If your teen's eyes glaze over every time you talk about investing, try this: bring the concept to life by using a tangible long-term goal. For you, that goal might be a comfortable (or early!) retirement. For your teen, it's probably more like a new car, a college education or a first home. By showing how investing money on a consistent basis can help realize a dream, you'll probably keep your teen's attention.

Then again, if your teenager isn't inspired, try the cold, hard facts: If you keep your money uninvested (like under a mattress or even in a low-yielding savings account), you may incur less risk, but you'll have a tough time maintaining purchasing power over time—in other words, keeping up with inflation.

To explain how it works, let's use groceries as an example. Groceries worth $100 in 1950 would cost about $852 today. Fifty years from now they may cost $5,771. This example assumes an annual inflation rate of 3.9%, which is about the average for the past 50 years. But it's important to note that inflation can vary widely from decade to decade, and even from year to year.

Investing has historically been an effective way to help your money grow and keep it from being eroded by inflation.

Read on to learn about the benefits of compound growth (why time could be your teen's greatest financial asset) and how to get your teen started with the basics of investing.

The information provided here is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered an individualized recommendation or personalized investment advice. The type of savings and investment strategies mentioned may not be suitable for everyone. Each investor needs to review a security transaction or strategy for his or her own particular situation. The examples mentioned are for informational purposes only and not intended to represent results you should expect in the future. Data contained here is obtained from what are considered reliable sources. However, its accuracy, completeness or reliability cannot be guaranteed. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.