Integrated Investment Management Program

The Integrated Investment Management Initiative (IIMI) offers unique, practical learning experiences that provide students education with real world application. Undergraduates taking advantage of the IIMI will be ahead of their peers as most of the premier investment management programs in the US are exclusively for MBA students. Furthermore, the program is one-of-a-kind in its cross disciplinary nature. We integrate students from all departments in the College of Business providing a perspective of investment management from the accounting, marketing, management, and finance disciplines. Participation in the program will give students the skills investment management companies are looking for and the confidence needed for job interviews. Students will be able to use their experiences to show that they are knowledgeable and qualified for a job in the investment management industry.

At the center of the Integrated Investment Management Initiative is experiential learning. Through direct experience, students gain real meaning for theory learned in the classroom. The process requires students to learn new skills, work as a team, and make important decisions. Each of the components provides a different experience.

Programs for Students

Certificate in Integrated Investment Management

Are you interested in a career in the investment management industry? Are you interested in owning or managing your own investment management firm? If so, the Certificate in Integrated Investment Management is for you. The required courses for the certificate are designed to provide you with the fundamentals of investment management and a broader business perspective of the investment management industry. In addition to three required courses, you can choose two elective courses that are best suited to your personal career choices within the investment management industry.

Students enrolled in the certificate program will also have the opportunity to apply their discipline-specific knowledge to the management of the College's Student Investment Portfolio (SIP). The certificate program allows you to participate in and interact with the SIP by applying your specific knowledge, whether it be accounting, finance, management, marketing, and information technology to the management of the portfolio. This hands-on learning experience provides the experience that you will need to begin a successful career in the investment management industry.

Learn more about the Certificate in Integrated Investment Management.

Student Venture Fund

Students involved in the Student Venture Fund willdetermine which start-ups to fund and the investment amountsprovide financial analysis and advice to student entrepreneurs working in the business accelerator, to help them create the financial portion of their business plans make recommendations regarding seed capital work with entrepreneurs to grow their businesses provide other venture capital related functions such as bringing in accounting, marketing, and management expertise from other students as necessary

Investment Management and Capital Markets Trading Laboratory

The Investment Management and Capital Markets Trading Laboratory supports the experiential learning mission of the Integrated Investment Management Initiative. In this laboratory, students gain practical experience using state-of-the art simulation software for stock trading, applied risk management, options and futures pricing, and many other applications.

von Waaden Student Investment Portfolio

Students have the unique opportunity to manage an actual investment portfolio. Those enrolled in Security and Portfolio Analysis (FINAN 653) have the responsibility for the management of the Dennis and Sally von Waaden Student Investment Portfolio. On invested funds, the rate of return that students have earned has been in excess of the returns on both the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S&P 500 Average. Since the portfolios founding, students have added roughly $312,000 to the original $500,000 portfolio. We gratefully acknowledge the von Waaden's support and dedication to student learning.

Fixed Income Fund

The Fixed Income Fund is managed by students affiliated with the Student Finance Association (SFA). The fund was launched in the spring of 2005 with initial funding of $45,956, provided by the Kansas State University Foundation. Students manage the fund and make decisions on where the money is invested. The fund provides students experiential learning opportunities through incremental investments in various fixed income securities. The fund also provides a stream of income used for scholarships and trip expenses for the SFA.

Sponsorship

Our sponsors make the Integrated Investment Management Initiative possible. We gratefully acknowledge the following people for their support and dedication to student learning.

Dennis and Sally von Waaden

The Integrated Investment Management Initiative (IIMI) would not be possible without the support of Dennis and Sally von Waaden. Their gift of $1.1 million to the Kansas State University Foundation Changing Lives Campaign supported and broadened the IIMI program. The generous gift provided a strategic startup fund and created the von Waaden Chair for Investment Management and von Waaden Investment management Scholarship.

The von Waaden’s generosity has also provided students the unique opportunity to manage an actual investment portfolio. Those enrolled in Security and Portfolio Analysis (FINAN 653) have the responsibility for the management of the von Waaden Student Investment Portfolio. On invested funds, the rate of return that students have earned has been in excess of the returns on both the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S&P 500 Average. Since the portfolios founding, students have added roughly $125,000 to the original $250,000 portfolio.

Sponsorship Opportunities

We welcome the opportunity to explore how your needs and interests match ours. If you are interested in learning how you can contribute to the IIMI, please contact Dr. Eric Higgins, Finance Department Head and von Waaden Chair of Investment Management.