College students manage portfolios of millions of dollars

Nationwide, increasing numbers of colleges and universities are trusting their undergraduate students with millions of dollars. The number of student-managed portfolios has nearly quadrupled since 1995 - up to 185 from 48, according to preliminary findings from a survey of business school deans by David Sauer, associate professor of economics and finance at the University of Dayton.

DAYTON, OH (PRWEB) March 12, 2004 -- Nationwide, increasing numbers of colleges and universities are trusting their undergraduate students with millions of dollars.

The number of student-managed portfolios has nearly quadrupled since 1995 - up to 185 from 48, according to preliminary findings from a survey of business school deans by David Sauer, associate professor of economics and finance at the University of Dayton. At UD, undergraduates manage $3 million of the University's endowment and consistently beat the Standard & Poors 500, the benchmark for investments.

More schools are realizing the importance of the experiential approach--managing a 'live portfolio," Sauer recently told Newsday. The competitiveness of the job market necessitates this type of hands-on exposure."

Students will show off their portfolio management skills during the fourth annual Redefining Investment Strategy Education, or RISE, symposium, to be held April 1-3 at the University of Dayton.

Students and faculty from nearly 100 schools across the country will attend the RISE symposium. About a third are expected to enter a portfolio competition, in which students showcase their success in the areas of growth, value, blend, alternative and fixed-income styles of management. The top portfolio team in each investment category at both the graduate and undergraduate level will be identified by the portfolios 12-month risk-adjusted returns.

RISE will include presentations by some of the biggest names on Wall Street, portfolio management workshops, career strategy sessions and networking opportunities, all of which further enhance students real-world experiences.

RISE opened up the world of finance to me," UD senior finance and economics major Greg DeMars said. In our classwork, we arent able to cover every aspect of finance. But by going to the panels and other events at RISE, I learned about whole new fields, such as technical analysis."

One UD graduate he knows, DeMars added, is now working for a firm in Chicago--a job he landed through a contact made during last years RISE symposium.

This symposium is all about bringing students, faculty and professionals together in a one-of a-kind interactive event," said Sauer, also executive director of the RISE symposium. It's an unparalleled opportunity to experience Wall Street's best and brightest."

RISE is co-sponsored by the biggest names in finance: the New York Stock Exchange, The Wall Street Journal, CNBC and Deutsche Asset Management, along with UDs School of Business Administration.

The event will feature 12 keynote speakers, who will speak about the economy, public policy, corporate governance and the market. Speakers include:

* Michael Moskow, president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago and a former U.S. deputy trade representative, whom the U.S. Senate has confirmed for five U.S. government positions;

* Richard Bernstein, chief U.S. strategist for Merrill Lynch's global securities research and economics group, who was named by Fortune magazine as one of only 11 all-star analysts" in 2001 and 2002;

* John Bogle, founder of The Vanguard Group Inc., one of the world's two largest mutual fund organizations, and widely considered the father of the mutual fund industry;" and

* Don Phillips, managing director for Morningstar Inc., the industrys most recognizable and relied upon independent rating source for the mutual fund industry.

It is unprecedented on Wall Street--let alone on a college campus--to gather the likes of Moskow, Bernstein, Phillips and Bogle under the same roof at the same time," said Bob Froehlich, vice chairman of Scudder Investments and chief investment strategist for Deutsche Asset Management, who also will speak at RISE and moderate keynote panels. It takes most Wall Street professionals five to seven years before they would ever have personal access to this wide of a range of Wall Streets most influential leaders."

The RISE Symposium has grown steadily since it was founded, increasing from its initial 48 participating schools and five keynote speakers. This year, keynote presentations will be held in the UD Arena to accommodate the larger group, a venue change that also will allow the regions business professionals and UD alumni to attend RISEs keynote presentations for the first time.

Its growing at such an incredible rate, its hard to keep up with it," said UD senior finance and accounting major Jane Rombach. Word about RISE is spreading quickly."

For media interviews, contact David Sauer at (937) 229-2757 or via e-mail at david.sauer@notes.udayton.edu. For more on the RISE Symposium or to register, see http://udrise.udayton.edu.