Inside the Bison Fund: Real investments, real responsibility, real experience

In the finance world, experience matters. For students involved in the Bison Fund, that experience begins long before graduation.

The Bison Fund is a student-run investment group where members don’t just study financial markets, they actively manage them. Today, the group oversees more than $2 million in investment capital, researching companies, building financial models and making real investment decisions.

That responsibility changes how students approach their education.

“Managing real money as a student means carrying a true fiduciary responsibility,” says Brody Baumann, the Bison Fund’s public relations officer. “Every decision you make affects real capital that people have trusted you with. It pushes you to examine fundamentals, valuation, industry dynamics and risk before ever committing to a position.”

Rather than treating investing as a classroom exercise, students learn to defend their analysis, question assumptions and carefully evaluate risk — skills that mirror the expectations of professional investors.

A Laboratory for Applied Finance

The Bison Fund operates much like a professional investment team. Members work together to analyze securities, debate investment strategies and make portfolio decisions under faculty supervision.

The group currently includes around 30 students, with newer members gaining experience by updating financial models and tracking earnings calls, while more advanced students research new companies, build valuation models and present investment ideas to the group.

For Vaughn Nolan, president of the Bison Fund, one of the most valuable aspects of the experience is the direct connection with professionals in the investment industry.

“The most impactful part of my experience has been interacting with professionals across the industry,” Nolan says. “Through the fund, I’ve been able to connect with both large institutional portfolio managers and smaller independent managers, which has given me a much broader perspective on how investment strategies differ across firms.”

Learning Beyond the Classroom

While portfolio management is at the heart of the Bison Fund, the experience extends well beyond weekly investment meetings.

Members regularly participate in professional development sessions focused on networking, financial modeling and research techniques. The group also hosts guest speakers from across the investment world and participates in major industry events, including the CFA Institute Research Challenge.

Experiential learning is another defining feature of the program.

Last fall, students traveled to Chicago to visit firms including Nuveen and Churchill Asset Management, where they learned firsthand about fixed income markets, private credit and institutional investment strategies.

This year, the group is planning another major industry trip to New York City, where students will visit firms including JPMorgan Chase and Bloomberg. Members will also attend a shareholder meeting in Omaha, gaining additional exposure to the investment world.

The Power of the Bison Network

As the Bison Fund grows, alumni continue to play a critical role in its success.

Graduating members expand the program’s professional network each year, while alumni and industry professionals contribute through mentorship, guest lectures and firm visits. Their involvement helps students understand industry expectations and build connections that often lead to internships and careers.

Alumni interested in supporting the program can mentor students, host site visits, offer career guidance or provide feedback on student investment pitches.

Follow the Bison Fund on LinkedIn for real-time updates, wins, and what’s happening behind the scenes.