Investment Portfolio Challenge teams face the market – and each other - The University of Tulsa
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Investment Portfolio Challenge teams face the market – and each other

Students, investing enthusiasts, local employers and the news media are invited to observe a stream of brain power and banter between audacious students and finance experts in the fourth annual Investment Portfolio Challenge sponsored by The University of Tulsa’s Collins College of Business. Five teams have been given a chance to show that they have the chops to handle market volatility and an uncertain economy and guide their investment choices.

During the fall 2022 semester, teams of four to six students from TU, Oklahoma State University and Southwestern Oklahoma State University are deploying their analytical skills, financial acumen and market intuition in a quest for investment success.

From 9 to 11 a.m. Nov. 16, each of the teams will spend 15 minutes – plus a five-minute Q&A from local investment experts – defending a 30-minute recorded video presenting their near term economic outlook; attendant recommendations for optimal weighting of the 11 Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS) sectors; whether and how much to invest in speculative assets; three to five individual stocks that are on sale now; and, how these recommendations would change given deviation from economic expectations.

The competition will be held in 219 Helmerich Hall on the TU campus. Students from Holland Hall, Cascia Hall, Bishop Kelley and Booker T. Washington High School also will be on hand. Attendees are invited to remain on campus and join the monthly TU Friends of Finance luncheon featuring keynote speaker Tralynna Scott, chief economist for Cherokee Nation Business. Announcements related to IPC and Collins College of Business will be made at the luncheon, which will be held in the Student Union.

The Investment Portfolio Challenge grew out of the Collins College of Business’ Student Investment Fund, a popular, hands-on investing course where student analysts invest funds established in 1997 by Friends of Finance. Senior undergraduates and graduate students may apply to join the course. In its 24 years, TU’s Student Investment Fund (SIF) has grown to $6.3 million and is among one of the nation’s largest student-driven funds. Profits are used to fund TU scholarships.

“The Investment Portfolio Challenge is one of many practical opportunities that TU offers students to prepare them to enter the workforce. In this case, they mix the material they learned in class with the real-world challenge of investing client money in turbulent times,” said Tally Ferguson, SIF adviser and senior vice president and director of enterprise risk management at BOK Financial. “Students present their recommendations to a set of accomplished industry professionals; this prepares them for when they are faced with a similarly daunting challenge in the workplace. Further, the experience gives students an opportunity to network and allows local employers to assess the future talent pool.”