For most, the words “teenager” and “financially savvy” don’t go hand-in-hand. Many remember a procession of fiscal fumbles that followed them well into their 20s before mismanagement evolved into a semblance of financial literacy. Trial and error, also known as “learning the hard way,” is pretty much taken for granted as the harrowing steps toward adulthood. Seventeen-year-old Ponte Vedra High School students, Jack Landis and Tyler Leinan, decided, however, that rather than pay for the knowledge out of pocket, they were going to grab the bull market by the horns.
Born from the ashes of negative bank account balances was The Investor’s Club.
“Overall, we see the Investor’s Club as striking a unique market that conventional education is lacking — financial preparedness,” President of the Investors Club, Jack Landis, said.
The club hosts guest speakers and runs stock market simulators to help teach students the ins and outs of investing in a complicated economic system.
“We do some career-oriented stuff as well,” said Vice President Tyler Leinan. “We have people (in the industry) come in and talk about their careers. They explain how if someone wanted to pursue a career in finance, how to go about that.”
Landis said that the idea came to him as a simple “supply and demand” deficit that students weren’t being provided. So much so, his first meeting hosted over 50 students in attendance.
“Many say 'I didn't even know this was a thing you could do,’” said Landis. “Or, 'I didn't even know this was a thing you had to do.'”
The two organize every meeting, setting up guest speakers and coordinating the stock market simulator, which they use competitively between members to win “Best Top Earner.” Recently, the club hosted a financial advisor previously employed at the Empire State Building and Merrill Lynch’s Senior Financial Advisor. From both they learned the importance of safe investments as opposed to risky ones, as well as the steps it takes to get certified as a certified financial planner.
Currently, both presidents are interested in expanding their club’s reach to other schools in the district. They hope that by setting up satellite Investor’s Clubs, they can not only expand the knowledge of financial literacy but have schools to compete against for Best Top Earning club in the stock market simulator.
