Building confidence through real finance decisions

As a teenager, Trevor Carnovsky pictured himself underwater—literally. “I wanted to be an underwater welder who invested a significant portion of his income,” he recalled.

But while the welding plans faded, his interest in finance only grew. Now a senior at Central Michigan University, Carnovsky is pursuing dual majors in finance and accounting and will graduate in Fall 2026. After completing a summer 2025 internship with PwC in external audit, he’s preparing for his next challenge: a summer 2026 operations analyst internship with RBC Capital Markets in New York City.

It’s a long way from his early college hesitation.

“I came to CMU on a bit of a whim—before I’d ever toured campus,” he said. “But once I got here and started saying yes to opportunities, everything changed.”

Turning passion into action

One of those opportunities was CMU’s Student Managed Investment Funds, where students manage real portfolios with over $4 million in assets. Carnovsky eventually served as co-chair, helping lead fund strategy, pitch investment ideas, and collaborate on equity research.

He also became a Michigan Finance Scholar and competed in high-level national challenges, including the CFA Research Challenge, the ACG Cup, and a financial planning competition in Florida, where his team took first place.

“Each experience taught me something new,” he said. “They forced me to apply what I was learning and develop discipline. In finance, there’s no substitute for doing the work.”

Learning through wins—and losses

That lesson hit home during his first personal investing attempt at age 21.

“I made a bunch of money trading momentum stocks, and lost a bunch right after,” he said. “It was humbling—but it led me to rethink everything.”

He turned to Benjamin Graham’s The Intelligent Investor and embraced a long-term, fundamentals-first philosophy. “That book reshaped my thinking. It’s not about flashy wins—it’s about staying curious and grounded.”

Leadership shaped by real-world mentors

As a non-traditional student, Carnovsky also brought experience from the workforce. He credits several small business owners with shaping his understanding of leadership.

“They showed me that success isn’t just performance—it’s consistency, empathy, and doing the right thing even when no one’s watching,” he said. “That’s the kind of leader I want to be.”

Balancing grit with structure

Juggling 18–21 credit hours a semester while working at least 10 hours a week, Carnovsky learned to rely on structure: daily to-do lists, disciplined sleep habits, and clear priorities.

“I knew what I wanted,” he said. “And I was willing to build the systems to get there.”

His work ethic extended beyond the classroom. He regularly published investment research on his website, Market-Mountain.com, and found joy in the challenge.

“I genuinely enjoy researching market trends. It helps me recharge.”

Advice for students still finding their way

Despite his success, Carnovsky knows what it feels like to start unsure.

“I graduated from high school with a low GPA and took a gap year before college. But those experiences gave me the clarity I needed,” he said. “Your past doesn’t define you. What matters is what you do next.”

His advice to current students?

“Embrace the hard stuff. Growth comes from challenge. Network. Do internships. Get curious. And most of all, don’t be afraid to pivot.”

Looking back, he wouldn’t change a thing.

“CMU gave me more than I expected—support, opportunities, and a place to prove what I could do.”