UBC Finance Club
An Interview with Peter Stein
1. What are the goals of the UBC Finance Club and can you tell me how the organization got started?
I was elected on a platform of best practices, focus, and accountability, and that’s what I plan to institute for the year. Much like the usefulness of CAPM, the details of the history of our club are shrouded in complexity so much so that it’s uncertain if anyone really knows. I can tell you we’re celebrating our 20th year with the largest event we’ve ever held, the National Investment Banking Competition, though.
2. What types of events does the Finance Club run during the year?
The UBC Finance Club executes a variety of events of three general types, informational, networking, and competitive. In this way we are able to inform our members of the difference facets of finance, provide them connections with professionals, and allow them to present their skills before a panel of seasoned judges from the industry. We tend to be professionally focused, and as such a majority of our funds are devoted to endeavors other than socials. However, this year in particular is a breakout year for our Investment Banking Competition, which has reached a national scale, and we’re inviting students from all Canadian universities to participate (www.ibc.ubcfinanceclub.com).
2. Peter, can you tell me about yourself? How did you get involved with the organization and become President?
Recreationally I focus on ice hockey, tennis, and cycling, where my hockey team is the returning western Canadian ASHL champions. My pre-professional life began as I fled a career in automotive design, and found myself gravitating academically, philosophically, and practicably to business, and later to investing. I initiated my own portfolio and small business to fund my education, and eventually found myself at the Sauder School of Business in Vancouver, BC, where I grew up. I joined the UBC Finance Club the first year I arrived at UBC, and took on an executive position the next year while running for President. And now, I play a lot less hockey.
4. What advice do you have for other students that are interested in assuming a leadership role in a student organization?
I would generalize student organizations as those where marketing and execution are paramount. The day to day operations of the UBC Finance Club have little to do with finance, and much more to do with logistics, so taking the above into account I would say the ambitious student should not limit themselves to organizations which fit their specialization, as long as they can market and execute on their obligations with some common sense.
5. What are your current views on the economic markets?
Well, I really don’t prefer to speculate with macro trends. I believe I read once that one is supposed to make projections about events 5 years hence in order to stifle the memory should the projections run awry, but close enough to still be within memory should they not. In any case, a steep margin of safety coupled with a good business always prevails in the long run.
6. Where can students go to get more information about your organization or to reach out to you?
UBC Finance Club information is as follows:
General inquiries: info@ubcfinanceclub.com
Website: www.ubcfinanceclub.com
Our IBC website: www.ibc.ubcfinanceclub.com
My email address: peter.stein@ubcfinanceclub.com
Thank you for your time, I’m flattered and honored by the interview.
