Stock Market Competition
Gain Practical Experience in Stock Trading and Expand Financial Literacy
About Us
Join UC Irvine’s Stock Market Competition (SMC), presented by the Center for Investment and Wealth Management (CIWM) and the Financial Literacy Association (FLA)! This competition gives all undergraduates the chance to engage in hands-on stock trading while enhancing their financial literacy. Students of all experience levels are encouraged to participate. The top 10 competitors and their stock portfolios will battle for a spot in the final three and the chance to win exciting cash prizes!
Workshop Overview
All workshops (including orientation) will take place in the Porter Colloquium, Suite 5200. The room can be found on the 5th floor of The Paul Merage School of Business, SB1.
Week 4
January 30, 2025 | 6:00 - 7:30pm
SMC (Stock Market Competition) Orientation
Week 6
February 13, 2025 | 6:00 - 7:00pm
Workshop 1: Beginner Investing
Week 7
February 20, 2025 | 6:00 - 7:00pm
Workshop 2: Risk & Diversification
Week 8
February 27, 2025 | 6:00 - 7:00pm
Workshop 3: Alternative Investing Strategies
Week 9
March 6, 2025 | 6:00 - 7:00pm
Workshop 4: Real World Investing
Week 10
March 13, 2025 | 6:00 - 7:00pm
Workshop 5: Investing and Saving Strategies
Resources for Participants
Participating in FLA's Stock Market Competition (SMC) was an invaluable experience that has significantly shaped my understanding of investing. With limited investing experience, FLA served as the cornerstone of my financial literacy by providing accessible and digestible resources that eased the learning curve. Through weekly workshops led by experts and guest speakers, I gained valuable insights into investing basics and why early investment is crucial for wealth-building. The simulation aspect allowed me to experiment with different strategies and visualize the impact of scaling contributions. FLA's emphasis on long-term investment over short-term gains resonated with me as I believe that money should work for you, not the other way around. My motivation to join the competition also stemmed from wanting to strengthen my understanding of finance, with the ultimate goal of promoting financial education. The opportunity to take part in the SMC has not only equipped me with practical knowledge but also empowered me to take control of my financial future.
Katy Ying Chen '26
2024 SMC Winner
The Stock Market Competition is such a great opportunity for students to practice investing. My favorite part is that ranking in the SMC is not purely based on return on investment, but also includes an evaluation of a written paper and presentation. I joined the SMC and FLA to really test my investing skills and broaden my perspectives on personal finance. I know how important it is to start early when it comes to investing, so I thought this was the perfect chance for me to get more practical experience.
As an undergraduate at UCI, there is no better opportunity to practice investing while also hearing from experts on the subject. Learning how to efficiently and effectively summarize insights from company data to evaluate stocks, as well as more generalized personal finance strategies such as managing credit were extremely valuable lessons. FLA consistently brought out great speakers, and I was always very interested in the variety of topics covered. Personal finance is a subject that I believe everyone should learn, and the Stock Market Competition workshops allowed for myself and many others to absorb impactful lessons from finance professionals.
I am very grateful to have participated in the myriad of opportunities available through the Stock Market Competition and FLA. It was an amazing experience, and I'd highly recommend any fellow undergraduates at UCI to participate, it is not just a great resource to test your investing skills, but also a fun way to get hands on with investing in a risk-free environment.
Jessica Tam '25
2024 SMC Winner
Sponsors
Financial Literacy Association Board
Ethan Tai
President
My passion for the financial industry stems from a strong desire to develop my financial skills and empower others to do the same. Joining FLA has allowed me to cultivate my tenacity, adaptability, and dedication while connecting with a community that shares my commitment to financial literacy. As President, I am excited to lead a team that provides students with valuable resources and opportunities, fostering a deeper understanding of personal finance and financial independence.
Mason Chen
Director of External Relations
I had the opportunity to intern for FLA as a freshman and, while attending the board meetings, they were all very passionate about being able to teach this niche life skill. Even though I am still learning more about finance, I am glad I can teach other students the skills needed to grow their personal wealth. Although our board comes from a diverse background, I have found a community here where we can consistently meet and work together to reach this goal.
Jessica Tam
Director of Outreach
I have always had a passion for personal finance, so FLA’s interesting guest speakers and hosting of the Stock Market Competition drew me in. As I continued to attend meetings, I felt the passion for personal finance the other members of the organization had and was learning a lot from participating in the SMC. Especially as a transfer student, it was difficult for me to figure out where I wanted to dedicate my time to, but FLA gave me a community that I aligned with. Now, as a member of the board, I am happy to continue enriching the student body’s personal finance knowledge while working with the rest of my fellow FLA members.
Contact Us
Todd and Lisa Halbrook Center for Investment and Wealth Management
ciwm@merage.uci.edu
949.824.2675
Discord
