Investing in the future: Celebrating the launch of the Rotman Commerce Student Fidelity Fund

Set against a 9th floor view of Toronto’s financial district, the event space at Fidelity quickly filled with excited conversation as students, executives and special guests arrived for the launch of the Rotman Commerce Student Fidelity Fund. This wasn’t a typical networking event; this was a celebration, and a recognition of the financial support from Fidelity Investments Canada that has made the RCSFF a reality. The atmosphere was a mix of gratitude and anticipation, for the connections soon to be made, and for what this fund will mean for the students who will soon be managing real capital in real markets.

The premise of the fund is simple: Rotman Commerce students will now be able to pitch and execute real investment decisions backed by $250,000 in support from Fidelity. This is experiential learning at its most tangible, something Susan Christoffersen, Dean of the Rotman School of Management, highlighted in her remarks.

“Markets are not a case study. They’re live, they’re dynamic,” she told the room, emphasizing how critical it is for students to develop judgement in real time. Every trade, she reminded them, has consequences. And managing live capital means feeling those consequences, something no simulation can truly replicate.

Rob Strickland, President of Fidelity Investments Canada, echoed this sentiment, charming the crowd and ensuring the students felt like equal partners in the initiative. Student‑run investment funds, he explained, have long been talent pipelines for the finance industry. Supporting this initiative at Rotman Commerce means investing in the next generation of analysts, thinkers and leaders. 

The fund itself has been years in the making. It evolved out of the former Rotman Commerce Trading Group and has taken shape through the efforts of multiple student executives, faculty members, and alumni, each contributing to the infrastructure that now supports research teams, portfolio managers, seven industry coverage groups, and a growing cohort of student analysts.

The significance of this moment wasn’t lost on one of the Rotman Commerce Student Fund’s outgoing executive members, Luka Petkovic, who has helped build much of the fund’s internal education and investment structure from the ground up.

For Luka, the value of the fund is two‑fold: students get hands‑on learning, and they do work that has real, measurable weight.

“What the student fund offers is one thing that’s unmatched with any other club: what you do is tangible and visible,” he said. “You’re directly responsible for making real investment decisions. You can look back and say, ‘I pitched that idea. I helped put capital behind that company.’”

He also emphasized that the fund is open to students of all backgrounds, not only those with internship experience or polished résumés.

“We’re not looking for job experience. We’re looking for interest. Ninety percent of it is learning,” he explained. “If you show up wanting to understand investing, we’ll teach you.”

Even though the fund is young, students are already experiencing the impact of working with real capital. 

Felipe Crespo, a second‑year student who pitched for the Financial Institutions portfolio, described the thrill of seeing their pitches taken seriously by industry professionals:

“Pitching our investment recommendations to industry professionals was nerve‑wracking, but we felt prepared and confident knowing we had the support of the Student Fund executives and our peers. Having our recommendations approved was incredibly validating.”

Yoyo Shum, also a second‑year, echoed that learning with real stakes has sharpened her understanding of markets beyond the classroom:

“In class we cover fundamentals, theory and case studies, but working with the fund let me put those concepts into practice in a real market environment, which is fast-moving and involves many more risk factors to consider.”

These student experiences are precisely what the staff and students at Rotman Commerce hoped for when establishing the fund: a chance for students to step into the shoes of actual analysts and portfolio managers while still in school. 

The launch event was a glimpse into what this partnership will enable over time: more hands‑on finance education, deeper engagement with industry professionals, and a stronger pipeline for students pursuing careers in investment management, banking or financial strategy.

As Luka put it, reflecting on the work he and other executives have poured into building the fund’s foundation:

“Every year will get better. Every year, new analysts will build on what we’ve created. That’s the goal, to build something sustainable that keeps improving long after we graduate.”

It’s a fitting vision for a fund rooted in long-term thinking.

As the event wound down, there was a sense of optimism that extended beyond the celebration itself. Students left with new connections, renewed motivation, and the shared understanding that they are contributing to something built to last. The Rotman Commerce Student Fidelity Fund isn’t just a new initiative, it’s a foundation future cohorts will build on, refine and grow.

And if the energy from launch day is any indication, they’re more than ready. 

Interested in learning more about the RCSFF? Read the press release from Rotman School of Management:
Creating the investment leaders of the future: Rotman Commerce Student Investment Management Fund receives $250,000 in support from Fidelity Investments Canada