Four students stand in a line, posing for a photo. Two are male, two are female. — From left, executive board members Ryan Stickinger, Sabrina Saraceno, Louis Mignone and Regina Martins.

March 11, 2025 — About 20 students at FDU are responsible for managing an investment portfolio now worth about $135,000.

Club members, led by the executive board, decide which stocks to buy and when to sell. They track and analyze companies and market fluctuations to make informed investment recommendations. The eboard votes on and makes the final investment decisions. Then Kenneth Betz, senior lecturer of economics and the club’s academic adviser, the only one with access, logs into the fund’s Charles Schwab account and buys or sells accordingly.

“Pitching a stock in front of the club and defending your research is an experience that builds confidence and sharpens critical thinking, skills that are valuable no matter what career path you take,” says Regina Martins, a senior business administration major at the Florham Campus. “I joined the club without any prior financial knowledge, and it ended up being one of the most rewarding experiences of my college career.” Martins is an eboard member, managing the club’s marketing efforts.

“In our current portfolio, we’re investing in public stocks. It’s a growth fund. We’re looking for companies that we want to hold for a long time, with very high growth expectations. And because we’re long-term investors, we’re okay with some volatility,” says Louis Mignone, who just graduated in February 2025 with a degree in finance, and is the club’s outgoing president.

The Student Managed Investment Fund launched in 2022, with $100,000 of initial seed money. Their investments have netted approximately $35,000 to date.

The fund’s oversight board, which functions in an consultative capacity, includes alumni Jon Budish, BA’77, MBA’85 (Flor); Rich Brenner, BS’73 (Metro) and Tom Dinsmore, MA’80 (Flor); Karen Denning, professor of finance and chair of the Finance, Decision Sciences, Economics and International Business Department; and Mary Sakin, Silberman assistant dean for corporate partnerships and student success. Brenner was instrumental in the launch of the fund.

“The goal of the fund is to enhance the education of students through hands-on experience in security evaluation, portfolio management, teamwork and group leadership,” says Betz. “Students are actively involved in the management of the fund on a day-to-day basis, applying classroom theory in a real-world setting.”

As Mignone considers the club’s future, he’s excited about its proven track record. Recently, he and Betz pitched the idea of creating a second student-managed fund to the Silberman College of Business dean and University’s chief financial officer, this one with the goal of providing funding scholarships for business students.

“With the scholarship fund, we plan to invest in alternative assets that pay very high dividends. Those dividends, coming from real estate, commodities, oil pipelines, and private venture capital, will fund the scholarships,” says Mignone. “We’re aiming for a 7% dividend return a year that can be taken off the top and given to students.”

Ultimately, the club offers students — no matter their major, anyone can join the fund — a chance to invest real money and manage an active portfolio.

“We’re applying what we’re learning in the classroom to actual investment decisions. Students gain financial literacy, investment analysis skills and a better understanding of how the markets work. Beyond technical knowledge, I’ve also learned how to research, present confidently and make strategic decisions under pressure. These are skills I’ll carry with me,” says Martins.

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Students Invest in Stock Market and in Themselves