Five years ago, a CoB student wondered out loud why Valparaiso didn\u2019t have a student-managed investment fund. With his and other current and former students\u2019 help, it appears to be on its way to becoming reality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Teams of students currently are researching investments and soon will make presentations to a board made up of graduates working in the field and professionals in the community. The winning proposal will have $100,000 to invest thanks to the University\u2019s Board of Directors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOther universities have student-managed funds in place,\u201d says finance professor Phillip Humphrey, who also advises Valpo\u2019s chapter of the Financial Management Association. \u201cWe\u2019re getting close to creating our own.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Graduate Ken Perkins, who now works as an equity analyst at Morningstar Investment Services in greater Chicago, proposed a student-run fund while studying at Valpo. Paul Yox, currently an analyst at Rocaton Investment Advisors in New York, helped shepherd the idea after Ken graduated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Both, Professor Humphrey said, have offered advice to subsequent classes of students after earning their degrees and look forward to continuing to give back once the fund is up and running.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A series of seminars for current students led by professionals working in the field also has been proposed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While the fund nears creation, Professor Humphrey says he\u2019s been impressed by the quality and diligence of the next crop of analysts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThey\u2019ve been doing great work,\u201d he says. \u201cThere\u2019s a lot of careful attention to risk management and we\u2019ve had a great response to it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
More than 20 students signed on to begin research and assessment of potential investments and Humphrey and others are working to create a board of directors that will have final say on the winning proposal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Student Kyle Crawford is the fund\u2019s portfolio manager.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Humphrey\u2019s eventual hope is that the fund\u2019s returns enable a endowed scholarship. He also hopes the fund takes on a hierarchy that allows incoming first-year students to begin as junior analysts, then grow to become analysts, lead their own teams, and eventually vie to manage the portfolio.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s great experience,\u201d he says. \u201cStudents will graduate with real experience in research and investing. It\u2019s a competitive field and we think the students will have a great advantage from this.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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