TRADE WITH
REAL MONEY,
MAKE REAL CASH
Earn a $500 real trading account through community service. Trade it during camp. Pass the exam and earn $750 more. Win the 6-month competition and take home $5,000.
STUDENT ROSTER
Camp completed · 17 Students · All passed the exam! · Grand Prize: $5,000
| Student | Status | Pre-Camp | Account Balance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Kaytra | Passed Exam ✓ | 🏆 Competing | $1,250 |
| 2Edy | Passed Exam ✓ | 🏆 Competing | $1,250 |
| 3Finley | Passed Exam ✓ | 🏆 Competing | $1,250 |
| 4Maggie | Passed Exam ✓ | 🏆 Competing | $1,250 |
| 5Nolah | Passed Exam ✓ | 🏆 Competing | $1,250 |
| 6Grace | Passed Exam ✓ | 🏆 Competing | $1,250 |
| 7George | Passed Exam ✓ | 🏆 Competing | $1,250 |
| 8Lotus | Passed Exam ✓ | 🏆 Competing | $1,250 |
| 9Hunter | Passed Exam ✓ | 🏆 Competing | $1,250 |
| 10Siri | Passed Exam ✓ | 🏆 Competing | $1,250 |
| 11Otis | Passed Exam ✓ | 🏆 Competing | $1,250 |
| 12Jack | Passed Exam ✓ | 🏆 Competing | $1,250 |
| 13Sacha | Passed Exam ✓ | 🏆 Competing | $1,250 |
| 14Kashlynn | Passed Exam ✓ | 🏆 Competing | $1,250 |
| 15Kayla | Passed Exam ✓ | 🏆 Competing | $1,250 |
| 16Sadie | Passed Exam ✓ | 🏆 Competing | $1,250 |
| 17Orson | Passed Exam ✓ | 🏆 Competing | $1,250 |
NOT A
SIMULATION.
Every other finance program hands you fake money and calls it learning. We don't. Students trade real capital, face real consequences, and build real conviction. That's what makes Finance Camp unforgettable.
Real Money
Students trade actual capital in live markets — not a simulator.
Real Stocks
NYSE, NASDAQ, real tickers, real price action, real decisions.
Real Stakes
Earn a $500 account, pass the exam for $750 more, then compete 6 months for the $5,000 grand prize.
Real Access
Mentors with 40+ years on Wall Street. Connections that matter.
5 Days.
5 Levels Up.
From zero to portfolio in five intense, exhilarating days. No finance background required.
REAL MONEY.
EVERY STEP.
Finance Camp is the only program where students earn, trade, and compete with real dollars — from day one through year end.
RON
SPEAKER
Ron Speaker's finance career began humbly in 1985 with a $5-an-hour internship in the mailroom at Janus Capital. What he didn't know was that he'd joined a rocket ship. Over the next two decades, Ron witnessed and contributed to Janus's explosive growth from $600 million to over $330 billion in assets under management as the firm rode the tech boom.
Rising through the ranks from mailroom to securities analyst to portfolio manager, Ron eventually managed several billion-dollar fixed income funds within the renowned equity house. Throughout this remarkable 21-year journey, he had the privilege of learning from some of Wall Street's most legendary figures.
After leaving Janus, Ron founded Equus Private Wealth, his own investment firm, which he operated for 15 years before transitioning to administering a private family foundation for one of his cherished mentors.
Ron is also a guest columnist for Mid-Life Male magazine, where he writes the finance column — bringing Wall Street wisdom to everyday investors navigating the second half of life.
He has been happily married for 22 years and is the proud father of twin boys. Ron and his family are deeply rooted in Carbondale, Colorado, where he remains active in the Roaring Fork Valley community.
NEWS &
PRESS.
Stay up to date on Finance Camp announcements, press coverage, and camp news.
Should You Blast Off or Get Burned with the SpaceX IPO?
Finance Camp founder Ron Speaker weighs in on the largest IPO in history — examining Starlink's revenue, the risk of retail investors entering after institutional lockups expire, and whether to buy a starter position or sit this one out. Published in Mid-Life Male magazine.
SpaceX IPO Launches Successfully — Students Traded Live on Day One
SpaceX filed its S-1 on May 20, 2026, targeting a $1.75 trillion valuation on Nasdaq under ticker SPCX. The largest IPO in history launched successfully on June 12, 2026 — the last day of Finance Camp. Our students were trading live the exact moment SPCX hit the market. A real-world finance milestone no classroom could replicate.
Finance Camp Opens Applications for Summer 2026 Session
The Finance Camp, the only teen bootcamp in the country where students trade real money in live markets, has officially opened applications for its Summer 2026 session in Basalt, Colorado. Spots are limited and the program is 100% free to attend. The top performer takes home $5,000.
2025 Champion Takes Home $5,000 Grand Prize
Last summer's Finance Camp champion grew their $1,250 account the most over the 6-month post-camp competition, earning the $5,000 grand prize.
Finance Camp Featured in Roaring Fork Valley News
Local media spotlights the Finance Camp's unique approach to financial literacy — putting real money in the hands of teens from day one.
Finance Camp Est. 2023 — Recap of Our First Two Years
Founder Ron Speaker reflects on two years of Finance Camp, the lessons learned, and what's ahead for the most unique teen finance program in the country.
READY TO
INVEST?
Earn a real $500 trading account through community service. Trade it during camp, pass the exam for $750 more, then compete through year end for the $5,000 grand prize. Applications close April 15th.
Summer 2026 Just Concluded — Summer 2027: June 7–11 · Ages 14–17No prior finance experience required · Basalt, Colorado
FOLLOW THE
JOURNEY.
Get behind-the-scenes content, student highlights, market insights, and camp updates. Join the Finance Camp community on Instagram.
