Mission
The Wade Investment Fund advances the School of Business and Management’s mission by delivering high-impact experiential learning. Students gain real-world experience in security analysis and portfolio management by working with a real-money investment portfolio in a supportive, discovery-oriented community.
Overview
With the support of the Wade Brothers, students help manage an actual investment portfolio and develop the research, judgment, and professional communication skills that employers expect. Through the Wade Fund, students conduct equity research, build valuation-based investment theses, present recommendations, and participate in portfolio monitoring and trade decision discussions. The program is faculty-supervised and strengthened through engagement with alumni and industry professionals.
Fundraising
The fund launched in Fall 2022 with an initial fundraising goal of $100,000 and has exceeded that milestone. Fundraising continues to expand experiential learning opportunities for students as the portfolio grows, including exposure across both equities and fixed income over time.
New goal: Building on early success, the Wade Investment Fund is pursuing a new milestone, growing the portfolio to $1,000,000 by June 30, 2033. Continued donor support will help scale student opportunity, strengthen applied learning, and extend the fund’s long-term impact.
Make a one-time gift or an installment gift online with a credit card via our secure gift webpage. Make sure you designate the gift to the Wade Investment Fund. Or you may send a check payable to the Brockport Foundation to:
Division of Advancement
SUNY Brockport
350 New Campus Drive
Brockport NY 14420
*Please include in the memo section of your check Wade Investment Fund.
The Fund
The Wade Investment Fund is to be managed as a diversified, actively managed, long-only fund run by student analysts and portfolio managers. The student teams will meet on a weekly basis in the fall and spring semesters to exchange ideas and work together to identify security positions whose profile is consistent with the fund’s investment objectives and are deemed to be undervalued by the team.
The structure and operations of the fund will be laid out in an Investment and Internal Controls Policy Statement. The fund will be held by the Brockport Foundation and follow guidelines for trading and positions provided by the Foundation’s Finance and Investment Committee. A faculty advisor and an Oversight Board of University alumni and friends will provide guidance and support.
At the end of each semester, students will present the performance result, including a discussion of strategy and performance attribution, to the Oversight Board. This will be done at an event to which students, alumni and friends will be invited.
Every year, the Wade Investment Fund will publish an annual report for the community. Eventually, when a sufficient track record is established, the plan is to claim GIPS (Global Investment Performance Standards)® compliance, making it one of the few (if not the only) student managed fund that is GIPS compliant.
The fund will start as an equity fund and once sufficient funding is obtained; the plan is to add fixed income securities. This will enable students to understand the value of tactical and strategic asset allocation.
Students will receive three credits as part of the class over a two-semester sequence. They will start as analysts in the fall semester and upon satisfactory performance, will be promoted to portfolio managers in the spring semester. Entry to the class will be by the permission/selection of the faculty advisor. Registration will be through an already existing course entitled Seminar in Finance (BUS 428).
Deliverables, as part of the course requirements will be determined by the faculty advisor and may include:
- Company research reports
- Security pitches
- Performance attribution reports
- Sector report
- Presentation to the Oversight Board
Why Wade Investment Fund?
- If, as a student, you seek to develop your financial acumen and want to join a network of colleagues to learn about securities valuations, asset allocation, and portfolio management, then apply to the Wade Investment Fund for an unequaled learning experience.
- If, as an alum or supporter of the program, you want to support today’s students in their efforts to gain hands-on experience, improve their job prospects, and set them up for success, then support the Wade Investment Fund financially and/or let us know of your interest in being on the Oversight Board.
- If, as a recruiter, you seek talented and ambitious students that can make an immediate impact on your operation and contribute to your company’s mission and culture, then drop by our class to discover your new hires.
Thank You To Our Supporters
We would like to thank and acknowledge the following individuals and companies for supporting the Wade Investment Fund in The School of Business and Management. Your commitment and confidence affirm our position in the business and professional education marketplace.
Wade Brothers
- Chuck Wade ’06,
- Brighton Securities
- Senior Vice President, Financial Advisor
- Ethan Wade ’11,
- Brighton Securities
- Director of Training & Development, Senior Vice President, Financial Advisor
Corporate Support
Christopher Q. H. Leverett ’84
CFP®, AWM
RBC Wealth Management
Senior Vice President - Financial Advisor
Senior Portfolio Manager - Portfolio Focus
Christopher M. Leone ’98
Merrill Lynch Wealth Management
Senior Vice President
Senior Financial Advisor
Michelle L. Hill
Canandaigua National Bank & Trust
Assistant Vice President
Brockport Community Branch Manager
Jeffrey Bocach, ’87
Advantage Federal Credit Union
President & CEO
Christopher Haigh
Iconoclastic Capital
Chief Executive Officer
Jack Hills
Iconoclastic Capital
Chief Investment Officer
Mike Winter ’11
Double Diamonds Financial Solutions
Individual Support
- James Campbell ’65 and Virginia Campbell ’89/’96
- Janie Hill ’85
- Paul Purfield ’74
- Karen Webber ’09.
Conclusion
The Wade Investment Fund provides an invaluable opportunity to deliver high-quality education to students in the School of Business and Management at SUNY Brockport. Invest in our students today and change their career path forever!
For more information, contact The School of Business and Management’s Dean’s office at businessdean@brockport.edu.
