Student Investment Fund
The Student Investment Fund was established in 1991 with an endowment of $100,000 and is currently worth approximately $3 million.
SIF is a hands-on course at CBSM that teaches students how to research and analyze stocks, pitch them to investors, and make the decision to buy, hold, trim, or sell.
Students manage SIF funds and are responsible for all investment decisions. By overseeing a portfolio of high quality, U.S.-listed equities, students are able to experience the growth and volatility of the stock market first hand.
CBSM student Mason Wolverton presents his stock pitch to the SIF class during finals week.
SIF students Lacey Cruikshank, Hayden Nilson, Jamie Boyle, Stefan Hajdukovich, Tracy Reeves, and Alec Hajdukovich stand together in New York City
"SIF is more than academics—it sparked my passion for personal finance and teamwork to achieve financial goals." – Matteo Pecchia, SIF teaching assistant & UAF hockey player
For more information about this program,
contact faculty advisor Kim McGinnis at (907) 474-5218.
Student Perspective
Student Investment Fund students participate in a variety of finance-related competitions, conferences and professional career trips.
"I came into SIF because I was interested in learning more about the stock market and how investors make decisions. SIF has taught me how to perform a fundamental analysis to evaluate equities.
The 2021 Student Managed Investment Fund Consortium Conference in Chicago was an incredible experience. Being able to present amongst other collegiate students and faculty helped me realize the growth I had made as a student. SIF offers experiential learning, and this trip only helps elevate the value it brings to students such as myself.
Students Nikolai Unruh, Jenifer Garcia, and Bryan Sauer pose in front of "The Bean" (officially titled “Cloud Gate”) during their visit to the 2021 Student Managed Investment Fund Consortium Conference in Chicago, Illinois.
The biggest take away that I had during this trip to Chicago was to never sell myself short. Before this adventure, I still had reservations about my abilities to articulate my thoughts in a finance driven discussion. Going on this trip showed me that my education at UAF has given me the skills necessary to be successful.
I am very glad that I had the opportunity to travel to Chicago for the SMIFC Conference. Thank you to our donor for making this experience possible!
Jenifer Garcia
BBA Accounting Alumna
SIF Students at JP Morgan Chase & Co. during a trip to New York City in March, 2018 from left: Peter Freymueller, Jeremy Weaver, Ben Carstens, JP Landry, Lutfi Lena, Anni Uhl and Celie Hull
"I chose to enroll in the SIF course because I was interested in investment as a career path. In addition, the course is considered one of the most challenging courses at CBSM and I wanted to challenge myself.
Without a doubt, I have learned more in SIF than I have in any of my courses at UAF. It has been invaluable to my education as it has dramatically enhanced my analytical and interpersonal skills, as well as my knowledge in the fields of finance and economics.
The opportunity to participate in trips and competitions like these connects our Alaskan institution to the rest of the world, proving that students from UAF are just as competitive as those from the rest of the U.S. Being able to talk directly to world-renowned professionals during these experiences really helped to broaden my horizons.
Being a part of the SIF has allowed me to explore my passion and pass it on to other students, taking on leadership roles and offering me job opportunities both within and outside the state. I firmly believe the course allows students to comprehensively build upon their own education and gives them numerous opportunities to progress in careers on a national and international platform.
Peter Freymueller
BBA Business Administration Alumnus
SIF President, 2018-19