spending and Investing
● Tips and Tricks for Long-Term Wealth Building
Investment
The Economics Awareness Program hosted an in-depth webinar on investment strategies and risk management, featuring Mr. Jonathon Wu and Mr. Qiang Chen. Both speakers brought extensive expertise to the discussion, providing attendees with a comprehensive look at financial markets, diversification principles, and the impact of economic factors on investment decisions. With over 100 participants, the session delivered valuable insights into portfolio construction, risk assessment, and real estate valuation in fluctuating market conditions. We also took feedback from attendees of previous sessions and worked with presenters to tone down the purely technical aspect to make our sessions more easily comprehinsible and applicable.
Session Covered:
● Corporate market risk management and strategies
● Investment rewards and risk-adjusted returns
● Stock markets, portfolio diversification, and sector strategies
● Real estate valuation and the impact of interest rates
● The relationship between diversification and risk-reward
● Bond yields and economic cycles
● Liquidity risks and their effects on investment
● Market volatility and risk management
● Behavioral biases in investing
● Global economic trends and their impact on investments
Insurance
The Economics Awareness Program hosted an insightful webinar on insurance, led by Mr. Homiar Hathiram. In response to requests from our course participants and email list subscribers, this session provided a thorough look at insurance, its role in financial planning, and the operational dynamics of insurance companies. Mr. Hathiram covered key concepts, terms, and the types of insurance that are essential for personal financial security.
Session Covered:
● The role of insurance in risk management and financial protection
● How insurance companies operate, including underwriting and premium pricing
● Key insurance terms like underwriting, claims, exclusions, and endorsements
● Overview of personal insurance types—health, auto, life, and disability
● Breakdown of life insurance policies—term, whole, and universal life
● How to assess insurance needs and choose appropriate coverage
Money Accounts
The Economics Awareness Program hosted an informative webinar on managing bank accounts and investments, led by Mr. Bissum Hathiram, brother of our previous speaker, Mr. Homiar Hathiram. In response to feedback from our community, this session covered key aspects of personal finance management, focusing on checking accounts, savings strategies, and investment opportunities. Mr. Hathiram provided clear, actionable advice on managing finances effectively and navigating the complexities of both personal banking and investments.
Session Covered:
● Managing Checking Accounts: Overdraft Fees and Savings Options
● Savings vs. Checking Accounts: Pros and Cons
● Bank Accounts: Rates, Balances, and Limits
● CDs: Pros and Cons in Banking
● Tax-Free Growth: Four Basic Account Types and IRAs
● Investment Flexibility and Risks: Stocks, Bonds, and Roth IRA
● Investment Account Types and Risks
● Liquidity, Risk, and Investment Advice
● Managing Finances: Advice From Bissum Hathiram
Stocks
The Economics Awareness Program hosted a dynamic webinar on stock trading, led by Mr. Harjot Singh. This session covered a wide range of topics related to stock investments, offering both foundational knowledge and deeper technical insights. Mr. Singh provided an in-depth explanation of how the stock market operates, trading strategies, and the key factors that influence stock prices. Participants learned how to analyze and navigate the complexities of the stock market, along with practical tools for trading.
Session Covered:
● The fundamentals of stocks, including equity ownership, dividends, and shareholder rights.
● How trading stocks works, including the processes behind buying, selling, and the use of brokerage accounts.
● The structure of the stock market, with an overview of key exchanges and the role of market makers in providing liquidity.
● Advanced trading strategies like technical analysis, chart patterns, and using indicators such as moving averages.
● The importance of market psychology, trends, and how news events impact stock prices.
● Methods of evaluating stock performance through key financial metrics and ratios.
● Risk management techniques, including portfolio diversification and the use of stop-loss orders.
● Real-time analysis of current stock performances from major companies and emerging sectors.
Alternative Investments
The Economics Awareness Program hosted an insightful webinar on alternative investments, led by Mr. Jacob Darling. In this session, Mr. Darling explored the various asset classes outside traditional stocks and bonds, offering participants a deeper understanding of how alternative investments work and their role in portfolio diversification. He provided valuable insights into assessing the risks and rewards of these investments and how they can complement more traditional financial strategies.
Session Covered:
● An overview of alternative investments, including private equity, real estate, hedge funds, and commodities.
● How alternative investments can offer diversification and hedge against market volatility.
● The risk-return trade-off of alternative assets compared to traditional investments.
● Strategies for evaluating and selecting alternative investments based on risk tolerance and market conditions.
● Legal structures and regulatory considerations involved in alternative investment opportunities.
● The role of due diligence in alternative investing and understanding the potential for illiquidity.
● Real-world examples of successful alternative investment strategies and trends in the market.
● How to balance alternative investments within a broader investment portfolio.
Personal Finance Part Two
The Economics Awareness Program hosted another impactful personal finance webinar, once again led by Mr. Brian Li, a crowd favorite and presenter of our previously most popular webinar on personal finance. Building on the foundation laid in our first personal finance session, Mr. Li took the discussion to the next level, diving deeper into strategies for managing money, identifying scams, and maximizing financial security. This session was our most attended to date, surpassing 140 attendees, and it was such a great success and a lot of fun.
Session Covered:
● Income awareness, focusing on understanding different income streams and their impact on financial planning.
● Spending ratios, with practical strategies for managing expenses and budgeting effectively.
● Building a savings safety net to ensure financial stability in uncertain times.
● The importance of investing, covering asset allocation and long-term wealth building.
● Identifying common financial scams and how to avoid them.
● Techniques for improving financial literacy and making smarter spending decisions.
● Strategies for boosting credit scores and improving financial health.
● Tips for managing debt and leveraging financial tools to your advantage.
Community Events
At Economics Awareness, we also attend networking events to further our impact and promote our program in our city and beyond! Click below to take a look at the events we have attended.