Each September, members of the University of Oregon Investment Group (UOIG) head to New York City to see what it's like to work and live in one of the world's top financial centers. The annual trip provides group members with an insider's view of the financial world's corporate culture and the careers available in it. It's also a chance to meet professionals in the field and reconnect with recent UOIG alumni who have begun careers in the city.
“This is the platform that helps the students begin their networking," said the group's advisor, associate professor Ro Gutierrez, who accompanied the students on the trip.
Eight UOIG members went on this year's trip. While the rising juniors used their time to suss out potential firms for next summer's internships, the seniors concentrated on pursuing employment opportunities and making the connections they'll need for their future careers.
Justin Goschie "15 had a particularly rewarding New York experience. After arranging for his final in-person interview at RBC Capital Markets to take place during the September trip, he was offered offered a position as an analyst in the firm's global investment banking division and will start there in July 2015.
University of Oregon alumni currently working in the financial industry facilitated each of the group's company visits. This year's itinerary included tours and meetings with professionals at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, RBC Capital Markets, and the hedge fund Balyasny Asset Management.
Despite a jam-packed schedule, the group still found time for some socializing. Former UOIG-ers reunited with the group for a pizza dinner on the trip's first evening. On their second and final evening in New York, group members experienced a classic Wall Street eatery when Phil Fischer, MBA '77, PhD '79, treated them to dinner at Delmonico's.
The students" hands-on experience managing live money—all told, the group actively manages more than $1,000,000 spread across three different portfolios—meant that they were well prepared for their time on Manhattan Island.
“They were engaged, they asked great questions, and they were comfortable in those rooms and in those settings," said Gutierrez.