Guilford Student, Finance Company Start Teen Investing Project

GUILFORD, CT — Cliff Mackowiak of Guilford is a Bentley University student planning on majoring in Corporate Finance and Accounting. And as a a member of the Bentley Investment Group and Bentley Ultimate Society, he’s also part of a real-world wealth management firm’s project for students from grades 7 to 10 to learn how investing works.

Mackowiak, who was a Guilford High School varsity soccer and tennis player and longtime member of the Boy Scouts Troop 471, said the project from Guilford wealth management firm Mainsail Capital Management, is an “exciting opportunity” for kids to “learn about the ins and outs of finance and how beneficial investing can truly be.”

The project allows students to “explore the world of finance using an online trading-simulator without the risks that come with working with real investments.”

Projects leaders Mackowiak and Mainsail Capital’s Co-Founder Rance Hillier are “eager to educate the students on investing and giving back to our local community.

Through a virtual trading simulator platform, the five-month program beginning July 1, will have participants “conduct their own research and put their ideas to work within a portfolio alongside an experienced a financial advisor on analysis, research, and implementation of their portfolios. This will be coordinated with weekly video conferences via Zoom for each student, allowing us to answer questions, provide guidance, and help them on their simulated investment journey.”

Mackowiak said that another “primary goal of the project is to demonstrate the need and desire to give back to our community.”

“Hillier has generously offered to personally donate to three charitable organizations chosen by the students at the end of the project. These donations will be made in honor of the top three finishers from a return perspective. We will also have various prizes to offer throughout the project as well as a celebratory function towards the end of August,” Mackowiak said.

“The project will leverage technology to ensure we are teaching from a safe distance while accomplishing our goals. Because this will be based on distance learning, we are seeking any interested students currently in grades 7-10,” he said.

If you have a child, grandchild, niece, or nephew who would be interested or have any questions regarding the project, please have them reach out to Cliff directly to enroll (email: cliff.mackowiak@reagan.com or cell phone: (203) 980-4903).