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

From Baseball to Business: Justin Kwitchoff’s Journey Through Networking, Leadership, and Community to Inspire Future Finance Leaders. Justin’s finance journey started in high school, where he realized that his interest and curiosity for baseball statistics and player valuation had parallels to institutional finance and business valuation that provided clarity as to what major he should pursue during college. Before attending university, Justin began his networking journey, reaching out to current USF students and alumni in the finance industry. Through these conversations, he was able to jumpstart his understanding of not only the finance industry but also his understanding of which student organizations seemed like a fit for his goals. Following through on insights gained through his networking calls, Justin joined the Investment Club at USF, Phi Chi Theta, and the Real Estate Society during his first semester at USF. He was given the chance to hold a leadership position with the Real Estate Society, where he gained an understanding of organizational strategy as well as event planning and execution. He also was provided the opportunity to lead the Energy sector coverage for the Global Investment Research team, which taught him team leadership, attention to detail, and provided the chance to apply financial concepts to a real product. Through his leadership positions, Justin was able to secure his first internship with Franklin Street on their Multifamily Investment Sales team. This experience, coupled with connections forged through the Investment Club, opened the door to Star Mountain Capital, which was a foundational experience for Justin’s early finance career. On campus, Justin continued advancing with the Investment Club and Phi Chi Theta, holding executive-level leadership positions focused on team development and community engagement. The combination of leadership and professional experience resulted in an opportunity to join ORIX Corporation’s Growth Capital Team in Dallas during his sophomore summer, where he gained fundamental technology investing experience. The culmination of these professional opportunities, on-campus initiatives, and networking resulted in an offer to join Sixth Street on their Growth team in New York City as the first USF undergraduate placement at the firm. Following a successful summer, Justin will be returning full-time to Austin, Texas starting in the summer of 2025. Justin remains heavily involved with Phi Chi Theta and the Investment Club as he aims to continue contributing to the growth and success of the finance community at USF. He is incredibly grateful for all the mentorship and guidance he has received and focuses on fostering a give-back culture at USF to inspire a tight-knit community of ambitious students. #InvestmentClubatUSF #CompoundingSuccessStories #OurSuccessStories

Check out the Global Investment Research Team’s November Report! Explore the latest market trends, key analysis, and strategic opportunities! #InvestmentClubatUSF #GlobalInvestmentResearch #CompoundingSuccessStories

From Classroom Projects to Real-World Impact: The Investment Path of Jacob Abraham! The finance journey began early for Jacob Abraham, inspired by a fascination with the mechanics of business and the forces driving companies toward success. This interest was solidified during his junior year of high school, particularly in an economics class project where he created a stock portfolio. The extensive research required for the project created in him a genuine passion for investing, especially as he saw real returns on his initial investments. In the Fall of 2022, Jacob chose to major in Finance at the University of South Florida, dedicating his first year to studying the strategies of legendary investors like Warren Buffett, Peter Lynch, and Stanley Druckenmiller. Understanding how these icons of the financial market navigated its complexities laid a strong foundation for his future growth in the field. Sophomore year brought a pivotal moment as he joined the Investment Club, gaining hands-on experience in investment analysis and financial modeling. Through IC, Jacob was able to apply theoretical concepts in real-world scenarios, surrounded by like-minded peers with similar ambitions. These experiences sharpened his critical thinking and decision-making skills beyond the classroom. To deepen his expertise, Jacob pursued the CFA Level 1 exam last summer, completing this rigorous challenge and expanding his understanding of financial principles and investment strategies as he earned the certification. In 2024, he began recruiting for internships and secured a Public Markets Investing Intern position at TRS of Texas in Austin for the Summer of 2025. As part of TRS’s Investment Management Division, Jacob looks forward to making a meaningful impact in the investment management industry, embodying the spirit of growth and ambition celebrated by the Investment Club.? ? #InvestmentClubatUSF #CompoundingSuccessStories #OurSuccessStories

The newest Investment Strategy Team’s Report on Capital Markets! #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