Eagle Investment Fund is a student managed fund under the supervision of the finance faculty. It was established in the summer of 2019 as a paper fund. Now it has $100,000 paper money under management in a live brokerage account, ready to turn into a real-money fund pending donations. The Eagle Investment Fund allows graduate and undergraduate students at EMU’s COB to gain valuable learning experience that adds to a student’s financial education, participate in investment analysis using real market data, interact with industry leaders, and improve their chances in obtaining investment-related employment. Students must apply to become Eagle Investment Fund managers and the process is competitive.
Performance Report
At the beginning of the fall semester, selected students start to manage the fund, prepare two performance reports at the end of fall and spring semesters, and give oral presentations to the Accounting & Finance department chair, College of Business Dean, and Eagle Investment Fund Professional Advisory Board.
The reports detail the fund’s holdings and performance over two performance periods and compare its performance to the S&P 500 index, the benchmark.
Become a Benefactor
Please consider providing financial support to develop the Eagle Investment Fund. Currently, our students hone their financial management skills using a "paper" fund. Their experience would be significantly enhanced by the creation of a "real-money" fund they can invest and manage. Experience in managing a real-money fund will help build the next generation of Eastern Michigan University College of Business financial professionals. Specifically, the Eagle Investment Fund will enhance students' finance education by applying the knowledge learned in the classroom to the real world, develop stock analysis skills beyond classroom materials, and master how to make stock selections by learning from industry leaders.
If you would like to support the Eagle Investment Fund, there are many ways to give. Any amount you choose to give will be appreciated! Our development staff will work with you to ensure that the giving process is easy and meets both your goals and financial plans. In addition to cash gifts we facilitate matching gifts; and also accept securities, corporate and estate gifts.
Please contact COB Director of Development, Cheryl Kernander at [email protected] to discuss how to make the most of your gift or donate today online. Please specify your donation is to the Eagle Investment Fund in the comments section.
Manager Selection
Eagle Investment fund student managers are mainly selected each September and can receive a maximum of three academic credit hours for their one-year tenure as a wealth manager. The three hours in Finance 479 (independent study) can count as a finance elective for undergraduate students and are awarded at the end of the one-year tenure.
Participation in the Eagle Investment Fund is by fund faculty advisors permission only. Students who wish to be considered for the position of portfolio manager should send a current resume with the application form [PDF] to Dr. Yu Zhang at [email protected] and Dr. Ivan Rodriguez at [email protected].
Eagle Investment Fund Professional Advisory Board
Matthew Grezlik, CFP®, CIMA®
Matthew grew up in South Lyon, MI and graduated from EMU in 2003 with a BBA in Economics. He has spent his entire professional career in the financial services industry; most notably at Morgan Stanley, Merrill Lynch, and for the last 11 years as a Private Wealth Advisor at Ameriprise. Matthew has also attained designations as a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) and a Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA). In 2019, he was named a Next-Gen Best-In-State Wealth Advisor by Forbes. Matthew is continuing his education by pursuing an MBA in Finance from the DePaul University Kellstadt School of Business. He and his wife Audrey live on the northwest side of Chicago in the Sauganash neighborhood. Paul Roney
Paul Roney is a graduate of the University of Michigan and Eastern Michigan University. He holds an MBA and is a member of the Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Paul has served as the President of Domino’s Farms Corporation and Executive Director of the Ave Maria Foundation since 1998. He has been an active member of the Ann Arbor business community for years and has served on the SPARK Executive Committee since 2015. He is the Owner’s Representative in the development of Ave Maria, Florida, a planned University town in southwest Florida on 16 square miles of land. In addition, he serves as Chairman of the Catholic Advisory Board of the Ave Maria Mutual Funds ($2.5 billion in assets). Prior to his current position, Mr. Roney was employed at Ernst & Young and served six years as the Corporate Treasurer of Domino’s Pizza, Inc. He also served as Chairman of the Board of Shamrock Bank of Florida from 2007-2014, at which time it was sold to another Florida bank.
Laurie Stegenga, CPA, CFP®, PFS, AND AIF®
Laurie is president and founder of Foresight Capital Management Advisors, a fee-only Registered Investment Advisory firm. Her past financial work experience has spanned 35 years of managing and accounting for billions of dollars in investments. Laurie is an author to three white papers on low cost investing: The Next Retirement Dilemma (2014), The Costly Approach? (2016), and Retirement Plan Costs Beware! (2017). She is also listed on the Fee-Only Network and is member of the NAPFA organization (National Association of Personal Financial Advisors). In 2018, 2017 & 2016, Laurie was named a Detroit Five Star Wealth Manager and was featured in the June 2016 issue of HOUR Detroit, the July/August 2016 issue of DBusiness, and the September 12th 2016 issue of the WSJ.