Financial Markets Program - University of Minnesota

Awards & Recognitions
AACSB International
Mid-Continent East:
Innovation in Business
Education Award (2002)
MISSION: The main goal of the
LSBE Financial Markets Program is
to provide students with an educational
experience that can be
directly applied to the Financial
Services Industry. With the support
of the local financial community,
LSBE students have the opportunity
to directly apply learned ideas, theories,
and tools.
Since the program’s inception,
between 90 to 95 percent of the
program’s 101 participants have
secured employment in the financial
services industry prior to graduation
or shortly thereafter. As of
June 30, 2008, The Bulldog Fund,
LLC appreciated in value 35 percent
since its launch in January,
2003.
The success of the program has
sparked a growing interest among
not only potential employers, but
other schools as well.
“ It gave me a
confidence that
I don’t think I
would have had otherwise
coming into my career.”
– ANNA SASSOR, ’03 –
Mark Sobiech, ’03
Associate Financial Advisor,
Ameriprise Financial
”The breadth and depth of the markets
program was unlike any other classes I
experienced before or during college, as
well as other training I have since received
revolving around the financial markets.
The program experience has been
extremely helpful in my career in three
primary ways: 1. It gave me the
confidence of feeling like I had the
necessary experience to compete in a
competitive environment when entering
the workforce at a young age. 2. It has
enabled me to have more in-depth
conversations with my clients to help
educate them on investment decisions.
3. It has helped me better evaluate
investment vehicles that I may or may not
recommend to my clients.”
Joelle Hero, ’06
Sr. Business Analyst, Target Corporation
“The Financial Markets Program has
prepared me for the workforce both in and
out of the market. I have gained adequate
market experience to understand how The
Street’s expectations relate to a
company’s share price. I also learned
how to read economic indicators and
apply their repercussions to Target and our
direct/indirect competitors. Outside of the
market, the Financial Markets Program
served as a forum for me to improve on
communication skills, database usage,
and financial analysis. I feel that this
experience allowed me to hit the ground
running as I entered the corporate world.”
Jessica Schmidt, ’07
Financial Analyst, Xcel Energy Inc.
“First and foremost, through the program,
I learned essential interview techniques
and had the opportunity to have my
resume critiqued by other professionals in
the field, which I believe gave me a
competitive advantage when beginning my
job hunt mid-way through my senior year.
Through the program, I was also able to
develop the technical skills of researching,
writing, and presenting which are not only
critical in my career, but in all other
14 UMD LABOVITZ SCHOOL OF BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS – FINANCIAL MARKETS PROGRAM
aspects of my life. The program also has
instilled a sense of confidence in me,
which has helped me deal with all types
of situations that arise in my life.”
Rebecca Boll, ’05
Equity Research Analyst, Piper Jaffray
“The Financial Markets Program accelerated
my professional development above and
beyond the traditional lecture classes.
Specifically, I obtained concise
communication, structured writing, and
critical quantitative skills. During the spring
semester, we presented three paired stock
recommendations to the Investment
Oversight Committee, whereby we
communicated our ideas, explained stock
market catalysts and fielded the committee’s
questions. This was directly applicable to my
Equity Research Analyst position at Piper
Jaffray. In this position, I was often called on
by my boss, institutional clients and
institutional sales people to deliver similar
presentations of our “top ideas” within my
team’s Medical Diagnostics and Life Science
Tools coverage.”
Joshua Karlgaard, ’04
Mortgage Backed Securities/US Treasury Trader,
Stolat Partners
“This experience gave us a clear picture of
the possibilities that were waiting when we
finished school. The J-Term Practicum in
Minneapolis was a vital to the program
experience. We performed analysis and
gave presentations on companies just as an
analyst would in the industry. More
specifically, the program gives students the
tools they need to enter the industry with
confidence and a head start on the bulk of
other graduates because of the general
approach to learning that was practiced
throughout the year. We were taught to
approach the problem from all sides to find
the best answer, not just settle for the easy
way. I have found that employers in the
highly competitive financial services
(especially capital markets) industry truly
value this trait and search out people that
use this approach.”