This summer, Verger's Investment Team had the privilege of volunteering their expertise at Wake Forest University's Student Summer Finance and Investing Institute. This immersive program offers high school students from across the country a week-long opportunity in Winston-Salem to delve into the fundamentals of finance and investing, covering topics such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and exchange-traded funds (ETFs).
Sessions on Managing an Equity Portfolio
Jim Dunn, Verger's CEO, and Taylor Jackson, Managing Director of Investments, both led sessions titled "Managing an Equity Portfolio" during the program. Taylor conducted the session in the first week, followed by Jim in the second week. They shared examples from their own experiences, providing students with an understanding of the complexities involved in managing portfolios. They emphasized that the type of institution or individual being served is crucial to shaping the strategy, assessing risks, and defining objectives for portfolio management.
Student Engagement Highlights
The students had time at each session to ask questions, and our team was impressed with their engagement and thoughtfulness. They asked questions about Jim and Taylor's career journeys, including the challenges and wins they have faced, as well as questions about macroeconomic trends. During his closing comments, Jim highlighted one of his closely held values, which is the importance of asking the question: “Why do we do what we do?” He emphasized that each individual will have their own answer, but that students should focus on knowing their “Why" as they grow in their personal, academic, and professional lives.
Program Leadership and Participation
The program was spearheaded by Mike Crespi, the Academic Leader, who oversees an experience that allows students from across the country to learn from industry leaders, gain real-world experience, and take a deep dive into the world of finance and investing.
Verger's Investment Team's involvement with WFU's Summer Immersion program reflects our commitment to investing in young talent and helping shape the next generation of leaders. Jim and Taylor’s contributions left a lasting impact on the students, as reflected in the thoughtful thank-you notes they sent to our team.
