Student-led business organization open to all students
The Carolina Investment Association, a USC business organization that started last semester, is seeking students interested in investment, economic matters and developing their financial skills.
Nikolai Cremo, president of the organization, proposed the idea and founded the club to give students a chance to gain experience outside of the classroom.
“It’s a student organization designed to teach students at any level the basic principles of investment all the way up to advanced concepts,” the first-year business student said.
There are no requirements for joining the club. To become a member, a student just has to attend the weekly meetings. Huy Le, the organization’s vice president, encourages students to get involved.
“Everyone is welcome to join the Carolina Investment Association,” Le, a third-year accounting student, said. “We are looking for people from different majors, not just business students.”
The group recommends that students go through an interview process to become an analyst in the Carolina Fund, a student-run investment fund, but it is not required to become a member of the investment association.
The fund consists of 24 analysts covering six sectors including financial, health care, energy, consumer goods, technology and industrial. Members create and submit stock pitches, carry out financial modeling and perform other types of research.
If a student does not get a spot in the Carolina Fund, he or she can attend sector meetings to gain experience and become more qualified for the next round of interviews.
The Carolina Fund invests fake money for now, but Cremo hopes this will eventually change.
“We are working toward getting an established group of investors. An endowment is another way to go,” Cremo said. He said that although it is fake money, it is treated as if it were real.
The Carolina Investment Association hosts faculty and professional guest speakers at its meetings. Le said it has ties to the local chapter of the CFA Institute, a global association of investment professionals, and hopes to bring in representatives to speak.
The organization also plans on attending national competitions and conventions involving comparable organizations.
“Our goal is to provide students with a background of financial markets and their function in the global economy,” said Le.
Le also thinks that the Carolina Investment Association will help members advance their investment management skills and allow students to make contacts for finance careers.
Cremo believes there are numerous advantages for joining the organization.
“The key benefit of the organization is the experience you gain. It’s very hands-on and transcends learning in the classroom,” Cremo said. “It is also a great resume builder.”
If you are interested in learning more about the Carolina Investment Association and how to get involved, you can contact Cremo at cremo@email.sc.edu and Le at leh@email.sc.edu.