The Storm King School is preparing students for the future of finance with the launch of the Storm King Student Managed Investment Fund (SMIF)—a student-led initiative that provides real-world financial experience while building a lasting institutional legacy for the School.

The idea for the fund was developed by Storm King senior Luis G. ’26, who took the initiative to develop the framework for the program with the support of faculty advisor Rushdi Siddiqui, Storm King CFOO Andrew Smith, and Head of School Lisa Shambaugh. After months of research, planning, and collaboration, Luis formally presented the proposal to the Storm King Board of Trustees, which approved the creation of the Student Managed Investment Fund.

Now, as Luis prepares to graduate in May 2026, he and the School are working to institutionalize the program so it can continue serving future generations of Storm King students for years to come. The SMIF is designed not only as an educational opportunity for current students, but also as a long-term program that future student leaders can inherit, manage, and expand.

Building Financial Leaders Through Real Experience

In essence, the Student Managed Investment Fund is an educational platform. Students participating in the fund will advise investment decisions after conducting company research, evaluating investments using Wall Street-level financial metrics, drafting formal investment theses, debating opportunities as a committee, and they will monitor portfolio performance over time.

Unlike classroom simulations, the SMIF is structured as a real investment fund with actual capital, institutional oversight, and a written Investment Policy Statement (IPS) governing every decision.

“Our goal is to build the next generation of financial leaders right here at Storm King,” explains Luis. “Students are not just learning theory — they are learning how disciplined investing, research, and long-term thinking work in practice.”

Participation is open to all Storm King students regardless of prior investing experience, creating opportunities for those interested in finance, economics, business, mathematics, and leadership.

A Long-Term Vision

Beyond its educational purpose, the SMIF has been designed with a broader institutional goal: helping grow a long-term financial legacy for the School.

The fund will begin with seed capital, which the students are working to secure now via a donation strategy they developed along with Director of Development Sarah Fulton. Once established, the student recommendations will follow a conservative investment strategy focused on diversified equities and fixed income securities. Risk management protocols are also central to the structure of the fund. To maintain discipline and preserve capital, the fund prohibits speculative trading practices such as cryptocurrency investments, options trading, leverage, derivatives, and short selling. “Capital preservation is the primary objective. The Fund is not a vehicle for speculation,” continues Luis.

Every investment decision follows a formal five-step process, and no trade may be executed without completing all stages of the process. Faculty advisors will approve and enact the students’ recommended investment strategies.

The governance model mirrors institutional investment committees and introduces students to professional standards of accountability, transparency, and fiduciary responsibility. Students are expected to approach each investment recommendation with in-depth research, written analysis, and thorough debate before any decision is made.

Giving Back to Storm King

For Luis, creating the Fund was about more than launching a new student organization — it was about building something sustainable that would outlast his time at Storm King.

“My goal from the beginning was to create a program that future students could inherit, improve, and grow over time. With [faculty advisors] Mr. Siddiqui’s and Mr. Smith’s help, our goal was to establish a real institutional framework that could continue long after graduation,” explains Luis.

During the Fund’s first two years, all gains will be reinvested to maximize long-term compounding and grow the portfolio’s asset base. Beginning in year three, 50% of annual realized profits are planned to be distributed back to the School to support scholarships, academic innovation, campus improvements, and student-led initiatives.

The distribution policy will be reviewed annually based on fund performance and institutional priorities, creating a sustainable framework designed to benefit future generations of students.

A Unique Opportunity at the High School Level

The Storm King Student Managed Investment Fund is among only a handful of high school student-managed investment funds in the United States.

By combining strong investment strategy with student leadership and institutional purpose, the SMIF is a platform for developing analytical thinking, responsible stewardship, and long-term leadership skills in an increasingly complex financial world.

More importantly, it represents what can happen when students are encouraged to turn ideas into real-world initiatives. What began as a vision developed by one student has now become a permanent part of the Storm King experience that is designed to educate, spark interest, and benefit students for generations to come.

Currently, the Fund has raised $6,200 toward its $10,000 goal. To support Storm King’s Student Managed Investment Fund, click on the link below.