Student-Managed Investment Fund

Students in trading roomWMU students manage portfolio of real money

Beginning in 2009, the Western Michigan University Foundation selected the class as a large cap manager of $500,000 of WMU Foundation Funds. With hands-on training, the initial project has evolved into a great opportunity for students to gain real-world experience and manage approximately $2.3 million of WMU Foundation money.

To participate you must submit an application for this class. All applications are reviewed by a committee for consideration. 

Apply to the course

Students

  • Manage a portfolio of approximately $2.3 million of WMU Foundation money. Over the last five years, the fund has outperformed the S&P 500 Index by 1.7% annually.
  • Get hands-on experience in fundamental research and money management.
  • Past participants are enthusiastic about their experience and employers are impressed.

Class information

  • Available to undergraduate and graduate students for credit (three credit hours).
  • Prerequisites:
    • Undergraduate prerequisite is FIN 3510. You are encouraged to take FIN 4530.
    • Graduate prerequisite is FIN 6120 along with a finance concentration.
  • Enrollment is limited to between 10 and 15 students.
  • You are encouraged to take the class for two or more semesters.

Class registration

  • Admission to the course is by application only.
  • Performance in previous coursework and statement of professional goals are considered for admission.

Instructor

Daniel Haines

  • Focuses on developing and implementing fixed income portfolio strategies.
  • Responsible for establishing and implementing fixed income strategy for client portfolios.
  • Generate economic and capital markets research.
  • Trade investment grade fixed income securities including taxable and tax-exempt instruments utilizing Bloomberg, ECNs and negotiated trading.

Investment approach

  • You will conduct fundamental analysis and write research reports on various investments, making recommendations to buy, sell or hold.
  • Present your research to classmates and the instructor.
  • Decisions to buy, sell or hold are made by a vote of you and your classmates.
  • Report your investment results to the WMU Foundation Investment Committee.