President Jonathan J. Sanford, Ph.D. | University of Dallas website

In 2015, the Satish & Yasmin Gupta College of Business at the University of Dallas received a $75,000 gift from an anonymous donor to establish an investment fund managed by graduate finance students. This initiative led to the creation of the Student Managed Investment Fund (SMIF).

The SMIF aims to enhance students' academic pursuits in finance and investing by providing real-life exposure and participation in investment analysis and portfolio management. Students pursuing a Master of Science in Finance manage the fund, making independent investment decisions. Part of the returns supports scholarships for students interested in finance.

"The Student Managed Investment Fund provides invaluable hands-on experience for students, allowing them to apply classroom knowledge to real-world investing," said Associate Professor of Finance Jenny Gu, PhD. "Managing the fund not only enhances practical skills in financial analysis and decision-making but also gives students a significant edge when pursuing professional certifications like the CFA or CFP by providing them with real-world investment experience that is highly relevant to these credentials."

Approaching its ten-year anniversary, Gu shared some statistics on the SMIF. As of August 31, the fund's total balance stands at $208,099, marking a 177.47% return on investment from its original capital of $75,000. This performance surpasses the Benchmark Index Blend S&P 500 return on investment of 157.03% over the same period.

The SMIF portfolio primarily consists of domestic equities across various sectors with a focus on growth stocks. It includes prominent stocks such as Apple, Microsoft, Alphabet (Google), Amazon, Nvidia, Meta Platforms, and Tesla.

Over the past decade, SMIF has achieved significant milestones. In 2015, it was among the top five finalists in the Chartered Financial Analyst Portfolio Management Competition. It was also a finalist in both 2017 and 2020 at the CFA Southwest Investment Research Challenge.

A notable benefit provided by SMIF is career advancement for finance graduates. Many participants have secured roles and internships at major finance firms and obtained CFA scholarships or passed CFA exams. The experience gained through managing and investing in this fund has proven valuable.

Eli Cervera, MS ’24, reflected on his experience with SMIF: "[It] set us up very well for the real world. I found that since this experience had real consequences and real money behind our research and analyses, it made us feel more involved and gain real world experience in investing as Dr. Gu taught us and guided us through our weekly presentations," Cervera said. "I found that the most rewarding part was seeing the real gains made by our analyses and trades, which also motivated us further and made me believe and trust in myself more."

The Satish & Yasmin Gupta College of Business has been a leader in graduate business education for over fifty years. Located in Irving, Texas, it offers various programs including flexible MBA options under faculty who are both scholars and accomplished business leaders.

The University of Dallas is recognized as a premier Catholic liberal arts university known for its rigorous undergraduate Core Curriculum alongside robust graduate programs across several disciplines.