The AIM students manage three separate portfolios which are part of Marquette University’s endowment. The three funds are:
• AIM Equity Fund (benchmark: Russell 2000 Index)
• AIM Fixed Income Fund (benchmark: Barclays Aggregate Bond Index)
• AIM International Equity Fund (benchmark: S&P ADR Index)
The students are assigned to one of the two equity funds and are responsible for managing the holdings of an individual sector/industry group. They conduct fundamental security analysis to support their buy and sell recommendations – including a valuation model. The AIM students are solely responsible for all of the buy and sell decisions (subject to the constraints of the AIM Funds investment policy statements).
Potential investments that meet the strategy and objectives of the AIM investment policy are identified, analyzed, discussed and voted upon by the AIM students. Their proposed Investments are presented in a formal oral presentation to their peers and a group of financial professionals, along with a concise written report of the pertinent characteristics of the proposed investment. The report is distributed in advance of the presentation to financial professionals.
The students typically make a 5-7 minute pitch, which is followed by about 5-7 minutes of questions and answers for the stock they present. The students fulfill their analyst responsibilities by completing any additional research necessary to make an informed decision. AIM Fund investment meetings take place within the AIM Research Room; however, during the semester the students make occasional ‘road show’ presentations at investment companies and before alumni groups.
The past two years the AIM students have presented before alumni and investment companies in Milwaukee at Timpani Capital Management, MBO Cleary, Wells Capital Management, and Cortina Asset Management; and in Chicago at Driehaus Capital Management and before two Marquette Chicago Alumni groups. Dr. Krause, AIM Director, commented about the external student presentations, “These are excellent opportunities for our students to receive feedback and constructive comments from investment professionals. Over the years I have understood that the student presentations are a vital part of the applied learning process; however, the roads shows have taken this to a higher level. This type of real world exposure can’t be obtained from a textbook.”
Krause continued, “We already have four external AIM student presentations scheduled for the fall semester – two in Milwaukee and two in Chicago. Also, plans are in the works to conduct an AIM road show in Madison yet this fall or early in the spring semester.”
If you wish to host an AIM ‘road show,’ please contact Dr. David Krause, AIM Director, at: david.krause@marquette.edu or phone (414) 288-1457.
The AIM fall semester presentation schedule can be viewed at: AIM Presentations.
