The Neil Griffin Student Investment Club at Arkansas State University is dedicated to providing students with investment management education and practical skills, empowering them to excel in the industry.

The club’s vision is to equip students with the experience and knowledge needed to break into the investment management field.

The club was created in April 2024, and the first meeting was held in August 2024. Keon Okoh, president of the investment club, was inspired to start the organization after taking a class with assistant professor of finance, Nanying Lin.

Okoh, an economics major from Johannesburg, South Africa, said Lin’s teachings motivated him to create a space where students could develop financial knowledge.

“What we’re doing is building that critical thinking skill, number one,” Okoh said. “And then number two, in terms of their own personal financial literacy. If you’re investing in a company—to a certain degree—you need to know what you’re investing in, the numbers to look at and how to interpret things.”

Vice President Willem Coertzen, an agricultural science major from Vanderbijlpark, South Africa, said the club meets every two weeks.

“What that would normally entail is we sit down and talk a little bit about the markets, what has been happening,” Coertzen said. “We try and get guest speakers every now and then to come talk to the students.”

He said the guest speakers are a fundamental part of the club’s value, offering wisdom and real-world experience.

Lin said financial education is very important.

“I think financial literacy is key,” Lin said. “But it’s not always enough, because finance is a lifetime topic. You need to learn finance and economics, even if you are retired. So it’s not just for students.”

Lin said the investment club can benefit not just students but anyone seeking economic success in today’s society. Many, he said, struggle to provide for their daily needs due to a lack of financial knowledge.

“The club is still very young, and we’d love for it to continue and grow,” Coertzen said. “But we’re also learning, because it’s not something we’ve ever done before. I remember looking at other club structures. I was phoning people from other clubs to try to figure out how they approached things. So with the club being young, there’s still a lot that can change as we progress.”

Despite its newness, Coertzen said he and Okoh have found a structure that is both engaging and useful for students.

“This club has been very instrumental for me,” Coertzen said. “If it wasn’t for this club, I wouldn’t have the summer internship I secured, and it’s also helped with my graduate school applications. It’s such a great talking point in conversations.”

Okoh said the skills he’s gained from the club have been invaluable.

“The skills that I learned from the investment club – like how to enter information into Excel, how to create pitch decks, how to speak and project myself—still transfer into my personal career,” Okoh said. “Now it’s to the point where I’ve built such a passion for it that I want to go to grad school and pursue equity research as a full-time career in real estate data analytics.”

He said the club has helped him develop crucial financial skills that are shaping both his present and future.

“It’s personally transformed my career,” Okoh said. “Even the people I talk to within the real estate sector, it’s almost like a coffee chat. When I’m speaking with a recruiter or someone in the professional field, they’re interested in that extra skill I have.”

Okoh said the best way to get involved or earn a leadership position in the club is to consistently attend meetings and demonstrate a strong work ethic.

More information about the club can be found on their website: https://www.griffinstudentinvestmentclub.com/about-us

Categories: Life