Financial Markets Program - University of Minnesota

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“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,
students spend several days at Piper Jaffray & Co., doing similar work. Ms. July Eliason-Johnson is a Research Analyst at Piper Jaffray in Minneapolis and a 2006 FMP alumnus. She helped coordinate the practicum, which was held for the first time in January 2008. “Graduates from FMP have a broader and more in-depth skill set than peers coming in from other undergraduate/graduate institutions and a higher level of professionalism versus peers,” said Eliason-Johnson. “I believe the FMP experience has expanded several skills sets for participants including: financial analysis skills, written/verbal communication skills, an understanding of the industry including the relationship between buyside and sell-side analysis and portfolio management, and, perhaps most importantly, leadership/team management skills.” The strong relationships students build with each other during the program year last long after graduation, she adds. “I very much value being a part of a dialed-in and close-knit alumni network that has graduates from coast to coast,” said Eliason-Johnson. Another team-building and eyeopening experience the students enjoy is joining 2,000+ other students from across the country and world for the RISE (Redefining Investment Strategy Education) Symposium at the University of Dayton, OH in late March each year. The three day experience includes panel discussions and student workshops covering such topics as: investment research, portfolio management, investing, economics, regulation, political and governance issues and leadership in the finance services industry. “Students get to hear from some of the brightest and best plugged-in minds on Wall Street,” said Artim. “And they often hear polar views on investing from these speakers, so they see that there are many different ways to be successful.” All in all, these experiential opportunities serve as an excellent bridge A Rebalance in action. between the work we do in the program and the work they can expect to do in the industry. The fall semester is focused on managing portfolio risk which leads to the spring semester of more actively pursuing higher returns for our investors in the Bulldog Fund, LLC. “I always tell them to live your passion,” said Artim. “These practicums and field trips really open their eyes to the different sides of the industry. They start realizing which side of the industry is the best fit for them.” Rebalances – Putting Learning to the Test As stated, the program conducts four rebalances throughout the year, in which students are given the opportunity to present new ideas for the Bulldog Fund, LLC to the program’s Investment Oversight Committee (IOC). Student recommendations will not be accepted until the IOC reviews and formally approves them. The role of the committee, which is comprised of seven industry professionals currently working in the private sector and includes two program alumni, was a crucial element to the planning that went into the program. “We wanted to make it clear that we UMD LABOVITZ SCHOOL OF BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS – FINANCIAL MARKETS PROGRAM 7
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Financial Markets Program - University of Minnesota

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