Bryant’s Archway Investment Fund equity portfolio captured first prize in the Undergraduate Core Equity Portfolio category of the Quinnipiac Global Asset Management (GAME) Forum.
While COVID-19 canceled the impressive line-up of industry experts ready to share their knowledge in asset management at the GAME Forum in March, it did not wipe out the 2020 Global Portfolio Competition. Bryant’s win, based on risk-adjusted return, bested results from 39 other schools.
"The Archway program is a wonderful experiential learning opportunity for Bryant students," according to Professor Kevin J. Maloney, Ph.D., P'16, an accomplished scholar and finance industry executive who is the Finance Department Executive in Residence.
“The award-winning performance of the equity fund ... reflected the talents and efforts of two cohorts of student portfolio managers who successfully applied concepts learned in class to real-world investment decisions.”
Maloney works alongside Finance Professor and Chair, Asli Ascioglu, Ph.D., the Coordinator for the Financial Markets Center and the Archway Investment Fund, and Adjunct Professor of Finance Chris J. Goolgasian, CFA, CPA, CAIA, as faculty advisors to the Archway Investment Fund.
"The Archway Investment Fund is led by world-class faculty who teach you the relevant concepts to succeed in today's investment management industry. And, because all the trade decisions are made by the students, winning the GAME Forum shows that Bryant does a great job creating young finance professionals," says Juan Gonzalez '20, who served as a portfolio manager for the fall 2019 semester, overseeing the energy, materials, and utilities sector as well as a member of the Executive Committee responsible for the risk and compliance of the fund. "The fund is set up in a way that allows for special talents and expertise to shine. It builds a cohesive team that draws on the individual skills of students. This allowed us to make more robust and well thought out investment strategies and decisions."
Bryant’s Archway Investment Fund students have previously participated the GAME Forum, the largest student-run financial conference in the world. Held in New York City, the conference offers thousands of participants from about 200 schools –in pandemic-free years - the opportunity to discuss and debate financial best practices with world-renowned industry leaders. In 2018, the Archway's equity portfolio took first place in the Multi-Asset Category. At the 2017 event, the Archway team won first prize in the Growth Category.
Experiential learning with impact
Bryant students manage funds totaling more than $2 million in fixed income and equity portfolios. Established in 2005, the Archway Investment Fund program provides Bryant University students with the opportunity to manage an investment portfolio following the principles used by financial professionals. It helps students develop necessary skills and investment protocols to manage a currently valued equity portfolio of approximately $1,400,000 (as of May 28, 2020).
The initial investment in the equity fund was $200,000. Additional cash infusions of $256,000 total in four installments in 2006, 2007, 2010, and 2016 were provided to the Fund from the University. Launched in fall 2017, the fixed income fund is currently valued at approximately $600,000.
"The Archway Investment Fund is an invaluable experience for students looking to break into the highly competitive investment management/financial services industry," says Gonzalez. The fund "is one of my main talking points during interviews and something interviewers have noted as being 'an exceptional experience.'"
Both the equity and the fixed income funds curriculum tracks are intensive, selective, and competitive hands-on experiences that prepare students for careers in the investment management field.
