“The first time I walked into the trading room was a wonderful experience. I had never been in an environment that utilized a multi-screen computer system and had a rolling ticker so both of those things had me very excited. The trading room provided me with an instant sense of professionalism that has carried on throughout my use of it,” said Adriano Deabreau, a student who has taken classes in the Greenleaf Trust Trading Room. “I believe that in order to properly learn something as intricate as finance, you need the right tools. The trading room has provided me with an opportunity to use the same applications as finance pros in order to garner the necessary knowledge for me to be successful post-graduation. “
With stock prices scrolling across an electronic ticker, Bloomberg and Morningstar terminals providing real-time data on market movements, and world news updates on large screens in the front of the room, the Greenleaf Trust Trading Room provides students with a taste of the real world of finance.
The Student Managed Investment Fund is one class that utilizes the Greenleaf Trust Trading Room. Since 2009, the class has managed a portion of WMU Foundation Funds. In the past five years, the fund has more than doubled. Students can participate in hands-on learning in the trading room, using the hardware and software commonly used by finance professionals; analyzing the latest stock quotes; building and testing investment portfolios; comparing currency exchange rates; and scrutinizing company fundamentals.
The Greenleaf Trust Trading Room has helped prepare Eugenia Cunningham for her future in the finance industry. “During the first two weeks of this course, my stocks remained within the top 5 spot in my class. When I was earning profits, I was very excited to see my individual ranking in the top 10 of the class. When my stocks underperformed, I strategized on ways I could re-invest my money in a much better option while still maintaining a diversified portfolio.”
For her class on computer applications in finance, Cunningham used leading industry software, MorningStar and Bloomberg. “Our semester project included forming groups and choosing a publicly traded company listed on the New York Stock Exchange and presenting to the class the financials from the last three years. In my team, I was responsible for the reconstructing all of the financial statements using key formulas I learned in Business Finance. In order to complete the financial ratio analysis, I heavily relied on using the Bloomberg terminal in the Greenleaf Trust Trading Room to extract key financial data.” Said Cunningham.
Luckily for Cunningham and Deabreau, predictions say that the financial industry will expand 25 percent by 2020, providing them with ample opportunity to apply the skills they learn at WMU to their careers.
To learn more about the Greenleaf Trust Trading Room and the opportunities it provides for WMU students, click here.
The image above shows Adriano and Eugenia with Dr. Matt Ross (left), assistant professor of finance and commercial law.
Posted by Samantha Macy