Amid the hustle and bustle of Enrichment B, Hoban’s Investment Club is quickly gaining traction. Though the club has only held two meetings, the idea has been in the works for much longer.
Economics teacher and club advisor Jason Deal shared how the initiative began when co-founder Kevin Elliott approached him last year. At the time, Deal was new to Hoban and needed help to take on the project. “He was persistent throughout the year, in a good way, of course, and I told him that once I figured out how I wanted to do it, we would set one up,” Deal said.
Over the summer, Deal researched investment clubs at other schools and consulted experts for insights. He created a club focused on open discussions about investments, financial planning, and strategies for savings and retirement funds. “It’s more than simply that Jordan Belfort-Wolf of Wall Street approach of just watching the tickers,” Deal said.
Word of the new club spread quickly, thanks to Elliott and co-founder Lewis Brennan. By the second meeting, the group had grown significantly, expanding from a small circle of seniors to include juniors and sophomores. The recent Activities Fair sparked hope that first-year students might join as well.
Elliott shared his inspiration for starting the club. “For years, I’ve been thinking about investing, but I’ve hesitated to get started. There’s always that chance you could lose everything. With this, we can get a much better approach and be more decisive with our decisions,” he said.
One of the biggest challenges the club aims to tackle is the intimidation often associated with investing. Deal emphasized the importance of research and patience in navigating the market. “Many people think their $100 investment will grow into a $2,000 payout overnight, but that’s simply not the case,” he explained.
Like many Hoban clubs, Investment Club has faced challenges due to the limited availability of Enrichment B periods. With Deal splitting his time between two student organizations, the club would traditionally meet weekly, but scheduling conflicts have forced adjustments. To compensate, Deal frequently emails articles and resources to members, which they eagerly read. “This is a club that leads itself,” Deal said. “If there were ever a day I couldn’t attend, they would still hold a live meeting on their own.”
The club’s primary goal is to help students better understand financial concepts and options. “Everybody sometimes has a little bit of money, but what do you do with it? It’s truly about showing students their options so they can pursue what they want. I will never tell students what to do, but I want to provide them with the resources to make their own decisions,” Deal said.
Investment Club fosters curiosity and empowers students with financial literacy. By providing tools and guidance, it aims to create better-educated individuals who understand the economy and can use that knowledge to their advantage.
If you want to join, contact Deal at [email protected] or Elliott or Brennan. Investment Club is open to all students who wish to learn; don’t hesitate to try it!
