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Verger's Investment Team had the privilege of volunteering their expertise again this year 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). The energy on campus is always infectious, and especially so this year with the added excitement of the German National team being based on campus for the World Cup.
Sessions on Managing an Equity Portfolio
Jim Dunn, Verger's CEO, and Scott Clancy, Director of Investments, each led one of the sessions titled "Managing an Equity Portfolio." Drawing on their own experience overseeing portfolios for nonprofit institutions, they walked students through the considerations that shape portfolio construction — from defining an institution's objectives and risk tolerance to weighing the macroeconomic backdrop. Both sessions also explored behavioral biases that can influence investment decisions, giving students a window into how disciplined, institutional investors work to recognize and guard against them.
Student Engagement Highlights
Students stayed engaged throughout, asking thoughtful questions on the biases discussed and on how macro considerations factor into building and managing an equity portfolio for nonprofit clients. Their curiosity about the practical, real-world application of these concepts stood out to our team — a reminder that the fundamentals of sound investing resonate regardless of audience.
Program Leadership and Participation
The program is led by Mike Crespi, the Academic Leader, who oversees an experience that connects students from across the country with industry leaders and gives them a real-world introduction to finance and investing.
Verger's continued involvement with WFU's Summer Immersion program reflects our ongoing commitment to investing in young talent and supporting the next generation of finance professionals. Jim and Scott both came away energized by the students' engagement and the quality of their questions.
