Mellody Hobson to Host Holiday Investing Conversation at ING DIRECT's NYC Cafe

NEW YORK, Nov. 29, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Holiday shopping is around the corner.  That means spending money on your children's wish lists. Instead of another night bustling around New York City with shopping bags, ING DIRECT USA's ShareBuilder invites you to learn more about a gift that could provide your children with long term value – investing.

(Logo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100407/NY82932LOGO-b)

On Tuesday, November 30, Good Morning America's Financial Contributor and President of Ariel Investments, Mellody Hobson, along with ShareBuilder President Dan Greenshields, will lead a family-friendly discussion about easy ways to have the "investing conversation" with kids.  A nationally recognized voice on investing and financial education, Hobson will offer step-by-step plans to help families start investing in their children's future.

The event will also introduce ShareBuilder's Gift of Stock, a physical kit to help simplify the process of investing for a child's future and helping them understand the value of investing. The kit will include: $50 ShareBuilder gift card for a new account; 5 Automatic Investment Plan credits (valued at $4 per credit); and The Motley Fool video series: How to Buy the Right Stocks for Your Portfolio.  

Parents and children are both encouraged to attend the investing discussion at the ING DIRECT Cafe.  While parents are talking about investing with Hobson, children will have the opportunity to learn about Planet Orange (www.orangekids.com), ING DIRECT's online financial education program for kids, and meet Cedric and Amy, the Astronaut Guides of Planet Orange. Giveaways, snacks and beverages will be provided.  

Visit www.ingdirect.com/seminars to RSVP and for more information.

About ING DIRECT USA

ING DIRECT USA, the nation's largest direct bank and largest thrift, is dedicated to inspiring Americans to become a nation of savers. Since its inception in 2000, more than 7.6 million Americans have entrusted their savings with ING DIRECT, building the bank to $88 billion in assets.  ING DIRECT has developed a comprehensive social media Savers Community, including Twitter, Facebook and its We, the Savers blog.  For more information about ING DIRECT call 1-800-ING-DIRECT, and for information about its commitment to financial education visit Planet Orange.  

ShareBuilder Securities Corporation is an online brokerage designed for automatic, long-term investing.  The company's vision is to increase the personal investing rate of the average American by helping individuals build and manage wealth over the long term.  Customers pay low commissions on individual transactions, have no account minimum and can choose from two pricing programs.  ShareBuilder offers investment products including stocks, exchange-traded funds, and mutual funds. ShareBuilder Securities Corporation, a subsidiary of ING Bank, fsb, is a registered broker-dealer and member FINRA/SIPC.  For more information about ShareBuilder, please visit Twitter and Facebook.

Securities products are: Not FDIC insured - Not Bank guaranteed - May lose value

About Ariel Investments

Ariel Investments, LLC is a Chicago-based money management firm and mutual fund company that serves individual investors through its no-load mutual funds and manages separate accounts for institutional clients.

SOURCE ING DIRECT USA