When University of Tampa sophomore Christopher Sacchinelli began day
trading in his freshman year, he made a discovery. Despite the vast
amount of information on the Internet and elsewhere about investments,
there was a lack of what he considered to be good information catering
specifically to young people. Over the course of a year, Sacchinelli
sought to change that.
The sum of his efforts, a Web site known as
www.successfulyounginvestor.com,
made its debut two weeks ago and has already attracted more than 1,500
visitors. Through the Web site, Sacchinelli offers young investors
advice on everything from the basics of investing to the specifics of
investing with stocks and bonds, banks, mutual funds and other means.
“I
wanted to develop a site for young investors so that they really
believe that they can be successful,” Sacchinelli said. “I figured there
wasn’t much information for young investors out there. The information I
did find made the kid seem like they really couldn’t become a
successful young investor. The goal is not to oversimplify it, but not
make it sound too complicated either.”
Sacchinelli’s longtime
interest in finances and investments began in the fifth grade, when he
says he first began making investments. As a student at UT, where he is
an economics major in the John Sykes College of Business, Sacchinelli
began taking detailed notes in his economics classes and doing
independent research to enhance his knowledge of the investment
industry.
With the help of a few friends, including a business
professional with six years of experience on Wall Street, Sacchinelli
began work on the Web site four months ago, composing most of the
content himself as well as coordinating the Web page design.
While
some of the content remains under construction, the site has already
attracted the attention of Web visitors in addition to local news
outlets in Sacchinelli’s hometown of Norwalk, CT.
“It’s kind of
become a cult thing in Norwalk,” he said, adding that since he began
work on the site, several people have sought his assistance in building a
financial portfolio. He hopes to see an average of 100,000 visitors to
the site per month.
Among the areas of the site still being
developed are sections on retirement planning, careers in the investment
industry as well as college financial planning. Having secured his own
educational financing himself, Sacchinelli says the
College of Business was a major factor in his decision to attend UT.
Eventually
he hopes to see the Web site develop into a collaborative effort in
which anyone with financial know-how can contribute content. A Web blog
currently offers the site’s viewers the opportunity to contribute their
own ideas and suggestions.
Another major goal is the establishment of a scholarship fund for any young investors who contribute significantly to the site.
The
site generates revenue through online advertising and the Successful
Young Investor bookstore, which markets investment-related books and is
powered by Amazon.com. However, Sacchinelli says profit is not one of
the site’s main goals.
“I would say overall I want the site to
be an inspiration to young investors,” he said. “So they say ‘I can do
this right now,’ instead of waiting years to become successful
investors.”