Five years ago, anyone playing the stock market seemed to be making money. As times have changed, the true volatility of the stock market has become apparent while a group of more experienced traders maintain stability. Enter the Fairfield University Bull ‘ Bear Investment Society.
The Bull and Bear Investment Society was established this year to give students real world experience in trading stocks to compliment classroom information. The group is in its first year of existence and is looking to establish a large membership.
“We are open to all students at Fairfield, not necessarily just those in the Business School,” said co-founder Bill Freda ’03. “Most people within their life will invest in the stock market regardless of their profession.”
The B’B Investment Society was established in coordination with affiliates at Pace University and City University in New York, and is working to establish chapters at other related universities.
Activities that members participate in include: virtual stock trading, speakers, trips, and bimonthly meetings.
“The club is a great way for its members to network and meet great contacts,” said faculty moderator David Schmidt. “The students will gain practical hands on training of how the stock market works.”
The group is working to establish a web site, which will include a Resume Book complete with the resumes of all members.
“We were looking to establish a group more specified than some of the other clubs,” said Jerry Cammarata ’03. “We deal strictly with the stock market and having a good time making money.”
According the Cammarata, the main aspect of the group is the virtual stock trading game. Members trade stocks during the semester and the person who has maintained the strongest portfolio throughout the semester is the winner.
The group is working to establish contacts with corporations to serve as liaisons between recruiters and students, providing valuable internships. The group has established contacts, and sent members to interviews with companies such as Primerica Financial.
B’B works to prepare members for the graduate school admission process and is setting up a tutoring system where members help others who have questions with finance related topics.
“I am definitely going to go to the next meeting of B’B,” said Andy Lynn ’04, a first semester transfer student. “They didn’t have anything like that at my previous school. Opportunities like these are the reason I chose to come to Fairfield.”
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