Eagle Fund Alumni Profile - Gavin Schell

At Florida Gulf Coast University, the Student-Managed Eagle Fund is more than just a place to learn about investing—it’s a launchpad for success. For many alumni, the skills honed and connections made have opened doors to prestigious careers in research, trading, and portfolio management. Today, we highlight the inspiring journey of one such recent alumnus, Gavin Schell (Class of 2022), whose story embodies the transformative impact of FGCU’s Eagle Fund.

Driven by a deep curiosity about financial markets and investing, Gavin joined the Eagle Fund in the Spring of 2021 as a student equity analyst covering the Technology sector.?? Gavin and his team were responsible for purchasing Meta Platforms (known as FaceBook at the time), which has since appreciated over 130% to $690 (as of 1/30/25).? Gavin remained active with the fund over the next several semesters, helping to monitor the portfolio and train and mentor new students.??

As a Portfolio Trading room lab monitor, Gavin spent countless hours mastering the Bloomberg Terminal and developed a particular affinity for quantitative investing.?? As a student, Gavin created a multi-factor stock selection screen, back-tested it, and used it to invest his own money.?? This experience aided Gavin in attaining his current position as an investment analyst at Moran Wealth Management, where he works with the firm’s Investment Committee to implement the Small Midcap Strategic Beta Portfolio.

Impressed by Gavin’s passion for investing and work ethic, I decided to become one of the first investors in the new strategy.? Moran’s Small Midcap Strategic Beta portfolio is off to an impressive start, recently completing its 2-year anniversary in December 2024.?? Gavin’s (and other FGCU students) Eagle Fund journey was made possible by a generous donation by Moran Wealth Management to fund the Bloomberg Terminals at FGCU’s Lutgert College of Business.

Gavin Schell is an Investment Analyst at Moran Wealth Management, conducting in-depth research and analysis to support the firm's investment strategies– where he brings a global perspective and a strong analytical foundation, and contributes to portfolio management decisions. Originally from New Zealand, Gavin was born and raised in Southern California before pursuing higher education in the Sunshine State. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance from Florida Gulf Coast University, with a concentration in Analysis and Management.