Bison Fund
NDSU's Student Managed Investment Fund (SMIF) was formed during the 2006-07 academic year, at the suggestion of Dean Ronald Johnson, with two complementary objectives. The first objective was to provide a unique educational experience for advanced business students by providing an opportunity to actively manage a significant portfolio of “real money.” The second objective was to manage a portfolio in such as way as to provide competitive financial returns with appropriate levels of risk – i.e., to provide long-term performance equal to, or better than, professional portfolio managers.
The group’s activities were ultimately made possible by a generous offer from Dean Tom Riley which allowed the Bison Fund to manage an endowment portfolio of approximately $108,000 for the benefit of the Institute of Regional Studies. The student founders of SMIF then proceeded to develop a roadmap for managing the endowment. This process involves understanding the clients’ objectives and expectations with regard to investment risk return. With this information in hand, and after considerable planning, SMIF portfolio managers developed a professional Investment Policy Statement describing how the portfolio would be invested – including guides for asset allocation (i.e., allocations to stocks, bond and cash) and security selection (i.e., which stocks to purchase). The Fund was initially deployed on March 14, 2007, with the purchase of approximately 25 individual stock issues and a bond mutual fund.
Students interested in participating with NDSU's student managed investment fund should complete or be enrolled in FIN 410 (previously BUSN 441) Investment Analysis and Management, preferably in their junior year. Students may apply to the program by contacting faculty advisors, Fariz Huseynov or Wei (David) Zhang.
Reports and Statements
Meeting Minutes and Presentations
Membership
Name | Position | Sector | Information |
|---|---|---|---|
Chris Marohl | President | Consumer Goods & Services Sector Analyst | Chris is set to graduate this spring with a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance and a minor in Economics. He has always been fascinated with investing and spent a summer with a financial advisory team at Thrivent Financial in his hometown, Bismarck, ND. After graduation he plans to work in the investment industry and someday start his own business. |
Matthew Serfling | Vice President | Business Services & Fixed Income Sector Analyst | Matthew is in his final semester at North Dakota State University, where he will earn a Bachelor of Science in Finance and a minor in Mathematics. He has passed the CFA Level I Exam and is registered to take the CFA Level II Exam in June 2010. After graduation, he plans to continue his education, working towards a PhD in Finance. |
Christian Bye | Analyst | Healthcare Sector Analyst | Christian Bye has graduated from NDSU in December 2009 with a B.S. degree in Finance, and is currently taking accounting classes at NDSU for CPA eligibility. In the mean time, he is currently preparing for the Level I CFA Exam in June 2010. |
Ross Dahmen | Analyst | Telecomm & Media Sector Analyst | Ross is enrolled in his final semester at North Dakota State University, where he will complete a degree in Finance. After graduation, he plans to pursue a career as a financial analyst. He also plans on working towards an MBA from Baruch College in New York City. |
Matt Geiselhart | Analyst | Industrial Materials Sector Analyst | Matthew will be graduating in the spring of 2010 with a Bachelor of Science degree with a double major: Finance and Management. He has recently hung up his athletic shoes to focus on his education and to further his efforts on his future of finding a rewarding career. At NDSCS he was a captain for a record setting basketball team and after two years, he transferred to NDSU and became a Bison. Upon graduation, he will be pursuing an ambitious career in the field of Financial Planning in the Minneapolis area. |
Alexa Grenz | Analyst | Financial Services Sector Analyst | Alexa Grenz is a junior at NDSU majoring in Finance. Alexa has been working as a teller at Cornerstone Bank for over a year and is also just starting an internship at Cornerstone Investments as an Investment Banking Intern. This is Alexa's first year in the fund and will continue with the group throughout her senior year next year. |
Nick Hansen | Analyst | Energy Sector Analyst | Nick is a senior majoring in Finance and Marketing at NDSU and is on track to graduate in December 2010. This is Nick’s first full year in the SMIF. He has previously held employment in the Fargo area at Scheels and Cetero Research. This past summer he interned at Heartland Trust Company. After graduation, Nick plans to pursue a master’s degree in finance. |
Saurav Kumar | Analyst | Utilities Sector Analyst | Saurav has been a member of the SMIF since September 2009. He has been working for Relemac Overseas Inc. out of New Delhi, India and is currently working on a Masters in Business Administration from NDSU. He will graduate in the 2010 spring semester. |
Ajay Yadav | Analyst | Software & Hardware Sector Analyst | Ajay Singh Yadav is currently employed as a Graduate Research Assistant at NDSU’s College of Business. He will be graduating in the spring of 2010 with an MBA. After graduation, Mr. Yadav plans on pursuing a career in finance and is registered to take the CFA Level I Exam in December 2010. |
Dr. Fariz Huseynov | Faculty Advisor | ||
Dr. Wei(David) Zhang | Faculty Advisor |
