Group picture of the Class of 2024 Fund Managers and Class of 2025 Research Associates.
The Van Berkom Investment Management Program (VBIMP) provides a small group of select JMSB undergraduate and graduate students with an experience that will open the door to a career in the global capital markets.
Each year, six to ten students are admitted and tasked with managing a portfolio of small capitalization stocks with the aim to achieve returns that exceed a small-cap North American benchmark.
New program recruits complete the first-year in the VBIMP as research associates (RAs).
Upon entering their second year in the program, research associates assume the responsibility of managing the fund and earn the title of fund managers (FMs).
Duties and Responsibilities of Research Associates (RAs)
The primary role of incoming research associates (RAs) is to support the fund managers (FMs) who will be managing the VBIMP portfolio. As delegated by the FMs, RAs will assist by performing research and writing stock reports. RAs also have the opportunity to work on their own stock pitches, which are presented to the investment committee. In order to better assume these responsibilities, RAs will enroll and successfully complete an applied investment course, participate in a financial modelling “boot camp," receive training from library staff on research, receive training from JMSB’s Career Management Services about obtaining internships and full-time employment in capital markets and complete an internship.
Applied Investments Course
Upon acceptance, VBIMP research associates will be enrolled into FINA 409 “Applied Investment Analysis,” a course which focuses on evaluating stocks using modern methods on valuation, writing stock reports as well as pitching stocks. It includes lectures, book discussions, presentations by industry experts and using the investment lab (Formula Growth room). The main topics include: a) understanding the different investment styles b) reading accounting statements from an investor’s point of view c) industry analysis d) stock analysis. The course is held during the winter term each year and is three credits.
This course is a specialized course designed for the students enrolled in the Van Berkom Investment Management Program. Therefore, departmental consent is required prior to registration in this course.
Contact:
Simon Lussier, interim director of VBIMP
simon.lussier@concordia.ca
Duties and Responsibilities of Fund Managers (FMs)
Reporting to the investment committee and overseen by the program director, FMs are second-year VBIMP students having completed/maintained the following as RAs:
- FINA 409 Applied Investments
- A GPA exceeding 3.5
- An internship with positive performance evaluations
They assume the management of the portfolio on January 1 and are responsible for its performance until December 31 of that same year. They must add value to the fund as per the requirements established in the fund’s investment policy statement.
