While most university students spend their summer breaks working internships or traveling, a select group of fifty Gen Zers recently gathered in New York City for a very different kind of education. These young adults, aged 18 to 23 and hailing from some of the world’s wealthiest families, participated in the third annual NextGS Investment Intensive Program hosted by Goldman Sachs. Designed specifically for the heirs of the firm’s private wealth management clients, many of whom oversee fortunes exceeding 90 million dollars, the two-week bootcamp served as a crash course in maintaining and growing generational wealth.
The curriculum blended rigorous financial training with practical life skills intended to bridge the gap between academic study and high-stakes leadership. Mornings were often dedicated to the fundamentals, such as dissecting Wall Street Journal articles to better understand market trends or touring active trading floors to see deals happen in real time. However, organizers noted that because many participants aren’t finance majors, the program focused heavily on building confidence. This included grueling eight hour sessions on interpersonal communication and presence, where students acted out professional scenarios to prepare for future job interviews and corporate boardrooms.
Beyond traditional stocks and bonds, the program leaned into the specific interests of a generation raised on digital assets and social media aesthetics. The cohort explored alternative investments including fine art and luxury collectibles, featuring expert guidance from Christie’s on everything from rare handbags to high end watches. There was also significant interest in sports team ownership, reflecting a broader trend among billionaires who view athletic franchises as prestige assets. Throughout every discussion, artificial intelligence remained a central theme, with students debating its geopolitical impact and its role in future investment strategies.
According to Brittany Boals Moeller, a regional head at Goldman Sachs, the goal is to ensure these young adults feel equipped to handle their inheritances regardless of their degree or career path. By combining lessons on credit scores and budgeting with seminars on ambition led by top executives like Vice Chairman Rob Kaplan, the bank is essentially grooming the next generation of global capitalists. For these multimillionaire students, the bootcamp wasn’t just about learning how money works; it was about mastering the social and intellectual language required to lead within an elite financial stratosphere.
