Saturday Morning Breakout Sessions

SATURDAY – APRIL 6

PLEASE NOTE:  Breakout registration will open on Monday, March 11. Registrants will be sent an e-mail that announces the opening and provides instructions for registering. You must complete your breakout registration by Monday, March 18, at which time the online registration system will close. 

Session I:  8 – 9:30 a.m.
Session II:  10 – 11:30 a.m.
On our registration website, you’ll have the opportunity to select two from the following list. The faculty presentations will span both Session I and Session II.

Career Strategies Panel: Portfolio Management

Moderator: Morgan Metz, Analyst, Global Multi Asset Group, J.P. Morgan Asset Management, New York, N.Y.
Panelists: Aley Hall, Associate Portfolio Manager, Great Lakes Advisors, LLC, Chicago, Ill.
Christopher Peterman, Analyst, Fifth Third Asset Management, Cincinnati, Ohio
Adam R. Schaffer, Portfolio Manager & Research Analyst, Buckingham Capital Management, Dayton, Ohio
Panel Description:  The Portfolio Management career panelists will conduct an interactive discussion with attendees that will examine these young professionals' responsibilities, trends in the industry, tales of their personal experiences, and suggestions as to how to pursue a career in portfolio management.

Career Strategies Panel: Careers in M&A

Moderator: Robert Green, Associate, Baird Capital Ventures, Chicago, Ill.
Panelists: William Blake, III, Associate, Beringea LLC, Farmington Hills, Mich.
Erik Braden, Associate, CID Capital, Indianapolis, Ind.
Gregory A. Hill, Analyst, Western Reserve Partners, Cleveland, Ohio
Panel Description:  This panel will focus on careers in investment banking, private equity, and venture capital, including junior professionals' responsibilities, necessary skills, and how to enter the industry.

Career Strategies Panel: Wealth Management and Private Banking

Moderator: James Ortman, Private Banking Analyst, J.P. Morgan Asset Management, Cincinnati, Ohio
Panelists: Jason Capone, CFP, Financial Advisor, Wintrust Wealth Management, Hinsdale, Ill.
Patrick Martinez, Financial Advisor, Northwestern Mutual, Beavercreek, Ohio
Jacqueline Venier, CFP, Financial Planner, Plante Moran Financial Advisors, Southfield, Mich.
Panel Description:  The Wealth Management career panel will discuss careers and trends in financial planning, wealth management, and financial advisory, including how to enter the industry.

Career Strategies Panel: Hedge Fund & Proprietary Trading

Moderator: Joseph Recker, Associate, Highbridge Capital Management, LLC, New York, N.Y.
Panelists:  Brett Adlard, Associate, BMO Capital Markets, Chicago, Ill.
John Markwell, Associate, Bajan Capital, New York, N.Y.
William O’Hara, Equity Options Trader, Ronin Capital, LLC, Chicago, Ill.
Panel Description:  The Hedge Fund & Proprietary Trading Panel will be an interactive session with investment professionals providing commentary on their careers in hedge funds and proprietary trading as well as answering questions about the industry.

Career Strategies Presentation: CFA Institute - Raising Standards of Professional Excellence

Presented by: Wendy L. Pirie, CFA, CA, CPA/PFS, CAIA, Director, Curriculum Projects, CFA Institute, Charlottesville, VA 

Session Description:  CFA Institute provides current, comprehensive, and industry leading educational opportunities so that investment professionals and those aspiring to work in the industry can stand out in their dedication to the highest professional practices.  By promoting the advanced skills needed to ensure competence and excellence in the workplace, CFA Institute programs set the standard for investment practice and are respected as some of the most challenging professional training in the global industry. These programs require strong self-motivation and give individuals completing them a significant competitive edge.  This presentation will provide details on the development, requirements, and benefits of the:  

o   Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA®) charter, the global investment industry’s most challenging and most widely respected graduate-level investment credential;

o   Certificate in Investment Performance Measurement (CIPM®), the industry’s only credential dedicated to investment performance analysis as well as measurement, evaluation, ethics, and application of the GIPS® reporting standards; and

o   Claritas^TM Investment Certificate, designed to give everyone working with investment decision makers a clear understanding of the essential aspects of our industry.

Call for Papers:  Faculty-Only Research and Best Practices Presentations

Moderator:  Carl Chen, Ph.D., Professor and William J. Hoben Chair in Finance, School of Business Administration, University of Dayton, OH

Presentations (sequence of presentations subject to change):

SESSION I

Time:  8 am
Welcome (with a few minutes to complete downloading of PowerPoints to podium computer)

Time: 8:15 – 8:30 a.m.
Title:  "Data Mining Models Comparison for Predicting the Stock Price With a Focus on Industry Segmentation"
Presented by:  Ahmed Gomaa, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Information Systems & Corporate Finance, Marywood University, Scranton, Pa.
Co-Authors:  Rex Dumdum, Ph.D., Marywood University, Scranton, Pa.
Daniel Sputa, MBA, Marywood University, Scranton, Pa.
Abstract:  We build on our prior research by introducing the industry segment as an attribute when comparing the prediction accuracy of several data mining models on the stock price. The data mining models used in the comparison are Naïve Bayes, Neural Networking, decision trees, linear regression, and Association rules.

Time: 8:30 – 8:45 a.m.
Title:  "Weather Derivatives:  A Tool for Game Franchisers"
Presented by:  Nandita Das, Ph.D., CFA, Associate Professor of Finance, Delaware State University, Dover, DE
Abstract:   The research presents the use of weather derivatives to hedge losses in revenue with respect to baseball stadium attendance because of the climate changes.  There is no conclusive result for any single weather factor that covers all franchises due the considerable variations in weather and fan support from franchise to franchise.  The lack of a conclusive result doesn’t stipulate a lack of correlation, but in effect, leads us to conclude that each franchise is an unique enough scenario that an individual assessment of each franchise needs to be made to make the necessary conclusions on how the climate can effect the attendance. 

Time: 8:45 – 9 a.m.
Title:  "Preferred Stocks:  An Underutilized Investment Secret"
Presented by:  H. Jim Harriman, CPA, CMA, CGMA, MBA, Assistant Professor of Accounting, Mount Vernon Nazarene University, Mount Vernon, Ohio
Abstract:  In the backdrop of quantitative easing, preferred stocks have the potential to provide 5 to 6.5% dividend yield with very low betas. By leveraging the Fed's announced decision to maintain interest rates low throughout 2014, preferred stocks offer the opportunity to obtain yields substantially better than bonds with better ease of entry and exit.  Historical examination of the 2008 financial crisis uncovers some very compelling information on how preferred stock performed both during the crisis and subsequent recovery when compared with the same company's common stock. i.e., General Electric, Citigroup, Bank of America, J P Morgan Chase, MetLife and Huntington.

Time: 9 – 9:15 a.m.
Title:"Using Live Cases in Teaching Undergraduate Finance Courses"
Presented by: Emma Neuhauser, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Finance, Elizabethtown College, Elizabethtown, Pa.
Abstract: Live cases are studies and analyses of real world financial issues using current and publicly available information. Due to the complexities of live case studies as opposed to the traditional cases' set scenarios, live cases are often used for graduate level courses. This presentation is to demonstrate the live cases designed, developed, and used to help undergraduate students become accustomed to ambiguities and build a habit of actively applying well understood principles to real world problem solving.

BREAK BEFORE SESSION II

Time: 10:00 - 10:15 a.m.
Title:  "Low Volatility Portfolios"
Presented by:  James T. Chong, Ph.D., Professor of Finance, Real Estate & Insurance, Associate Director, Center for Financial Planning & Investment, California State University, Northridge, Northridge, Calif. 
Co-Author:  G. Michael Phillips, Ph.D., Professor of Finance, Real Estate & Insurance, Director, Center for Financial Planning & Investment, California State University, Northridge, Northridge, Calif.
Abstract:  Low Volatility Portfolio construction has become a very hot topic in professional portfolio management circles but student portfolios have not always kept pace.  This presentation will summarize some of our recent research and provide a broader introduction to current low volatility strategies, emphasizing techniques that can be used in the classroom and with management of student portfolios.

Time: 10:15 - 10:30 a.m.
Title:  "Investment Philosophy and Process"
Presented by:  Jason T. Greene, Ph.D., Professor & Advisor to the Saluki Student Investment Fund, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Carbondale, IL 
Abstract:  This session defines what an investment philosophy and process are, discusses the key elements of each, and highlights the importance of both to any investment organization. Drawing on examples from successful institutional investment management firms, the session provides a framework for creating a coherent and effective investment philosophy and process. The key benefits of maintaining the investment philosophy and process are discussed as solutions to some of the challenges facing student investment funds.

Time: 10:30 – 10:45 a.m.
Title:  Service-Learning & Leadership:  Evidence from Teaching Financial Literacy"
Presented by:  Omid Sabbaghi, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Finance, University of Detroit Mercy, Detroit, Mich.
Co-Authors:  Gerald Cavanagh, S.J., DBA, Charles T. Fisher III Chair of Business Ethics & Professor of Management, College of Business Administration, University of Detroit Mercy, Detroit, Mich.
Tim Hipskind, S.J., Director of Service Learning, Institute for Leadership and Service, University of Detroit Mercy, Detroit, Mich.
Abstract:  We provide an empirical investigation of leadership characteristics and social justice issues in the context of financial literacy service-learning. Using a unique dataset of student self-ratings, we find that students experience statistically significant increases in 8 of the 10 leadership dimensions and 7 of the 7 social justice issues examined in this study. As a consequence of the financial literacy service-learning, we believe that business students become more prepared toward becoming ethical leaders and citizens with compassion to serve the world for the well-being of all people, rich and poor alike.