ASAASAThe Student Managed

Investment Fund

ABOUT THE FUNDThe Student Managed Investment Fund is an educational ‘business’ housed in the USF Muma College of Business. The investment

fund offers motivated, well-prepared students the opportunity to participate in simulated financial management strategies and

decisions as well as to manage ‘real money in real time.’

The investment fund is governed by an advisory board comprised of financial services industry

professionals who grill students on their pitches and evaluate student ideas. They offer feedback and help

students understand how the classroom lessons play out in the industry. These business leaders share

expertise and interact with students during their presentations. These seasoned corporate partners often

extend internship opportunities to students, too.

WHAT OUR STUDENTS CAN DO The rigorous, two-semester Applied Securities Analysis (ASA) course, which is a signature part of the finance

program, empowers students to use their finance education in a real-world application. This hands-on

approach to fund management uses a real portfolio dedicated to the class and which resides within the USF

Foundation. The portfolio’s stocks are all selected and monitored by ASA students. The course is divided into

three parts:

• Students begin with a rapid and intense review of investment fundamentals as well as the tools, techniques,

and philosophies that underlie security analysis and selection.

• Individual and team analysis of stocks that may be undervalued and identification of stocks which offer the

potential for superior investment performance.

• Students present and defend stock selections orally and in writing to faculty and advisory board members.

Students who provide a compelling and persuasive valuation have their suggested stocks purchased and

added to the ASA portfolio.

APPLIED SECURITIES ANALYSISInvestment education with real results

THE CURRENT VALUE OF THE

STUDENT MANAGED INVESTMENT FUND

$372,000

MORE THAN60 PROFESSIONALS

& 40 FIRMS REGULARLY ENGAGED

IN THE PROGRAM

100% PLACEMENT IN A JOB OR IN GRADUATE SCHOOL UPON GRADUATION

GRADUATES ARE ACCEPTING JOBS WITH SALARIES THAT ARE MORE THAN

50% HIGHERTHAN SALARIES OF OTHER USF FINANCE GRADUATES

The trailing 12-month return on the fund beat the benchmark index by 19%

while taking on 38% less risk.

USF STUDENT STOCK PICKS CONSISTENTLY OUTPERFORM THE MARKET

NOVEMBER 2014

ADVISORY BOARDOutside advisors to the students support the program through mentoring and participating in the stock pitch portion of the

class. Their commitment provides a unique opportunity for Student Managed Invesment Fund participants to transcend the

classroom and experience real-world financial education.

The advisory board consists of seasoned financial professionals from the greater Tampa Bay area and beyond. USF alumni

from Chicago, San Francisco, and Miami frequently travel back to USF to participate in the student pitch sessions. To reflect

the real world, advisors grill students on anything from leverage to debt obligations to celebrity spokespersons. The students’

picks are relentlessly questioned and analyzed by individuals who have been in the field for years. This approach ensures that

the students are prepared for any question that could be thrown at them.

PROGRAM FEATURESSignificant community involvement

PROGRAM FEATURESSignificant community involvement

STUDENT SUCCESS

STUDENT MANAGED INVESTMENT FUND

INVESTMENTS COURSE

ASA COURSE

ADVANCED INVESTMENTS

ADVISORY BOARD ENGAGEMENT AND SUPPORT

STUDENT EXPECTATIONSAll USF finance majors are required to take entry-level and advanced courses focusing on investments.

Participants in the Student Managed Investment Fund program are required to take an additional two-semester

Applied Securities Analysis course. Students are invited to apply to for this highly selective course based on

their academic performance, courses taken, and faculty recommendations. A minimum GPA of 3.0 is required,

as well as a letter of recommendation and B+ or higher in USF’s Principles of Investments course. Prospective

students must interview and make a two-semester, 40+ hour per week commitment to the program.

THE ASSET MANAGEMENT TRACK A student’s path to the program

PROGRAM CURRICULUMThe Applied Securities Analysis course consists of a number of course projects designed to develop the

analytical skills and competencies that underlie security selection. The team-based environment allows

students to accomplish something far beyond what is typically done in a classroom setting and teach

them to perform at a high level in a real-world environment. Course projects include:

• Analyzing the existing Student Managed Investment Fund portfolio • Identifying and explaining how to use various data sources • Identifying stock market anomalies • Analyzing the macro-economy • Analyzing the stock market • Analyzing the main industry sectors that comprise the stock market • Analyzing the recent financial crisis/great recession • Covering and reporting material from the financial press • Writing and presenting summaries of important books relevant to the course • Developing and justifying stock screening techniques • Assessing the value of analyst recommendations and reports • Identifying factors that can be used to identify unusually good investment opportunities • Identifying and analyzing unusually good investment opportunities

The finance and investment lessons are taught by well-credentialed faculty and doctoral students who help

students with their professional stock investment presentations and the written reports that include

macro, industry, and firm-specific analysis and commentary. Understanding that these top students need

more than just the industry knowledge to succeed, faculty who are experts in business communications

and other “soft skills” help bolster these young scholars’ presentation and networking skills. Going beyond

the classroom, students learn the importance of professional development and improve upon their business

dining skills!

Student Managed Investment Fund

Student Managed Investment Fund • USF Muma College of Business4202 E. Fowler Ave., BSN 3403 • Tampa, FL 33620-5500

business.usf.edu • 813-974-4281