Finance Newsletter


Tigers on Wall Street Tigers on Wall Street

Fourteen University of Missouri students returned last fall from atrip to Wall Street that was simply “phenomenal!” according to Jon Jarvis, one of the MBA students in the group. The trip, that took place in late September, was conceived by Meredith Aslin, an alumnus of Mizzou who works for Apollo Management in New York City. Aslin had heard that there was a Jayhawks on Wall Street and enlisted her father, Mick Aslin, and Harvey Eisen, both alumni, to help create a similar opportunity for their beloved tigers. Mick Aslin and Eisen jumped on board and became financial backers for the trip. This support from tigers already working on Wall Street offered the Trulaske College of Business an opportunity “to prove that [it has] top students that could thrive on Wall Street and to give the students the chance to see what Wall Street is like at a very historic point in time,” says Jarvis. To learn more about the students attending the trip, the preparation required, and their week in New York visit this article on the University of Missouri Department of Finance website


Emerging Issues & Trends in Real Estate Forum

The 2008 Emerging Issues & Trends in Real Estate Forum transpired once again last April to be a premier event for both students and professionals concerned with the commercial real estate industry. The forum was hosted by the Jeffrey E. Smith Institute of Real Estate and took place April 4, 2008 on the University of Missouri campus. The purpose of the annual forum is to “[create] an environment that allows students to meet business professionals and discuss current events.” Approximately 500 people attended the forum last year, with about half being students and the other half comprising the spectrum of real estate professionals from brokers and bankers to architects and developers. The forum was so well-attended that there was standing room only in all four of the morning and afternoon break-out sessions. To learn more about the forum and the sessions offered visit this article on the University of Missouri Department of Finance website Here


Back in the Pack

Dr. Gary Mc Cormick has rejoined the ranks of the tigers this year as a Post-Doctoral Fellow in the Finance Department. After completing his Ph.D in Finance from Mizzou in 2006, Dr. McCorm ick taught Finance at Washington State University and spent last year at the University o f North Texas. He returned to Mizzou this fall to pursue research with Drs. Dan French, Paul Brockman, and Raynolde Pereira in investments and market microstructure wit h an emphasis in closed-end funds. Among his many accolades, Dr. McCormick had the gr eat privilege to present one of his most resent research papers at the China International Conference in Finance in Dalian, China this past July. The paper entitled “Effects of Frequent Information Disclosure: The Case of Daily Net Asset Value Reporting for Closed-end Investment Companies” addresses the results of previous research conducted with Dr. Dan French, Department Chair of Finance. To learn more about Dr. McCormick visit this article on the University of Missouri Department of Finance website Here

Financial Management Association on the Rise

“It’s our best year yet,” boasts Dr. John Stansfield, faculty advisor for the Financial Management Association (FMA) at Mizzou. FMA, whose mission is to “assist finance students in making the transition from students to professionals” through “professional speaking events and company tours,” does indeed seem to be doing well this year. The interest in the organization has greatly increased over the last couple of years with around 65 students attending the first speaker session last semester with Kevin Burke, the Vice President of Finance for the Flexsys division of Solutia in St. Louis. FMA brings in professionals, usually from the Kansas City and St. Louis areas, to speak to their organization at their bi-weekly meetings. Jennifer Guenther, President of FMA, touches on the benefits for students attending the speaker sessions: “I’ve learned a lot from the speakers that come in that I didn’t even realize I was missing out on. In class, we learn the material, but from the speakers we learn about actual experiences” To learn more about the Financial Management Association and its events this yea r, visit this article on the University of Missouri Department of Finance website Here



Finance Advisory Board Spotlight: Tom Clough

Tom Clough, one of the newest members of the FAB, attributes his p lace on the board to the influence of fellow Spotlight Board Member, Susan Smith, in addition t o encouragement from board member Bruce Allen and a wish to stay conne cted with the College of Business. FAB participation is just the most recent of his endeavors which have kept him involved with the University. Tom has been active with KC Tiger Club, holding the position of president from 2003 to 2004 and has stayed connected with members from his fraternity pledge class. Additionally, Tom is a Mizzou Football season ticket holder and makes it to the games whenever he can. To learn more about Tom visit this article on the University of Missouri Department of Finance website Here




Finance Advisory Board Member Spotlight: Susan Smith, CCIM

Susan Smith, graduate from the University of Missouri with a degree in finance in 1981, is enjoying her second year on the Finance Advisory Board. She joined the FAB to become more involved with the University and informed of developments within the College of Business and Department of Finance. To learn more about Susan visit this article on the University of Missouri Department of Finance website Here






REIT Research at Mizzou

Among the interesting research being conducted by the faculty and students in the Department of Finance at the University of Missouri is the current research on real estate investment trusts (REITs). This project encompasses the work of department chair Dan French, doctoral student Chris Tamm, and former Discovery Fellow Ben Nibarger. To learn more about the REIT research being conducted at Mizzou visit this article on the University of Missouri Department of Finance website Here

Last Edited: 4/29/2009