Zingale Financial Literacy Challenge
The Zingale Financial Literacy Challenge is a competition in which students develop and submit a personal financial budget and investing plan appropriate for life after graduation.
The competition is open to all Allegheny students, however participation in the challenge is a mandatory assignment for students taking ECON 010 – Financial Literacy. There are $2,500 in prizes and trophies awarded to student winners. Our special thanks to Lance and Karen Zingale for sponsoring this event.
The Next Challenge is Scheduled for December 7, 2024
Plans must be submitted to Mr. Chris Allison by November 29. Our 10 Competition Finalists will present their plans to the judges via Zoom on December 7.
Fall 2024 Adulting 101 Workshop Schedule:
September 10 – Managing Your Finances Is Easy!
September 24 – Your Income & How You’ll Be Taxed
October 8 – Managing Your Living Expenses
October 22 – How To Talk Money
November 12 – Getting Started Investing
How Entries are Judged
An outstanding judging panel will evaluate each plan according to the Certified Financial Analyst (CFA®) criteria for excellence in financial planning, and provide positive feedback to students on how they can refine and improve their plan to create a bright financial future. The top ten entries will be selected to participate in the Finals. Finalists will be announced during the last week of November.
Questions? Email: Professor Chris Allison, callison@allegheny.edu
Download these templates:
Financial Literacy Challenge Write-Up WORD Template
Financial Literacy Challenge Monthly Budget EXCEL Template
Follow these Detailed Entrant Guidelines:
- Each entrant will prepare both a 4-5 page written plan.
- Each plan must use the attached monthly budget template.
- You may use single spaced text or a detailed outline format.
- Pick a start date like graduation or the starting date of your job.
- Plan for a 1 year, 3 year and 5 year time horizon.
- Financial goals should be clearly outlined, as should be the plan to achieve these goals.
- The plan should include a brief discussion of the impact of the current state of the economy including GDP growth; rate of inflation; unemployment rate; and recent performance of the Dow Jones Industrial Average; S&P 500; NASDAQ; and bond market.
- An investment strategy that shows an understanding of the return characteristics of different asset classes, such as stocks, bonds and mutual funds
- The plan must include an asset allocation, which is the mix of stocks & bonds that fits the student’s age as well as investment objectives.
A rationale of why the students chose their specific stocks, mutual funds, bonds or bond funds.
- A monthly personal monthly budget must be including using template.
- Please use a cover page and a table of contents.
- Put all exhibits at the back of the plan as an appendix.
- Number your pages of outline or text.
- Your final page should be any sources cited or a bibliography.
Here are examples of successful plans:
Sample Plan #1
Sample Plan #2
Sample Plan #3
Judges Scoring Methodology
- Overall Creativity (20 Possible Points)
- Consideration of Investment Plan (15 Points)
- Discussion of Economic and Investment Risks (15 Points)
- Clear Statement of Goals (10 Points)
- Realistic Projection of Income (10 Possible Points)
- Realistic Projection of Your Debt/Expenses (10 Possible Points)
- Realistic Projection of Your Taxes (10 Possible Points)
- Realistic Projection of Investment Returns (5 Possible Points)
- Citation of Sources (5 Possible Points)
- Total (100 Possible Points)
Congratulations to our Past Winners!
Financial Literacy Competition winners Nyonna Towler and Reece Smith presented their winning financial plans at the Western PA CFA Society 2022 Collegiate Financial Plan Competition each winning an Honorable Mention. Entrepreneur in Residence, Professor Chris Allison teaches ECON 010, and is the host of the annual event. #financialliteracymatters
2023
1st Place Prize – Reece Smith ’24
2nd Place Prize – Andrew Strobel ’24
3rd Place Prize – Ochirsaikhan Davaajambal ’24
2022
1st Place – Graham Kralic
2nd Place – Reece Smith
3rd Place – Tie – Paige Downey & Kevin Lee
Honorable Mention – Mykyta Kovbasa
2021
First place: Reece Smith ’25
Second Place:Madelyn Hill ’22
Third Place: Brandon Bolling ’22
Honorable mention: Nyonna Towler ’22
2020
First place: Christian Lussier
Second place: Alexandra Heinle, Savannah Hunt
Third place: Olivia Blakeslee
NOTE: Due to Covid-19, the 2020 and 2021 challenges were virtual events, so limited photos are available. We hope to be back in person in December of 2022!
2019
