University of New Haven Students Are Shaping Their Futures Managing an Investment Fund
Members of the Gaia Initiative gained insights and expanded their professional networks at the Student Managed Investment Fund Consortium (SMIFC) conference in Chicago, boosting their skills to benefit a University scholarship fund and their careers.
November 5, 2024
By Caitlin Truesdale, Office of Marketing and Communications
For Clare Molineaux Ӱԭ25, a member of the Gaia Fund, attending the Student Managed Investment Fund Consortium (SMIFC) conference in Chicago was more than just a chance to learn about finance; it was a milestone in her journey toward a career in financial crime investigations.
ӰԭI gained so much perspective from the presenters and other funds in attendance,Ӱԭ she said. ӰԭIt was amazing to see what everyone else is doing and the research going on in this field that IӰԭm passionate about.Ӱԭ
The Gaia Fund, a student-managed portfolio in the University of New HavenӰԭs Pompea College of Business, is uniquely geared toward environmental-focused investments, and its managers work to generate scholarships for the University.
Co-director Jared Sheffield, an adjunct professor in the Department of Finance and Finance Analytics, emphasized how their focus sets Gaia apart from similar funds, noting that at the conference, the team was Ӱԭable to share ideas and strategies that aligned with our mission, while also learning how to market Gaia as a fund with a purpose.Ӱԭ
For Adam Glassman Ӱԭ26, who manages the equity portion of the Gaia Fund, this real-world experience prepared him to engage in meaningful conversations with fellow students.
ӰԭManaging a fund has given me hands-on experience with portfolio management and making informed investment decisions,Ӱԭ Glassman shared. ӰԭThis experience allowed me to talk strategies, asset allocation, and market trends with students from other schools.Ӱԭ
ӰԭEvents like these... help us build a better business worldӰԭ
Thomas Portnoy Ӱԭ25, another Gaia Fund leader, felt similarly. ӰԭBeing part of a fairly new fund, I found the most impactful part of the conference was learning how other funds operate,Ӱԭ he reflected. ӰԭWe got valuable insights into asset allocation, decision-making processes, and ways to market ourselves to donors as we grow.Ӱԭ
For Molineaux, one of the most impactful aspects of SMIFC was the chance to build relationships with students from other universities. She noted, ӰԭAcademic pursuits thrive when researchers and learners communicate and collaborate, rather than acting in opposition to each other.Ӱԭ
Traditionally, business as a field has leaned toward competition, but she believes conferences such as SMIFC are changing that dynamic. ӰԭEvents like these bridge the trust gap and help us build a better business world,Ӱԭ she said.
Glassman also found immense value in the connections he made at the conference, recounting a conversation with students from a university in Texas. ӰԭWe all had a chance to discuss our funds, share our experiences, and hear each otherӰԭs strategies,Ӱԭ he said.
Prof. Sheffield, who attended alongside the students, observed how these connections set Gaia up for future success. ӰԭCompared to other universities, Gaia is relatively new, and weӰԭre just beginning to establish ourselves,Ӱԭ he said. ӰԭBut through events such as SMIFC, weӰԭre positioning ourselves as a unique fund thatӰԭs aligned with a purpose.Ӱԭ
ӰԭIӰԭm excited to take these lessons back to GaiaӰԭ
Ultimately, the collaboration fostered at SMIFC strengthened the studentsӰԭ passion for their field. ӰԭNetworking with students and professors from across the country helped me understand how we can continue improving Gaia,Ӱԭ said Glassman, who looks forward to implementing new ideas inspired by SMIFC.
For Portnoy, one of the highlights of the conference was attending sessions such as ӰԭPillars of Wealth ManagementӰԭ and ӰԭPersonal Branding in Wealth ManagementӰԭ led by representatives of Charles Schwab. These sessions underscored the importance of personal relationships and client trust, a message that Portnoy found particularly meaningful. ӰԭThey emphasized that AI will complement, not replace, human advisors,Ӱԭ he recalled. ӰԭThe human element remains essential.Ӱԭ
This focus on personal relationships resonated deeply with Portnoy, who believes the Gaia Fund can thrive by maintaining a commitment to client trust and purpose-driven investing. ӰԭIt was incredibly beneficial to see how other funds market themselves to prospective donors, and IӰԭm excited to take these lessons back to Gaia,Ӱԭ he said.
Brian T. Kench, Ph.D., Dean of the Pompea College of Business, celebrated the Gaia FundӰԭs achievements. ӰԭThe Gaia Fund is one of the crown jewels of the Pompea College,Ӱԭ he shared, highlighting the opportunity it provides for students to build real-world investment skills. ӰԭThe SMIFC conference confirms what an extraordinary job University of New Haven students are doing.Ӱԭ
Reflecting on the impact of the conference, Portnoy put it simply: ӰԭWeӰԭre ready to position ourselves as a leading student fund.Ӱԭ