Empowering Student Fund Managers at the 2024 SMIFC Conference in Chicago

The 2024 Student-Managed Investment Fund Consortium (#SMIFC) Conference brought together ambitious student investors from universities across the nation and around the world. The event, organized by Indiana State University - Scott College of Business and held at McCormick Place in Chicago’s South Loop, focused on equipping student teams managing college endowment funds with practical strategies in portfolio management, featuring a compelling blend of technical analysis, behavioral finance, and traditional financial statement analysis.?

Key Sessions: Bridging Disciplines and Market Insights

A major highlight of the conference was the session by Buff Dormeier, CMT , an industry expert known for his pioneering work in volume studies. Dormeier explored the power of asset flows, volume studies, and momentum indicators to uncover market turning points often missed by fundamental analysis alone. Dormeier’s presentation included a compelling analogy for the students to ponder: “If price is the testimony of the market, volume is the polygraph.” Students were introduced to sophisticated tools that provide actionable insights for fund managers. Dormeier emphasized the importance of timing your investments in the market, stressing how technical indicators can signal key entry and exit points—a crucial lesson for students managing real endowment funds, where disciplined portfolio adjustments are essential.

Tyler Wood, CMT , expanded on this theme with an engaging talk on the complementary nature of fundamental and technical analysis. He highlighted the relevance of fundamental factors in shaping long-term trends, while emphasizing how technical factors such as momentum and relative strength can confirm or amplify the returns for value- or growth-based investment theses. Wood also demonstrated how market breadth indicators help identify points where favorable market conditions may converge with small-cap or value-oriented investment styles. His session empowered students to blend technical, behavioral, and fundamental approaches —giving them practical frameworks for more dynamic, active portfolio management.

In addition to technical insights, Wood introduced students to the Chartered Market Technician (CMT) Program . He emphasized how earning a CMT designation provides differentiated value in today’s job market when many other financial credentials have become commoditized. As the global standard of professionalism in the field, the CMT designation signals to future employers a mastery of the comprehensive body of knowledge, diligence, and career focus on public markets. Students learned that success in the CMT Program opens career paths beyond traditional equity investing or research—spanning roles across a range of industries and asset classes in trading, risk assessment, global macro strategy, and investment advisory. Through CMT Association’s Academic Partner Program , Wood outlined scholarship opportunities available to student participants, offering a pathway to begin the program with financial support. For many students, this session sparked new interest in career trajectories they had not previously considered.?

Behavioral Finance and Cognitive Bias

In a complementary session, Charles Bobrinskoy, a respected thought leader in the small-cap value investment space and Vice Chairman at Ariel Investments, delivered a captivating talk on the lessons we can all apply from the field of Behavioral Finance. guiding students through real-world applications of valuation metrics and portfolio rebalancing techniques. Bobrinskoy emphasized that even with a long-term, value-focused strategy, human behavior and cognitive bias can impede outcomes. ?Bobrinskoy dissected common psychological pitfalls, such as confirmation bias and loss aversion, which can derail sound investment strategies. His keynote session challenged students to reflect on how emotions and cognitive biases influence their decision-making process, especially when managing significant assets in a volatile market. Through examples of practical applications at Ariel, Brobinskoy provided actionable strategies for mitigating bias, helping participants become more rational and effective fund managers.?

As one participant shared, “The sessions by Dormeier, Wood, and Bobrinskoy gave us real-world tools we can use in our portfolios right now. It was eye-opening to see how behavioral tendencies influence the market in ways we hadn’t fully appreciated, and how we can identify and address those inefficiencies through technical analysis.”?

Career Development and Hands-on Learning

The SMIFC conference fostered a dynamic environment where students could engage with industry veterans and network with today’s leading practitioners. Through student poster sessions, practitioner keynotes and engaging panel discussions, they learned how to blend technical analysis and behavioral insights to optimize asset allocation and manage risk. These hands-on experiences gave them tools to not only analyze the markets but also reflect on their own biases as fund managers.? They left with not only new technical skills but also a deeper understanding of career opportunities in finance. Many students remarked on how the sessions broadened their career perspectives, giving them insights into additional skillsets such as technical analysis and behavioral finance, which they had not previously explored.?

One participant shared, “Mr. Wood’s talk really opened my eyes to the CMT Program . Knowing that technical analysis skills are valued across multiple front-office career paths makes me feel more confident about standing out in a competitive job market. Plus, the scholarship program makes it more accessible as a full-time student, which is huge.”?

Preparing for Future Success

By the end of the conference, the students were equipped with practical tools to navigate the challenges of portfolio management and deliver stronger returns for their universities. But perhaps more importantly, they gained a newfound awareness of the many career possibilities within finance. The 2024 SMIFC Conference not only strengthened their understanding of portfolio management but also underscored the importance of continuous learning, professional growth, and adaptability in investment management. With access to opportunities like the CMT Program, these students are now better prepared to navigate complex markets and pursue a diverse range of rewarding careers.?

?#SMIFC #portfoliomanagement #technicalanalysis #CMT #Behavioralfinance #investing Indiana State University - Scott College of Business Terry Daugherty Buff Dormeier, CMT Robert Palladino, CMT Sergio Santamaria, CFA, CMT Kelly Corbiere, CFA, CMT, CFP? Gina Martin Adams KAIZAD MAROLIA Joel Pannikot John K. David Lundgren, CMT CFA Christopher Wilson, CFA, CMT