Investment Club at USF

We are proud to showcase the Investment Club at USF! A heartfelt thank you to our dedicated members, alumni, and faculty whose support continues to make our club a hub for aspiring future leaders. We hope this video inspires you to join us on our journey toward excellence in finance! #InvestmentClubatUSF #CompoundingSuccessStories

Check out the newest GIR Report! Dive into key insights on topics like: Macroeconomic Overview, Equity Research, and Fixed Income! #InvestmentClubatUSF #CompoundingSuccessStories

Alumni Career Journey: Nicholas Deguzman - From Investment Club at USF to PEI Global Partners Meet Nicholas Deguzman, an IC alum who’s thriving as an Investment Banking Analyst at PEI Global Partners. In our Alumni Career Journey series, the Investment Club at USF is thrilled to highlight how Nicholas’s journey through IC helped him develop key skills, expand his network, and ultimately break into the finance world. 🔍 Why the Investment Club? In Fall 2022, Nicholas joined the Investment Club at USF with a clear vision, he wanted to surround himself with driven, like-minded individuals who aspired to make it to Wall Street. He believed the club would offer him invaluable technical and professional opportunities to grow, and he was right. While GIR developed his writing skills, enabling him to create concise and impactful reports, AM enhanced his knowledge of private markets and personal trading. With time, his role evolved, allowing him to lead and develop skills that eventually prepared for his future in finance. 🏦 The Path to Leadership as a GIR Associate, Nicholas guided two analysts. His dedication and experience earned him a promotion to Head of Asset Management, where he managed a team of 40+ analysts and learned to guide and align everyone’s efforts, hosting weekly workshops to close skill gaps and keep the team on track. Additionally, this strengthened his public speaking abilities, proving invaluable as he presented ideas to senior executives in the corporate world. 📊 Competitions and External Exposure Nicholas also led the club’s participation in stock pitch competitions, notably at the University of Georgia and University of Florida. Through these events, he learned how to think critically, create compelling pitch decks, and handle spontaneous questions. Competing against talented teams also motivated him and helped him improve his ability to analyze details and present with confidence. 🌐 Networking & Career Breakthroughs Nicholas recalled how crucial the Investment Club was to his recruitment journey, serving as “an internship before the internship.” He credits his experience with financial modeling and IC’s professional environment for helping him land roles at BNY Mellon, Star Mountain Capital, and PEI Global Partners. Through IC events, he also built connections with industry professionals and alumni, opening doors that supported his recruitment journey and career growth. 💡 Advice for Current Members? Maximize your resources, attend events, immerse yourself in training, and put 110% effort into everything you do. IC isn’t just a place to learn, but also a launchpad for your career, so take full advantage of the opportunities! The Investment Club at USF is proud to have been part of Nicholas Deguzman’s career journey. His dedication, leadership, and passion for finance inspire us all. We wish him continued success at PEI Global Partners and beyond! #InvestmentClubatUSF #PEIGlobalPartners #AlumniCareerJourney

The Wealth Management Team is working hard, sharing another insightful Report—this time on Asset Allocation! #InvestmentClubatUSF #WealthManagement #CompoundingSuccessStories

From Small Investments to Big Deals: The Finance Journey of Jack Shepherd Jack Shepherd's journey into the world of finance began at a young age with his passion for business, math, and investing. In 8th grade, Jack used his birthday savings and lemonade stand earnings to begin investing. This initial experience with investing ignited a deeper interest in understanding how businesses and the stock market operate. In the fall of 2022, Jack enrolled at the University of South Florida, joining the Bulls Business Community (BBC) and majoring in Finance. During his freshman year, he focused on maintaining a perfect GPA, knowing the importance of academic performance in a competitive job market. Through the BBC, Jack was introduced to financial firms like Raymond James, which helped shape his desire to pursue more hands-on experience in financial markets. That desire led him to the Investment Club (IC), where Jack found a group of like-minded, driven individuals who shared his passion for finance. By his freshman summer, Jack had secured two exciting internships. The first was at DeepWork Capital, a venture capital firm in Orlando focused on tech and healthcare investments. Simultaneously, he worked part-time at bundleIQ, an AI startup, where he developed business strategies, prepared pitch decks, and cultivated customer relationships. Balancing these two roles gave Jack a unique perspective on both the buy and sell sides of the industry. In the meantime, Jack joined the Investment Club Recruitment Cohort overseen by Justin Kwitchoff, where he honed his skills in networking and interview preparation. He continued to seek opportunities for growth by reaching out to Comvest Partners, a private equity and private credit firm where he had built connections the previous year, resulting in an intern role during his sophomore summer. During his time at Comvest Partners, Jack participated in pitch meetings, analyzed financial statements, and provided insights on potential investments, gaining invaluable experience. Jack’s engagement and hard work landed him a superday interview with Stifel. Drawing on his IC experiences, Jack secured an offer to Investment Banking class of 2025 in New York City. With his upcoming role at Stifel, he looks forward to furthering his career in finance and making his mark in the industry. #CompoundingSuccessStories #InvestmentClubatUSF #OurSuccessStories #Stifel

Following our Wealth Management Team’s recent and very successful Financial Planning Presentation, we share their first WMD Report this semester! #InvestmentClubatUSF #WealthManagement #FinancialPlanning #CompoundingSuccessStories

Check out our Global Investment Research Team's latest Report! #InvestmentClubatUSF #GlobalInvestmentResearch #CompoundingSuccessStories

From Aspiring Finance Student to Industry Leader: Claudia's Journey of Growth and Mentorship, Paving the Way for Future Success Claudia's journey at the University of South Florida began in the Fall of 2022, where she embarked on her studies majoring in Finance. From the start, she knew her passion for the markets was something she wanted to explore further. Early in her academic career, she secured a role as a Reconciliation Accounting Assistant, diving deep into financial statements and gaining insights into how transactions impact an organization’s operations. In her pursuit of knowledge, Claudia joined the USF Investment Club in late 2022, eager to expand her understanding of finance beyond the classroom. By Spring 2023, she became a divisional member and took on the role of GIR Associate, reporting on the Financial Sector. This position introduced her to equity research, providing valuable exposure to the financial industry and deepening her understanding of how firms operate. One of Claudia's proudest moments was participating in the club’s pitch competition in Spring 2023, where she competed with her GIR Financials Team and showcased her skills, developing a keen interest in Asset Management (AMD). This eventually led to her role as a Senior Investment Analyst in the Asset Management team, where she honed her technical abilities in valuation, financial statement analysis, and public speaking. Presenting complex industry insights with clarity became her forte. Her ambition didn’t stop there. Claudia was admitted to the prestigious Women's Advisory Program, where she found meaningful mentorship and discovered a passion for fixed income, particularly the origination side. This experience ignited her desire to return to GIR, this time to lead the FICC team, applying her skills in research and due diligence to fixed-income reports on corporate bonds. Claudia’s drive and dedication led to a milestone achievement: becoming the first USF undergraduate to secure an internship at RBC's New York City office. Recognizing her passion for mentorship and helping others succeed, the Investment Club's executive board encouraged her to establish the club’s newest division: Placement. Through this division, Claudia has been instrumental in guiding students through the intricacies of the financial landscape, helping them secure mentorship and placements via the Finance Career Compass Program. As she looks ahead to joining RBC this summer, Claudia is filled with gratitude for the experiences that have shaped her journey and excited to give back to the organization that played such a pivotal role in her growth. Her story is one of passion, perseverance, and a commitment to making a meaningful impact. #CompoundingSuccessStories #InvestmentClubatUSF #OurSuccessStories #RBC

Charting a Course in Finance from USF to Houlihan Lokey In the spring of 2023, Vance Sommers embarked on his academic journey at the USF Muma College of Business, initially majoring in Finance. With a fervent interest in deepening his expertise, he soon added a minor in Economics and a concentration in Investment Analysis, aiming to carve a robust path in the financial sector. Vance’s dedication to expanding his knowledge led him to become an active member of the Investment Club at USF. He started as an Investment Analyst in the Asset Management Division in Spring 2024 and quickly rose to the position of Director of Financial Modeling by the Fall. His regular participation in the club meetings was pivotal, as it not only enhanced his understanding of the financial landscape but also exposed him to the critical importance of internships for shaping a finance career. Capitalizing on the network he built at USF and within the broader community, Vance secured his first internship at BayFirst Financial during the summer following his sophomore year. At BayFirst, he delved into the fundamentals of credit analysis within their underwriting department, gaining valuable real-world experience that solidified the theoretical knowledge he gained in class. The fall of that year marked another significant milestone for Vance as he joined Day Hagan Asset Management as an intern. There, he learned to analyze and evaluate various securities from the perspective of an institutional investor, a skill that proved indispensable in his later roles. During his time at Day Hagan, Vance not only contributed to ongoing projects but also spent considerable personal time mastering financial modeling and preparing for future opportunities. This preparation paved the way for Vance’s successful application and subsequent summer analyst offer at Houlihan Lokey, where he impressed the team with his analytical acumen and understanding of financial markets. His performance over the course of the summer led to a fulltime offer within their prestigious Portfolio Valuation and Fund Advisory group. Vance Sommers' journey from a curious student at USF to a promising young professional in the financial industry exemplifies the power of dedication, strategic learning, and practical experience in the financial industry. His story is a testament to the doors that can open when one is committed to continual growth and excellence in their field! #CompoundingSuccessStories #InvestmentClubatUSF #HoulihanLokey #OurSuccessStories

Check out our Global Investment Research Team’s first Report of the semester! #InvestmentClubatUSF #GlobalInvestmentResearch