Another Successful Visit to Chicago by the Students in the AIM Program on Friday, March 2nd

On Friday, March 2^nd, Dr. David Krause (Marquette University's AIM program director) and the students in the AIM Class of 2013 visited Chicago. Despite the forecast for an early March snowstorm, the students departed Milwaukee before dawn. Dr. Krause and the AIM students were accompanied by Brady Endl (AIM program Graduate Assistant), Mike McGuire (MSAE student), Sarah Smith (Marquette Advancement), and George Koonce (Marquette Advancement).

The first stop was at Ziegler Lotsoff Capital Management. The investment professionals at Ziegler Lotsoff and the AIM students met in the board room and Dr. Krause provided an overview of the AIM program. Four students (Elizabeth Buckton, Brent Adams, Yatina Liu, and Varun Varma) then made their first equity pitches. Ten investment professionals at Ziegler Lotsoff Capital Management (20 N. Clark Street) attended the student presentations and asked questions. They also offered valuable comments and suggestions following the students’ stock pitches.

AIM Student Presentations at Ziegler Lotsoff

Don Nesbitt

Don Nesbitt, CFA, (Managing Director and Co-Chief Investment Officer – Equities) and Mark Burka, CFA, (Senior Vice President, Portfolio Manager) provided particularly valuable commentary to the students about the equity research process. Dr. Krause said, “We will be certain to host these two experienced and seasoned investment professionals in the AIM room soon – their comments resonated with the students. The value of visiting investment professionals at their firms was again evident.”

Maggie Baer

Dr. Krause said, “This was the AIM program's second visit was to Ziegler Lotsoff and it was again a success. The students and investment professionals had a productive discussion about the best practices of successful investment research and professional presentations. We are thankful to our hosts: Scott Roberts (President  & CEO), and  Maggie Baer (Managing Director and Chief Administrative & Operating Officer). We look forward to future visits.”

Albert Grace, Jr.

The student then traveled to Loop Capital at 200 W. Jackson Blvd.  They had an opportunity to meet and visit with Albert Grace, Jr. (Co-Founder and President) and several of his associates (Paul Bonaguro, Eric Lane, and Booker Whitt). In addition, Paul King of Northern Trust also attended the meeting. The meeting was held in Loop Capital's executive board room.


The four AIM students again had the opportunity to present their first AIM equity recommendations (see table below).

Dr. Krause commented, "The students did an outstanding job pitching their stocks. What was most impressive is that these are the juniors in the AIM program - they have literally been in the AIM Room less than two months and they are already doing professional level analysis and presentations in executive board rooms. I was very pleased with the questions and comments from the professionals that joined Mr. Grace to hear the student presentations."

The students were then treated to a tour of Loop’s trading floor. Dr. Krause commented, “We are very appreciative of the opportunity to meet with Mr. Grace and his associates. Loop Capital is an impressive firm and the AIM students enjoyed the opportunity to meet with some of the traders and investment professionals. It was a wonderful visit.”

Dave Kucera

The third and final investment firm that the AIM students visited was BMO Capital Markets at 115 S. LaSalle. Marquette alumni David Kucera (Managing Director and Head of U.S. Securitization) and Steve McManaman (Managing Director, Financial Products) arranged the visit and gave the students an excellent update on the capital markets and the securitization process. The visit concluded with a tour of the BMO’s massive trading floor.

Dr. Krause and students then headed north in an attempt to reach Marquette's campus before the snow storm hit - as the picture below shows - they encountered snow at the Wisconsin border. Nevertheless, the group returned to campus safely. The students were impressed with all of the people they met during their first Chicago AIM field trip and were thankful for the opportunity to visit Ziegler Lotsoff, Loop Capital, and BMO Capital Markets.