The Market Is About to Open. Are You In?

Author: Cathy Essick
Community Involvement
Published: Monday, 23 Feb 2026

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Image caption: Energy builds as teams watch the market shift in real time during the JA Stock Market Challenge®, reacting quickly to news updates and making strategic investment decisions.

The countdown is on for the JA Stock Market Challenge®—and if you’ve never experienced it, imagine the energy of Wall Street packed into one electrifying evening.

Lights flash. Stock prices rise and fall in real time. Teams huddle, calculate, shout orders, and make split-second decisions. The room buzzes with strategy, competition, and adrenaline.

This isn’t just a fundraiser. It’s a full-scale trading floor simulation—and it’s one of the most exciting nights of the year.

What Is the JA Stock Market Challenge®?

The JA Stock Market Challenge® is a fast-paced, interactive stock trading simulation where teams of four compete to grow their portfolio in a fictional market. Over multiple trading periods, teams buy and sell stocks in real time, react to live market news, pivot their strategy, and compete for the highest portfolio value by the final bell.

No investing experience is required. You don’t need a finance background. You just need teamwork, quick thinking, and a competitive spirit.

And yes—it gets loud.

Image caption: Students put their financial literacy skills to the test, collaborating under pressure as they analyze trends, manage risk, and compete in the fast-paced trading simulation.

Three Opportunities to Get in the Game

Young Adult Event (Ages 18–24)

📍 Cedar Rapids | Wednesday, April 22th

Corporate & Student Event

📍 Cedar Rapids | Thursday, April 23rd

NEW Corporate & Student Event

📍 Cedar Falls | Thursday, April 30th

Spots are limited—and this event fills quickly every year.

Why Businesses Keep Coming Back

For corporate teams, the JA Stock Market Challenge® is more than an event. It’s high-energy team building with purpose. Colleagues strategize together, leaders compete alongside peers from across the region, and companies show their commitment to preparing students for real-world financial decision-making.

There’s brand visibility. There’s friendly rivalry. And there’s nothing quite like celebrating when your strategy pays off and your portfolio climbs to the top of the leaderboard.

Why It Matters for Students

For students, the experience is unforgettable.

They step into a simulated world of investing where decisions matter and news changes everything. They feel the pressure of the market. They see how risk and reward connect. They discover that financial literacy isn’t just something you read about—it’s something you experience.

By the end of the night, students walk away with more confidence, sharper decision-making skills, and a deeper understanding of how the financial world works.

It’s experiential learning at its best—fast, relevant, and incredibly engaging.

Image caption: Corporate teams dive into the action, combining strategy, teamwork, and a little friendly competition while supporting the next generation of investors and leaders.

The Energy Is Real. The Impact Is Real.

Participants often describe the JA Stock Market Challenge® as exciting, chaotic, challenging, and fun—all at the same time. The energy in the room is contagious. The competition is fierce. The laughter is constant.

It’s not a typical networking event. It’s not a typical fundraiser. It’s an experience your team will talk about long after the final trade closes.