Student investment group integrates experience, academia

Over $1.4 million in investments will be managed during the 2012-13 year by the Oregon State University Investment Group, a group of student portfolio managers and analysts who are gaining experience in the financial realm. The group focuses on this theme of experiential learning to benefit themselves and the Oregon State University Foundation, which funds the group’s investments.

“The reason we do it is for the experience you gain through real-world application, incorporating self-taught practices as well as principles in the classroom to actually manage money,” said Adam Rosa, OSIG president. “We take a lot from the experience and the opportunities it opens up through networking with alumni.”

OSIG is set up in conjunction with the College of Business and gives students an extra edge when competing against other, more prestigious, business schools. Whether as an analyst or officer, students have the opportunity to examine the investment prospects of different companies through discussions with corporate executives, presentations from guest speakers and mentorship through university alumni networks.

“Individuals in the group are highly motivated and focused on doing well in and out of school,” said Brad Alvarez, OSIG domestic fund portfolio manager.

All of the 2012-13 officers in the group received internships last summer, and after such experiences, some members have turned a general interest in business into focused goals relating to their future careers. Within the group, members write up and present reports on their selected companies of interest each term, with analysts receiving support from their section managers and other officers. The sections included in OSIG are technology, industrial materials, consumer goods, financials and healthcare.

“I’ve put my past reports in applications for jobs and I’ve really enjoyed the feedback I’ve received,” said Riley Kinser, global fund portfolio manager for OSIG.

Last summer, Kinser secured an internship assisting with client service at PIMCO, an international investment solutions provider.

Beyond these reports, members feel the actual pressures of the accountability that comes with having control over money belonging to the Oregon State University Foundation. The foundation is a non-profit, receiving donations from OSU and aiming for $1 billion in its first capital campaign, to continue through 2014.

“I just recently joined the group and will be a portfolio manager this year,” said Pryce Waites, D.A. Davidson and Co. fund portfolio manager.

Waites’s portfolio is competitive, meaning that there is more risk in his team’s equity selections when competing against other university investment groups.

The group sends 8 to 10 people to New York annually. Last year, attendees met corporate executives from financial organizations Blackstone, Barclays, Morgan Stanley and Fortress, among others.

OSIG is currently accepting applications for the upcoming year, and members recommend the group to other students as a chance for students from varying disciplines with interest in business to gain practical experience.

“We receive as much exposure to the finance world as possible, taking the educational aspect we’ve gained to become more knowledgeable and accountable,” Rosa said.

Those interested in applying for a position with OSIG can e-mail a PDF resume and cover letter to osig.recruitment@gmail.com. Questions can be sent to this email address as well.


 

Jack Lammers, news editor

news@dailybarometer.com