The actions of these 15 to 20 student investors has had the fund historically outperforming the S&P 500. The Bulldog Fund is currently at $5.8 million.
Divided into sector teams, the students conduct company research and track economic trends to make investment recommendations.
“We have access to the Financial Markets lab at all hours of the day and night, monitoring a stock portfolio and getting experience in something we would be lucky to do five or ten years into our careers,” added Tyren Mattick.
All decisions on the portfolio go through a trade recommendation process that involves pitching an idea and fielding questions in the morning to the group. Every trade needs a majority vote of students to pass.
Throughout the year, the students track companies to make a portfolio with higher returns. At the end of the year, each sector team gets the opportunity to leave their mark on the portfolio via a much longer process with a presentation to a panel of industry professionals.
Jacob Gillespie describes the experience as “the closest thing to running a professional investment firm as an undergraduate. The responsibility of managing millions in assets has taught me leadership, accountability, and teamwork.”
“The work it takes to create these deliverables challenges you to grow your research abilities, public speaking abilities, and your critical thinking skills,” said Caleb Kroeger. “I enjoy using all of these skills on a daily basis.”
Through hands-on learning, students in the Financial Markets Program are able to think and act like professionals and will graduate ready to be leaders in the world of finance.