Financial Markets Program - University of Minnesota

“The alumni are
core to the
program’s success.”
– JOE ARTIM –
Director, Financial Markets Program
Class of 2009 during J-Term Practicum at Wells Fargo in Minneapolis.
Management Group (formerly Private
Client Services) of Wells Fargo’s regional
headquarter in Minneapolis and Duluth,
MN. Students begin the experience with
an overview of portfolio management,
then dive into asset allocation, equity
research, credit analysis, earnings models
and, finally, writing research reports and
presenting their findings.
Mr. Dean Junkans is the Chief
Investment Officer for the Wealth
Management Group of Wells Fargo.
Junkans is impressed by how well
prepared the students are each year. “The
selection process to get into the program
and the classroom preparation before the
field practicum ensures these students
have a high probability of success,” said
Junkans.
“The students I have worked with
� Employers Take Notice of Graduates Going “Above & Beyond”
EMPLOYER: Paul Johnson, Managing Director of Investor Relations and
Assistant Treasurer, Xcel Energy, Minneapolis, MN
FMP GRADUATES EMPLOYED: Kayla Hertel ’04, Jessica Schmidt ’07,
Kelli Millslagle ’07 and Garrett Mikrut ‘08
“We have been very pleased with the students that Xcel Energy has hired from the University of
Minnesota Duluth (UMD). We have hired four students from FMP as employees in our Treasury
Department. Clearly, we would not continue to hire students from this program if we didn’t feel
they were strong candidates.”
Jessica Schmidt has been an excellent employee for Xcel Energy. She has strong technical skills, a
positive and professional manner and a very good work ethic. Her educational background
prepared her to contribute immediately. We are very pleased to have Jess as employee and I think
she has a lot of potential.”
6 UMD LABOVITZ SCHOOL OF BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS – FINANCIAL MARKETS PROGRAM
over the past seven years have all been
highly professional and courteous,” he
continued. “This may not sound like a
big deal, but I have done informational
interviews of college students for over 25
years and sometimes they don’t know
how to act in the business world. I have
never seen anything but the highest
degree of professionalism and respect
from the students in this program.”
Also Junkans says he appreciates how
well-prepared the program participants
are with the technical tools and skills
required to do the work. “The work ethic
of students in the program is
remarkable,” he said. “Every year, I am
asked by the students to come in early or
leave late or both to work on their
projects – a request, I’m happy to
accommodate.”
After making their presentations, the
practicum at Wells Fargo closes with a
roundtable discussion about career
opportunities and how students can
distinguish themselves when competing
for jobs after graduation. Wells Fargo has
hired on average about 20% of the
graduates from the program.
“We always need top-flight students
in our organization,” said Mr. Phil Rolle.
“Here we have an opportunity to see the
best of the best in action. There’s so
much more opportunity to get to know a
potential candidate than through a job
interview.”
After their work at Wells Fargo,