Jasper Gould and Emile Chilingirian, two 17-year-olds, are the brains behind the finance world's hottest Gen Z newsletter, Passing the Torch (PTT). What started as a lunchroom debate between pre-calc and chemistry classes has now become a subscriber list of nearly 60,000, with more than two-thirds of readers using corporate emails. The newsletter's popularity is a testament to its unique approach, blending anecdotal and statistical data to explore Gen Z's sentiment towards automated vehicles, robotaxis, and the growing distaste for AI. It also delves into the death of sneaker culture, separating functionality from cultural relevance. The newsletter's success is not just about its content, but also its populist approach, as the writers are in constant communication with high schoolers across the country. They lead the non-profit Brooklyn Youth Charitable Investment Group (BYCIG), which has hosted talks with prominent economists and directors from major financial institutions. BYCIG has also launched an investment arm, managing a fund of about $50,000 raised by parents and finance professionals. The fund has outperformed the market, with three of the 12 positions growing more than 40%. The newsletter's success has not gone unnoticed, with Nick Gould, Jasper's father, crediting PTT as the primary source of growth for his own newsletter. As the newsletter and nonprofit transition into college application season, the duo is considering succession plans, but they won't be able to set up a hedge fund just yet. What makes PTT so fascinating is its ability to capture the collective brain of a generation that is distrustful of institutions and misunderstood by Wall Street and Main Street. The newsletter's success is a testament to the power of youth-driven innovation and the potential for a new generation to shape the financial world.
