Investment Club at Lake Park has been educating students on the foundations of finance and investing since its beginning, and this year, the club has aimed to increase membership and regular meetings at both campuses.
“Investment Club is a student-led organization focused on teaching real-world financial literacy and investing skills,” Praneel Mehta (LP ‘26), founder and president of Investment Club, said. “We learn how financial markets work, analyze companies and economic trends, discuss long-term wealth-building strategies, and practice making informed investment decisions.”
Despite the school, offering a wide range of business and finance related electives, Praneel felt a need to create more ways to explore these fields of interest outside the classroom.
“I noticed a strong interest among students in investing and money management, but no structured way to explore it,” Praneel said.
This prompted him to begin the club on his own, from developing the concept and curriculum to getting the club approved and recruiting members.
“I wanted to create a space where students could learn practical skills, ask questions freely, and gain exposure to financial concepts early on,” he said. “Turning that idea into a functioning club was challenging, but it was important to me to build something that would outlast my time at the school.”
Praneel makes evident that the club’s reach goes beyond topics such as stocks and purely investing, as the club’s meetings also cover broader topics such as risk management, personal finance, and how global events impact markets.
“Our goal is to not only help students learn more about the world of investing and the stock market, but to also help students become financially informed and confident decision-makers, regardless of whether they pursue finance as a career or not,” Praneel said.
This year, the club boasts around 20-30 active members active in its Google Classroom across both campuses.
“The turnout has been very strong, especially for a new club, and it’s been encouraging to see consistent attendance and engagement,” Praneel said. “I’m satisfied not just with the number of members, but with how involved people are during meetings: asking questions, contributing to discussions, and genuinely wanting to learn. Seeing students become more confident discussing financial topics has been one of the most rewarding parts of running the club.”
One of these students, Rayan Abdul (LP ‘27), spoke positively about the support and environment the club promotes despite not having interest in pursuing finance as a career.
“I like how Investment Club connects academics with real life skills and directly prepares students for real world financial decisions,” he said. “Lake Park’s Investment Club has taught me a lot of general investment vocabulary, and I’ve really enjoyed learning about all the material the club covers.”
Praneel anticipates the future of the club to be bright after he graduates. He wishes for the club to expand its resources, such as introducing new guest speakers, simulations, and collaborative projects, so students can get a more hands-on experience.
“I hope the strong sense of curiosity, open discussion, and peer-to-peer learning stays the same,” he said. “I want the club to become even more structured and sustainable, with new student leaders bringing fresh ideas while staying true to the original mission of education, accessibility, and long-term thinking.”
Praneel is incredibly grateful for the impact and turnout the club has made on students as well as the school a whole.
“Founding the Investment Club has been one of the most meaningful experiences of my time in high school. I’m proud that the club has become a space where students feel empowered to learn skills that will benefit them far beyond the classroom. I’m so glad that with the support of our sponsors, we are able to host the Investment Club at both East and West Campus, so that all of Lake Park can learn and grow,” Praneel said.
