A finance newsletter founded by two 17-year-olds has become a notable voice for Gen Z perspectives, attracting a subscriber list of nearly 60,000. "Passing the Torch" (PTT), which covers markets, economics, politics, and culture, was launched in 2025 by Jasper Gould and Emile Chilingirian when they were sophomores at Berkeley Carroll School in Brooklyn.
More than two-thirds of PTT's readers register with corporate email addresses, including thousands from firms like McKinsey, JP Morgan, Blackstone, Nvidia, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Palantir, and Microsoft. Sam Shaffer, an early reader and former eBay executive, noted that the newsletter's appeal lies in its focus on broader trends rather than just market analysis. "Their writing is not focused on crushing the market … it’s about the trends they see in their world," Shaffer said.
Chilingirian believes corporate interest stems from the "Gen-Z takes … variant views that the market may not have priced in yet." Gould added that PTT offers a direct insight into the generation's sentiment, contrasting with investors who rely on information from their own children.
The newsletter's content often blends anecdotal evidence with data to explore topics relevant to Gen Z, such as sentiment toward automated vehicles, the growing distrust of AI, and evolving consumer culture. Gould and Chilingirian acknowledge having differing opinions on politics and capitalism, which they stated emerged during their work on the newsletter.
Subscriptions for "Passing the Torch" cost $15 per month or $150 annually, generating five-figure annual revenue for the founders. Despite attending a private school with tuition exceeding $66,000 per year, the writers aim for a populist reporting style by maintaining contact with high school students nationwide.
Beyond the newsletter, Gould and Chilingirian also co-founded the Brooklyn Youth Charitable Investment Group (BYCIG), a non-profit organization that teaches financial literacy to high schoolers. BYCIG has engaged over 1,000 students and hosted talks with economists from institutions like the White House and Wells Fargo. The group also manages an investment fund of approximately $50,000, raised from parents and finance professionals, where student teams pitch investment ideas. The fund has seen success, with three out of 12 positions growing more than 40%, and a portion of the returns are donated to charity.
As Gould and Chilingirian approach college application season, they are developing succession plans for both the newsletter and the non-profit. Gould noted, "We can’t set up a hedge fund just yet. I won’t be 18 for another two months."