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Faculty of Management
UNB Fredericton

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Student Investment Fund

Combine finance theory with hands-on investment experience through the Student Investment Fund (SIF) program. The SIF is located within our own investment boardroom, fitted with five comprehensive Bloomberg Professional terminals. This will provide you with professional, relevant investment experience within an academic setting.

Students can participate in the SIF for up to two-years. In the first year, students are assigned as Equity Analysts to the fund, responsible for conducting research and generating trades. In the second year, returning students are assigned as Fund Managers with additional responsibilities for the overall portfolio. Students also receive academic credit- with each year credited as a three credit-hour full-year course.

Participation in the program will also prepare you to challenge the Level 1 and/or Level 2 exam for the Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA) designation- the leading global credential for investment professionals.

One of the largest student investment funds in Canada

The SIF launched in 1998 with $1 million and has grown to over $15 million. Students engage with professional portfolio managers and drive investment decisions based on their ongoing research and analysis of the markets. Our students were the first Canadian team to win first place in the CFA Institute North American Research Challenge.

Student investment fund participating students

Partnerships

The SIF operates in close partnership with a number of industry experts and firms, most notably Vestcor Investment Management Corporation, which started the program off with a $1 million pension fund allocation, and Seamark Asset Management Ltd., which manages a portion of UNB’s endowment fund. Students are assigned equity sectors and companies, and are expected to produced research and portfolio recommendations for these funds. Continuous engagement with the Portfolio Manager is a highlight of the course.

We are also part of Chartered Financial Analyst Institute (CFA® University Affiliation Program) because we have included a significant portion of the CFA Program Candidate Body of Knowledge (CBOK)—including the Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct—into our curricula.

SIF guest speakers

Our SIF class features regular guest speakers from the finance industry who share investment experience and advice with students. They also connect students with other leaders in the industry.

Recent speakers include:

  • Rani Piputri, Managing Director, Public Equities, Goldman Sachs
  • Colin Ryan, Managing Director & Head of Technology Global Investment Banking, CIBC Capital Markets
  • Ian de Verteuil, Managing Director and Head of Equity Research, CIBC Capital Markets
  • Chris Guthrie, CEO & CIO, Hillsdale Investment Management
  • Andrew Hill, MD and Head of Sales & Trading, Instinet Canada
  • Aidan Garrib, Head of Global Macro Strategy, PGM Global
  • Shane Feeney - Managing Director and Global Head of Secondaries, Northleaf Capital Partners
  • Don Wishart, President and Portfolio Manager, Seamark Asset Management
  • Feiber Omana, VP of Corporate Development at Shaw Communications

Entry requirements

Being accepted into the SIF program will ensure you get one of the best opportunities to enter the financial market. It is a demanding six-credit-hour program consisting of two full-year three-credit-hour courses. In the first year, students will be assigned as equity analysts with the fund, and in the second year students will be assigned as fund managers. Completing both years is not a requirement and it is possible to apply and complete only one year as an Equity Analyst.

Who can apply

  • Third and fourth year BBA students
  • First and second year MBA students

Criteria for undergraduate students

Pre-requisite(s):

  • ECON 1013 – Principles of Microeconomics
  • ECON 1023 – Principles of Macroeconomics
  • ADM 1213 – Financial Accounting
  • ADM 2223 – Managerial Accounting
  • ADM 2413 – Principles of Finance

Co-requisite(s):

  • ADM 3415 – Corporate Finance
  • ADM 4425 – Investments

Criteria for MBA students

  • Prior experience or education in Finance or prior CFA study is preferred

SIF application process

A call for applications containing detailed instructions and an application deadline will go out no later than March 31. Applications require a CV and completion of an online form. Selected applicants will be contacted for second round interviews.

CFA® and Chartered Financial Analyst® are registered trademarks owned by CFA Institute.