Naturally, you'll want to have a regular savings program for your kids in savings accounts or certificates of deposit. But you don't have to wait until your children are in their teens to get them started with investing, too. One of the best ways is to explain to them how, once they buy stock, they actually "own" a piece of the company. Imagine a youngster's delight in holding a "piece" of his favorite theme park in his hand (the stock certificate)! Or knowing that the next time he bites into his favorite fast food snack or drinks a cola, he's helping to support the companies that he's a part of.

Some companies offer their young stockholders other "incentives" to buy their stock. For example, a corporation that makes chewing gum sends a large sample of their product to stockholders.

So get your kids started now. Give them a "nest egg" to invest. For those of you who don't want to invest in single stocks, the best way to get into the stock market is through a mutual fund. Many of today's mutual funds have lowered their initial minimum investment (usually $10,000) to $1,000 or less for custodial accounts. Adults can establish these custodial accounts–which the kids own and can tap into when they reach the appropriate age–but anyone can contribute to them, and some of the funds let your kids invest as little as $20 to buy more shares.

Nondeposit investment products are not federally insured, not obligations of the credit union, not guaranteed by the credit union or any affiliated entity, involve investment risks, including the possible loss of principal and may be offered by an employee who serves both functions of accepting member deposits and selling nondeposit investment products.