Investment Group Attends G.A.M.E. Forum in New York

VALDOSTA – The Valdosta State University Student Investment Group recently returned from New York City where they attended the Quinnipiac G.A.M.E. (Global Asset Management Education) Forum, held April 4-6 at Hilton New York Hotel.

The annual forum allows college students and faculty to network with leaders in the financial services industry and learn best practices in investment management. Attendees heard from keynote panels about the global economy, global stock markets and corporate governance and participated in breakout discussion sessions and workshops.

During their trip, investment group members also toured the New York Stock Exchange as guests of Ladenburg Thalmann. Tom Pritchett, Jr. of APB WealthCare Advisors, LLP in Tifton, also a graduate of VSU, joined the students and faculty during the trip.

“Next year we would like to actually present our portfolio and compete with other schools during the forum,” said Dr. Elvan Aktas, associate professor of finance.

Members of VSU’s investment group have been managing a diversified portfolio in the university’s Southeastern Federal Credit Union Financial Trading Center (FTC) since April 2012.

“We are constantly monitoring the portfolio to see opportunities/needs for modification based on the market conditions,” said Aktas. The goal is to maintain a very conservative, very diversified portfolio. We are not trying to get high returns by taking high risks.”

The FTC, located in Thaxton Hall on North Campus, is the only one on a university campus in the state that allows students to use real money for trading. It is also one of a few trading centers located in the southern region of the United States.

Any student, regardless of major, at VSU can become an active member of the investment group. The group meets every Tuesday at 5 p.m. in the FTC.

For more information, email eaktas@valdosta.edu .