Portfolio Management Team

On Wednesday March 5th the Portfolio Management Team was proud to host our semi-annual Alumni Night, bringing together PMT alumni, from firms such as Bank of America, Citadel, and Goldman Sachs, who worked to turn the organization into what it is today. We’d like to thank all of the alumni who came out and shared their stories and experiences with the members of PMT! It was an incredible event and we are very grateful. We also hosted a successful networking night, where our members had the opportunity to connect with successful alumni and gain insights into how they achieved their career positions. We want to give as special thank you to PMT’s President Eliezer Zagorin, Vice-President Akshat Khatri and the executive board for organizing this amazing event. Join us for our next meeting on Wednesday 3/19/25 at 6 P.M.

Recently, members of the Portfolio Management Team had the opportunity to visit Northern Trust’s Chicago office. During the visit, our members learned about the rich history of the company, gained insights into the company’s business operations, and toured the office space. We even had the opportunity to observe the underground vaults and secret meeting rooms. It was a fantastic experience, members of PMT got a first hand experience of the inner workings of the prestigious Chicago private bank. We’d like to thank Tyler Converso, CFA, Joseph Podbielski, CFA and Al Pakrosnis for organizing this opportunity for PMT to visit Northern Trust. We hope to be able to extend this opportunity to future members and visit again!

Grab your tickets for the 2nd Annual UIC Finance Reception today! This is a great opportunity to network with professionals, alumni, faculty, and students -- you don't want to miss it! We are very excited to co-host this event with Women in Finance at UIC and Finance and Investment Group at UIC. See you there on April 10!

Last week, we had great presentations from the Technology Sector and Healthcare Sector. The Technology Sector, led by Andres Fernandez, pitched a sell on Analog Devices Inc (ADI) and with the popular vote of our members, it was sold. Andres and his team worked hard to argue the threats ADI is facing and the overall state of the semiconductor industry. The Healthcare Sector, led by Brian J., also convinced our members to sell Merck & Co (MRK). Brian and the Healthcare Sector stressed the risks of Merck’s main products Keytruda and Gardasil’s near patent expirations, as well as Robert F. Kennedy’s appointment and past history with Merck. Join us tomorrow (3/5) for the biggest event of the semester, Alumni Night! The meeting will take place at 6 P.M. in lecture center C, C3.

A couple weeks ago, members of the Portfolio Management Team had the opportunity to visit the Chicago Trading Company (CTC) office at the historic Chicago stock exchange. The visit began with a tour led by Payton Morse giving us an inside look at the firm's trading operations. Our members gained valuable insights into quantitative market making by participating in an interactive trading simulation led by William Macfadden and explored the career opportunities available at the Chicago Trading Company. To cap off the experience, we toured the Cboe trading floor, one of the few remaining trading floors in the world. Standing above the open-outcry floor was a rare opportunity to witness a piece of financial history in action, and we are very appreciative of it. A huge thank you to Thomas Pradd, Payton Morse, William Macfadden, Francisco Enriquez III, and Al Pakrosnis for making this visit possible. We’re grateful for the opportunity and look forward to future collaborations!

A few weeks ago, the Portfolio Management Team collaborated with DePaul’s investment club to host Tom Sosnoff founder of Thinkorswim, Tastytrade, and Tastylive. PMT members had an incredible opportunity to engage directly with the seasoned prop trader, entrepreneur, and innovator, gaining firsthand insights into the world of trading and risk management. The event also fostered valuable networking between UIC and DePaul students, strengthening connections within Chicago’s community of finance students. Sosnoff shared candid perspectives on the challenges of entrepreneurship, strategic risk-taking as young professionals, and academic and career development. His insights resonated deeply with our members, providing both inspiration and practical guidance. Special thanks to Al Pakrosnis and Demetri Frangiadakis for helping make this event happen. We are extremely grateful for his time and expertise and look forward to future collaborations.

We are pleased to share that last week’s meeting was a great success. Our sector leaders had the opportunity to present a sample pitch, providing PMT members with a preview of the structure and quality of presentations we will be delivering throughout the semester. Additionally, Eliezer Zagorin and Akshat Khatri led an insightful weekly market recap, offering valuable perspectives on recent developments. Join us today at 6:00 P.M. in Lecture Center C, Room C3, as our Financials Sector delivers the first pitch of the semester, featuring Visa. We look forward to seeing you there!

Recently, members of the UIC Portfolio Management Team had the opportunity to participate as panelists at the Security Traders Association of Chicago (STAC) 99th annual Mid-Winter Meeting. Al Pakrosnis, Eliezer Zagorin, and Quinn Basta represented PMT and UIC, providing an overview of the organization’s operations and how it prepares its members for a career in Finance, while discussing their outlook on the next generation of traders. The event also allowed a numerous PMT members to engage with industry professionals and gain valuable insights and connections. We appreciate The Security Traders Association of Chicago, STAC Young Professionals, Lauren Arbid, and Hanna Droessler for making this opportunity possible. We look forward to continuing our great partnership and collaboration with the distinguished professionals of STAC!

Historic Milestone for PMT! In celebration of the Portfolio Management Team reaching a major milestone of a $200,000 portfolio, we are excited to share our inaugural semiannual investor letter! This letter includes: - A Statement of the President, providing insights into our activities throughout the semester. - Sector pitch reports, outlining our investment thesis and rationale behind each portfolio adjustment. - Charts detailing how our investments have performed We're proud of all the progress this organization has made, and we're excited to continue growing. Huge shoutout to the PMT executive board; to the sector leaders who put together each of these pitch reports and to the communications team who tailored this report.

Join UIC’s Portfolio Management Team and DePaul Investment Group for a panel with Tom Sosnoff American Entrepreneur, founder and CEO of tastylive and tastytrade. The panel will take place 01/28/25 at DePaul’s Lincoln Park Campus, 103 Arts & Letters Hall at 5 P.M. - 7 P.M.