U of M group plans Wall Street trip

The University of Mary’s student investment organization is planning a trip to Wall Street after posting gains in its first year of operation that outperformed the S&P 500. Formed in 2009, the Student Equity Club (S.E.C.) introduces students to the world of finance as they manage $100,000 of the university’s endowment fund and gain a hands-on understanding of investments.

Since beginning to invest the fund in April 2010, the group has increased the assets in its portfolio by 20.5 percent, beating the S&P 500 index by 9.5 percent. The S.E.C. meets every other week to discuss stock valuation, review holdings it manages, and propose new areas for investment. Current holdings in the group’s portfolio include Apple, Inc., Starbucks, Phillips-Van Heusen and others.

Eleven members of the Student Equity Club will make the trip to New York City May 1–4 including Phillip Mangin, freshman, Jamestown. They will be accompanied by faculty adviser Dr. Feng Jiao.

“After spending the past year studying investments and focusing on sustainable outperformance, we are really looking forward to learning from the pros,” said Wes Wakefield, S.E.C.’s chief fund manager.

While in New York, the students will tour the New York Stock Exchange as well as investment companies Goldman Sachs and Bridger Capital. Kirk Lanterman, who was also instrumental in the group’s founding, helped make the trip possible.

Tags: wall street, community, education, mary