Over the past eight years, The Max Investment Club has enjoyed a great deal of success. The club's membership has risen to the point where it is the second most active club in Sy Syms and Yeshiva College, exceeded only by the Israel Club.

This year's club, led by Presidents Meir Crayk and Deedee Weberman, boasts a members list of well over one hundred people, and thirty to forty members attend the club's monthly meetings. The Max Investment Club usually meets in the evenings on the Yeshiva College campus. Women from Stern are invited to join the club and attend the meetings as well. In order to join the club, students must invest a minimum of $100 into the fund; however, many people have contributed much more than the requisite amount.

The time at these sessions is used very constructively. At each gathering, there are between three and four presentations by members of the club. A speaker can present for any of a variety of purposes; explication of investment strategies and specific stock recommendations generally are two topics that generally appear at most meetings.

Club members are invited to present at the meetings and are rewarded for doing so. Merely attending club meetings entitles a student to list him or herself as a member of The Max Investment Club on his resume. However, those who actively participate by giving presentations are promoted to the position of club director. Leadership ability is a quality sought by most financial firms, and being a director in the Max Investment Club may help students get a leg up in the competitive financial world.

Another aspect of the club is the occasional guest who comes to speak to address club members. Last year, the club invited one former graduate who is now working at Morgan Stanley Dean Witter to describe what he does everyday at work. This year, the club hopes to bring in more speakers who will share their experiences with students. In addition to providing a useful education, hopefully these speakers will provide students with some excellent career guidance.

On top of the presentations and guest speakers, the club also publishes a monthly newsletter for its members, updating them on the fund's holdings and performance. All are encouraged to help out in publishing the newsletter. This, too, can also provide some extra padding on a student's resume.

Although the club strives for good performance in its fund, that is not its primary focus. The club's purpose is to be a place where people can come and learn about the stock market and the economy. Members of all undergraduate majors are encouraged to participate because the relevance of the material discussed in the club is useful to everyone. Whether a student has intentions to go into medicine, law, academia, the rabbinate or business, the stock market will probably be a part of their future.

Many students have found the club to be a very beneficial educational tool. One member of the club noted, "The Max Investment Club has certainly added to my understanding of the financial world. I hope the club will continue adding to my ever-growing knowledge of the stock market and the economy. I am certain I will need this knowledge in the future."