CFA Society of Madison's Investment Research Challenge to be Held on Thursday, February 23rd

The CFA Society of Madison's Investment Research Challenge will be held today (February 23rd). The event will be held at the Fluno Center on UW-Madison's campus.

The participating universities include:

Carroll University  Marquette University  Milwaukee School of Engineering  UW-La Crosse  UW-Milwaukee

The CFA Institute Research Challenge offers students the unique opportunity to learn from leading industry experts and compete with peers from the world’s top finance programs. This annual educational initiative promotes best practices in equity research among the next generation of analysts through hands-on mentoring and intensive training in company analysis and presentation skills.

The Challenge gathers students, investment industry professionals, publicly traded companies, and corporate sponsors together locally, regionally, and globally for a real world competition. Participation in the Challenge promotes best practices in equity research and company analysis, as students research, analyze, and report on a company as if they are practicing analysts. Additionally, all participants are introduced to and held to the standard of the CFA Institute Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct.

 

Keith Hanson visited the AIM Program on February 22

Keith Hanson (CFA, Marquette '86 graduate, and analyst at the State Teachers Retirement System of Ohio) was a guest in both AIM classes on Thursday, February 22nd. Keith is rresponsible for the large capitalization automotive, consumer services, household durable, leisure and media names in the Large Cap Core Analyst Portfolio with STRS Ohio.

He talked about the process he follows in individual equity analysis and answered student questions about valuation and investment research. Keith, a former student of Dr. Krause, has visited the AIM program consistently since 2005. His experiences working with STRS Ohio, Ohio National Financial Services, and Blum & Company are appreciated by the students.

In addition to being an honors student at Marquette in the early 1980's, Keith is a member of Marquette Athlethic Hall of Fame. As a member of the cross-country and track teams, Keith won the NCAA championship in 1985. Dr. Krause said, "It is a pleasure to see Keith each year. He was a special student and remains a good friend. His accomplishments both at Marquette and in his professional career are impressive - to say the least. But most importantly, Keith is an outstanding role model to our students and his family. He embodies the mission of Marquette to serve others. It was great to see him again and he's always a welcome guest on campus."

Marquette AIM and FMA Students Visited Baird

Last Friday, February 17th, over 40 students from Marquette University's Applied Investment Management program and Financial Management Association visited Baird at their headquarters in Milwaukee.

Five students pitched equities to over 15 Baird professionals at 3 pm (see table below). Following the 15 minute individual presentations, which included Q&A from members of Baird's equity research teams, the students had the opportunity to network with Marquette alumni and other professionals working for Baird.

Dr. David Krause, AIM program director said that "the presentations were well received and I know that the students enjoyed visiting Baird. We had an excellent turnout and the students had an opporutnity to network with many Marquette alumni at Baird. We look forward to future 'road trips' to Baird."

The next AIM road trip will be this Friday at Heartland Funds in Milwaukee. The presentations are posted at: http://business.marquette.edu/Content/Uploads/AIM/equity-writeups/2-24-12.pdf

Frank Burgess to Present at Marquette on February 22nd

AIM Program and FMA Sponsored Event

Mr. Frank Burgess

Founder, President and CEO
Madison Investment Advisors
 DATE: Wednesday, February 22nd

TIME:    4:15 to 5:30 p.m.

PLACE: AIM Research Room – DS 488

TOPIC:  A primer on the VIX (volatility index). Why volatility is important and what signals the VIX movements give off about the market.
AIM@marquette.edu       #muaimfma

Craig Vanucci of Ziegler Lotsoff visited the AIM program

The students in the AIM program (Class of 2012) were the beneficiaries of a presentation by Craig Vanucci, Managing Director, Sales and Client Service, Ziegler Lotsoff. Mr. Vanucci's presentation on February 13th focused on portfolio optimization and risk management. The topics of Value at Risk (VaR) and liability management were presented. This topic will be further explored by the AIM students in March.

Dr. David Krause, AIM program director, said that Mr. Vanucci's talk "was well received by the students. The topics he discussed were well-timed with the material we are about to cover. The concepts of Value at Risk and asset allocation are important issues that we will be discussing soon. Craig did an excellent job explaining these challenges issues - I appreciate his visit to the AIM program. He did a very effective job."

Craig S. Vanucci joined the Ziegler in 1994 after spending several years with a major regional bank holding company as manager of its Institutional Investments Division. He was also a managing director and partner in a private investment advisory firm. Mr. Vanucci currently serves as a member of the Ziegler Lotsoff's Investment Services Group Equity and Fixed Income Committees. Mr. Vanucci’s primary area of expertise is in developing investment management strategies and solutions for the ongoing management of health care, senior living, municipal and corporate relationships. Over the past 20 years, he has given a variety of speeches on these subjects.

Mr. Vanucci received a B.S. in finance from Bowling Green State University and an M.B.A. from the University of Toledo. He earned the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation in 1989 and is a member of the Milwaukee Investment Analyst Society and the CFA Institute.

Barrett Willich Visited Marquette on Friday

On Friday, February 19^th, Barrett Willich was a guest speaker in Dr. Krause’s Alternative Investments class – and he visited the two AIM classes. In the Alternative Investments class Barrett talked with the students about private equity – he currently is an associate with Winona Capital Management in Chicago, IL.

Barrett Willich joined Winona Capital Management in 2010. Prior to Winona, Barrett was an Analyst in the Investment Banking group at Robert W. Baird & Co. where he worked with and advised middle-market corporate and private equity clients on M&A, debt, and equity transactions. Barrett graduated cum laude from Marquette University with a BS in Finance and was a member of the Applied Investment Management program.

Barrett's portfolio company responsibilities include Dragon Alliance, Peter Millar, and Top Driver.

Barrett Willich when he was an AIM student in 2008

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel notice about the AIM Investmen Forum

For more information about the AIM Forum on Thursday, February 16, go to: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel notice at:  http://tinyurl.com/74fj2jq  and  http://tinyurl.com/6m8ol65

They wrote: "Why should 2012 be any different for investors than 2011, when most money managers underperformed the market? Attend the AIM Investment Forum on Thursday evening at Marquette University and find out. For more: business.marquette.edu."

Marquette's AIM Forum to feature national investment experts

MILWAUKEE – The Applied Investment Management program at Marquette University’s College of Business Administration on Thursday, Feb. 16, will host its fifth annual AIM Investment Forum. The event, which will be held in the Weasler Auditorium, 1506, W. Wisconsin Ave., will begin with a reception at 5 p.m., with a panel discussion and presentations starting at 6 p.m. Registration for this free, public event is online.

Moderated by David Krause, director of the AIM program, the forum will include panelists Jim Bianco, president of Chicago-based Bianco Research, which produces original financial market research that is followed by leading financial institutions; John Davis, professor of economics at Marquette and professor and chair of history and philosophy of economics at the University of Amsterdam; and Brian Hellmer, director of the Hawk Center for Applied Security Analysis at the Wisconsin School of Business and former portfolio manager at Northern Capital Management. 

According to Krause, three-fourths of active money managers in 2011 underperformed the market, making it one of the worst years for money management in the past 40. The panel will examine this phenomenon and discuss why 2012 might be different.

Following the panel discussion, Michael McMillan, CFA, director of ethics and professional standards at CFA Institute, will deliver an interactive presentation on investment ethics. McMillan, who is responsible for creating, sourcing and developing educational content for CFA Institute members and investment professionals, will use hand-held electronic devices to receive real-time audience feedback that will drive his presentation.

“We’re pleased to have such a distinguished and diverse mix of investment professionals and educators this year,” Krause said. “Each of these guests brings a wealth of knowledge and real-world experience that will be incredibly valuable to our students and money management professionals in the community.”

More information, including full speaker bios, is available online.