How I Founded My University’s First Finance and Investing Club
Within my first few weeks at university, I eagerly began searching for a finance or investing club where I could connect with like-minded peers and deepen my passion for financial markets. To my surprise, no such group existed. I treated this as an opportunity and shortly thereafter, I started my university’s first-ever finance and investing club.
I founded the club with one core mission: to provide students with access to financial literacy resources, market insights, and networking opportunities that weren’t previously available on campus.
Starting the club required much more than just having an idea. I wrote a formal constitution, assembled an executive team, submitted an application to the student union, and pitched the club’s value to get it officially ratified. From there, I worked to secure faculty support and began actively connecting with students to build our founding membership.
As the club progressed we had a lot of great people on our team and we made setting up events a central part of our strategy to create value for members. For instance, One of our proudest achievements was launching By the River, our school’s first-ever Investment Banking Case Competition. Planning this event required months of preparation. We had to design a challenging yet accessible case, secure sponsorships, book the venue, coordinate catering, recruit experienced judges from the finance industry, and manage a full marketing campaign to attract participants. On competition day, students had the opportunity to apply technical skills, think critically under time pressure, and present their solutions directly to industry professionals. The event drew strong participation, created valuable networking moments, and gave students a résumé-worthy experience that mirrored real-world finance work.
Beyond the case competition, we’ve hosted educational workshops on financial designations, scholarships, as well as guest speaker sessions where finance professionals shared their career journeys and insights. We also organized social events like movie nights to foster a welcoming community and engage new members.
The advantages for students have been significant. Members gained practical skills in event organization, teamwork, public speaking, and project management. Participation in our events gave them industry exposure and portfolio-building experiences that could set them apart in competitive job markets. For many, the club became a gateway to discovering finance-related career paths and building the professional confidence needed to pursue them.
One of the most rewarding aspects of building the club has been empowering others. Each executive team member took ownership of a key area, events, marketing, sponsorships, and more giving them leadership experience and a sense of accountability. We also partnered with other clubs, local organizations, and businesses to expand our impact and offer members even more opportunities.
Overall, I’m so glad I took the initiative to start the club. It’s led to invaluable learning experiences and it’s built my friendship network beyond what I could have anticipated. I regularly thank everyone who participates regularly, too. Because, without the investment of others, none of the club’s success would be possible.
For more information about the Trent Finance and Investing Club please feel free to follow us on Instagram and connect with us on LinkedIn.
About the Author
Caleb Rambally is a Business Administration student at Trent University, specializing in Finance with a minor in Economics. With a high interest in financial markets and a passion for financial literacy, Caleb is dedicated to creating opportunities for students to connect with industry professionals and expand their knowledge. Outside of academics, he leads the Trent Finance and Investing Club, volunteers in his community, and enjoys exploring ways to inspire and empower young people to take control of their financial futures.