Frequently Asked Questions

Capital Finance Club is a student-led organization at Knox Grammar School focused on corporate finance and asset management. We run structured educational workshops and the Knox Corporate Finance Challenge, a flagship competition adapted from NYU Stern MBA curriculum.

CFC is not tutoring, exam prep, or stock-picking discussion. We focus on rigorous valuation reasoning, capital structure analysis, and judgment under uncertainty. Our programs emphasize standards, documented rubrics, and outputs that can survive professional scrutiny. We treat students as analysts and thinkers, not content consumers.

No. Our curriculum is designed for Years 9-12 students with no prior exposure to finance. We prioritize intuition and conceptual understanding over technical mechanics.

Currently, CFC is open to Knox Grammar School students in Years 9-12. Participation is selective and applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.

CFC meets weekly during lunchtime at Knox Grammar School. Specific room details are provided to accepted members.

A six-week applied competition where students analyze real ASX-listed companies and construct defensible investment recommendations. Participants are evaluated on reasoning quality, valuation logic, clarity of argument, and demonstrated judgment. This is adapted from the capstone project in Professor Aswath Damodaran's NYU Stern MBA Corporate Finance course.

No. The competition is optional but encouraged. All members benefit from regular educational workshops regardless of competition participation.

Both. You can compete individually or in teams of up to three students.

Sessions include structured workshops on corporate finance concepts, guest speaker Q&A sessions, and dedicated competition workshop time for challenge participants. All sessions prioritize clarity, assumptions, and structured reasoning.

Yes. We bring in finance professionals from institutions like PIMCO, subject to school approval. Guest sessions focus on career pathways and real-world applications of finance concepts.

CFC standards require that all assumptions be explicit, valuations include sensitivity analysis, claims be supported by public sources, and reasoning withstand direct questioning. We use documented rubrics and calibrated judging to ensure consistency.

AI tools are permitted but bounded. You may use them for data retrieval, formatting assistance, or exploratory research. However, analysis, valuation logic, and final recommendations must reflect independent judgment. All AI use must be disclosed, and conclusions must be independently defensible when questioned.

Judging focuses on reasoning clarity and internal consistency, valuation logic and appropriate use of frameworks, quality of argument and evidence marshaling, and demonstrated judgment in handling ambiguity. There are no predetermined correct answers. You are evaluated on the quality of your reasoning, not alignment with a specific outcome.

Members have access to valuation templates, capital structure frameworks, public data navigation guidance, and past case archives. Competition participants receive targeted workshop sessions and rubric guidance.

Potentially. The current iteration is a pilot at Knox Grammar School. Interschool expansion will only be considered after a successful pilot, documented standards, and school approval. Quality control takes precedence over growth.

Follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram for updates. Accepted members receive direct communication via email about weekly sessions and program changes.

Yes. We welcome student contributions in the form of written analysis, competition case development, workshop assistance, and platform building. Strong work may be published on our platform with editorial review.

Complete the application form at form.typeform.com/to/L8s0GFUy. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.

Applications are reviewed by CFC leadership. Accepted members receive confirmation via email with session details and program materials.

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis throughout the term. Early application is recommended as session capacity is limited.