When this fall’s cohort of UNLV’s Rebels on Wall Street program stepped onto the trading floor of the New York Stock Exchange, the shift in the industry was immediately apparent.
The noise and chaos long associated with Wall Street— shouting traders, flashing paper tickets, and crowded floors — have largely disappeared. In their place are algorithms, data models, and screens executing transactions at speeds no human can match.
What students encountered was not the Wall Street seen in movies, but a quieter, faster, and far more technology-driven financial ecosystem where artificial intelligence and automation power decision-making.
That theme echoed throughout the week as students visited JPMorgan, Blackstone, Bank of America, Caption Partners, and Barclays. Across firms, professionals emphasized how deeply AI and data analytics are embedded in everything from trading and research to risk management and investment strategy. Students learned that in today’s financial landscape, technical and analytical fluency are foundational.
Three participants reflect on the experience and share their perspectives on how fintech is scripting the future of the industry:
- Carlos Gomez Sanchez, who is earning dual undergraduate degrees in accounting and finance and is an active member of the Financial Management Association.
- Nicole Castillo, who is pursuing her undergraduate degree in finance with a minor in accounting and participates in the Financial Management Association.
- Josemaria Ladao, who is completing dual undergraduate degrees in finance and economics and is also an active member of the Financial Management Association.
A New Wall Street Comes Into Focus
While students had studied AI and data-driven finance in the classroom, seeing its dominance in practice made the shift feel real in a new way.
For Sanchez, looking out over the NYSE floor was a defining moment.
“Seeing how much space was taken up by computers instead of jam-packed traders really showed how much the industry has evolved,” he said. “It was one thing to learn about it in class but another to see it happening at that scale.”
Others were surprised by how calm and controlled the trading environment felt even during major events like IPOs (initial public offering), when companies first offer shares to the public. Castillo expected far more noise, urgency, and chaos.
“I thought it would be hectic,” she said. “Instead, it was surprisingly quiet. Technology is doing a lot of the work now.”
Fintech & AI: Not Just Tools for the Future
Across firms, students learned that AI is already deeply embedded in daily operations. Tools scan real-time market data, analyze earnings calls, track news and social sentiment, support risk modeling, and assist with decision-making. Tasks that once took junior analysts hours to do manually can now be completed in minutes.
Castillo noted how advanced these systems have become: “AI tools can process information from so many sources all at once. It can scan news, earnings calls, and even market sentiment and turn it into insights in real time,” she said.
While none of this technology was entirely new to students, seeing how universally it was expected in professional settings reinforced the importance of mastering these tools before entering the workforce. Employers were clear that graduates are no longer simply asked whether they have exposure to data analytics and AI, but how fluent they can use them.
As the week went on, students began rethinking the skills they want to strengthen, especially in areas that employers repeatedly emphasized as critical, such as financial modeling, derivatives, and data-driven analytics.
When Classroom Concepts Come to Life
At Caption Partners, a firm specializing in derivatives, students recognized familiar concepts from their coursework. Derivatives — financial tools that get their value from other assets, like stocks, interest rates, or commodities— were no longer abstract equations, but tools actively used to manage risk and execute strategy.
Ladao said seeing theory applied in practice reinforced the value of his coursework. “Having learned derivatives this semester, seeing how they’re actually used in a firm’s business model felt like a full-circle moment,” he said.
It also demonstrates the relevance of UNLV’s emphasis on analytics, modeling, and emerging technologies. Students also noted that mentorship through the Financial Management Association helped them engage more confidently with industry professionals.
Sanchez said preparation before the trip made a tangible difference.
“Mentorship gave me the knowledge to ask better questions and contribute meaningfully during firm meetings.”
What the Future of Finance Looks Like
From student reflections, three themes emerged about the future of the field:
- AI fluency is essential: Understanding how AI tools work, and where human judgment remains critical, is now a baseline expectation.
- Human skills matter more, not less: As Castillo noted, interpersonal skills, collaboration, and emotional intelligence are becoming key differentiators in an increasingly automated field.
- The pace of change is accelerating: Sanchez summarized this urgency succinctly: “The future of finance is moving faster than ever. You have to keep learning at the same pace.”
Ready to Show Off Your Investment Skills?
Students who want to build these same strengths — teamwork, analytical thinking, and real-world investment experience — are encouraged to sign up for the 2026 President’s Investment Challenge. Open to students from all backgrounds.
