Roland George Investments Program
Sudents in Stetson University's pioneering Roland George Investments Program manage a portfolio of approximately $2.9 million in stocks and bonds - and that's real money. Student-directed, the investments program is one of the nation's oldest and arguably best, in terms of dollars under management and competition results.
Roland George students develop their own investment goals, objectives, and criteria for managing their portfolio. While many seasoned investors have lost significant sums over the past several years in a volatile market, the students have produced outstanding returns.
What's their secret? It's really a combination of investment discipline and Stetson's basic philosophy of investment education. Students function as an investment management firm would, where a complete investment policy is established and revised as needed.
R.I.S.E. Competitions (Began in 2001)
Year Rank Category
2001 National Champion Equity Blend
2001 National Champion Equity Value
2003 Second Place Equity Growth
2004 National Champion Fixed Income
2005 National Champion Fixed Income
2006 National Champion Equity Growth
2007 National Champion Fixed Income
2008 National Champion Fixed Income
2009 Second Place Fixed Income
2010 National Champion Fixed Income
2011 Second Place Fixed Income
2012 National Champion Fixed Income
G.A.M.E. Competitions (Began in 2011)
Year Rank Category
2011 National Champion Fixed Income
2012 National Champion Equity Stocks
Faculty
- K. C. Ma, Ph.D., University of Illinois; Chartered Financial Analyst; Director of the George Investments Institute; president of the Association of Student Managed Investment Programs; research interests -- investing, financial market behavior
- Jennifer Foo, Ph.D., Northeastern University; Finance Department Chair; interests -- multinational finance, international business and finance
- James Mallett, Ph.D., Wayne State University; Director of the Summer Innsbruck Program; interests -- personal finance, investments, business finance
- Chris Tobler, Ph.D., University of Arkansas; interests -- investments, corporate financial management, mergers and aquisitions, valuation, corporate governance and derivative instruments
Special Features
The Roland George Investments Program is open to select students who, for two semesters, step into the "real world" of portfolio management with real money, make mistakes, learn from those mistakes, and also enjoy their victories. Individual security selections are researched using fundamental tools and data services provided by Bloomberg, Financial Wire, Morningstar and Baseline.
Students must defend their recommendations to other students and an investments committee, dominated by students who function much like the senior strategy group of an investment management firm. Their goal is to earn a return that funds the acquisition of special systems and software for the program, as well as to meet operating expenses. Presentations are held in a corporate-like boardroom setting in the Lynn Business Center.
Students do their research in a state-of-the-art trading room. The room includes a real-time ticker and data wall, television sets for market news, and computers that allow for cutting-edge research.
Course Information
Class size is limited to 20 students and is taught by Dr. K. C. Ma, Roland George Chair of Applied Investments, CFA, who has had actual experience in money management. Students join this two-class program in their senior year after completing an investment course. Numerous research papers, presentations, and meetings are required with an open-ended class schedule.
Equity Fund Management is an applied course in equity analysis and portfolio management. Students set objectives, strategy, and selection criteria for the Roland George Growth Fund. Securities are analyzed and proposed to the trustees. Students may participate as trustees, team captains, research assistants, and portfolio manager.
Fixed Income Fund Management is an applied course, as well, in fixed income analysis and advanced topics in portfolio management. Holdings of the Roland George Fixed Income Fund are analyzed and changes are prepared based on objectives, criteria, and strategy set by the class.
Internship Opportunities
A limited number of internships are available, as well as faculty help in taking the first steps toward earning Chartered Financial Analyst certification and Series 7 and 63 licenses.
Career Opportunities
Roland George students have gone on the be money managers, security analysts, and brokers with leading banks and brokerage houses, and many money management firms.
Department Awards
Roland George Merit Scholars
