Business education teacher Cathy Giligan invited alumni Dylan Charles, Troy Schneider, and Tommy Solarino to share their insights and experiences in finance with ColtsVest members. This event will take place on Friday, May 22, and will allow students interested in the financial industry to learn skills and valuable lessons about investing.
Students joined this club to learn more about finance, and many wanted to seek information from KHS alumni about the steps they took to reach their current positions.
ColtsVest members will have the opportunity to ask questions about challenges the alumni faced and how they have learned from them. This discussion will allow club members interested in the financial field to learn new skills that could benefit them in the future. These three graduates, who have all excelled in their respective fields since leaving Kinnelon High School, would offer invaluable advice and practical knowledge to the club members.
Although the three alumni are still in college, they will undergo experiences that will benefit their careers. Schneider will be interning at the Citi investment banking company on Wall Street in New York City. Schneider’s experiences can teach the club members important skills for the finance industry. Additionally, the experiences of KHS alumni can inspire ColtsVest members and help them envision their careers after graduation.
According to CFA Institute senior head of research Rhodri Preece, financial firms are facing a “more competitive market for talent” than they were 10 years ago. “It’s becoming increasingly competitive to get jobs in finance, so you really need to work hard to separate yourself from your peers,” Schneider said. He added that he wants to teach KHS students how to stand out from their peers and work harder to land the best job.
KHS students are interested in learning how finance has impacted the alumni. Sophomore Cayla Patel said, “I hope to learn how they’ve been successful through marketing because I know people who are in the club are very interested in finance as a job.” Patel added that she is curious about how the alumni got into the colleges and finance programs, and how far they have progressed in their finance careers.
Gilligan shows how strong the ColtsVest club is with so many great traders and investors. ColtsVest trader of the year Manny Zapata said, “I would like to ask the alumni how they use real-life investment in their day-to-day lives, and what they learn from their experiences so far.” Also, Zapata expressed that he wants to learn more about the graduates and how they use investments and finance to grow and succeed.
The event seems like a thrilling success, leaving the Investment Club members with a wealth of knowledge and motivation. Sophomore Josh Fein said, “I think my interest in investing will go up after hearing about the graduates because they will give me more information that I didn’t already know.” KHS hopes to continue similar programs in the future, connecting current students with alumni who can offer real-world perspectives and guidance.
