UAM NEWS
UAM Students Attend International SMIF Conference in Chicago
Ten student members of the University of Arkansas at Monticello Investment Club recently spent three days in Chicago, Illinois, attending the 13th Annual Student Managed Investment Fund (SMIF) Consortium Conference hosted by Indiana State University. In addition to participating in conference sessions and networking events, they visited with several investment professionals, where they learned firsthand about day-to-day operations and engaged in insightful discussions with experts.
The UAM students on the trip included T-Ausha Avery, from Warren, Arkansas; Jayce Clemons, from Dumas, Arkansas; Edwin Hernandez, from Hamburg, Arkansas; Jade Keaton, from Rison, Arkansas; Elyssa Liechty, from Monticello, Arkansas; Emjay Lucas, from Washington, Oklahoma; Aidan Manley, from Pittsburg, Texas; Bryleigh Myers, from Star City, Arkansas; Michael Reddick, from Dumas, Arkansas; and Victoria O’Neill Rivera, from Warren, Arkansas.
Dr. Shanna Knowles, assistant professor of management and marketing at UAM, and Becky Philips, associate professor of accounting at UAM, attended the conference as UAM Investment Club faculty advisors, and Scott Saffold, executive vice president and senior loan officer at Union Bank & Trust Co., in Monticello, Arkansas, attended as a UAM Investment Club volunteer.
On the first day of the trip, the students visited with professionals from Builders Vision, S2G Investments, Northern Trust Corporation and The Copia Group, LLC, where they learned about investing, career and internship pathways and asset management.
Keaton highlighted the value of students meeting with industry professionals, stating, “I am extremely grateful to the UAM Investment Club for providing me with the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the significant role attorneys play in the investment industry, particularly in impact investing. Through meeting with organizations such as Builders Vision, I have gained a new perspective on corporate law and the meaningful impact it can have on both businesses and society.”
Over the next two days, the group attended the SMIF conference, meeting with college students from around the country and the world. They learned about career opportunities and real-world investment strategies while engaging in networking opportunities.
“This was an amazing international conference,” Philips said. “UAM students engaged with students from much larger institutions and gained knowledge from seasoned professionals.”
UAM established its own SMIF portfolio in fall 2025, which earned a 15% return on investment during its first year. The SMIF was initially managed by members of the UAM Investment Club. Now in its second year, management has shifted to UAM students enrolled in a new special topics course for the SMIF. In the course, students research companies, analyze market trends and execute investments using donations allocated to the fund. Attending the SMIF conference offered a chance to deepen their understanding of portfolio management.
Manley, one of the students currently managing the SMIF portfolio at UAM, returned from the conference with fresh insights and practical knowledge. “This experience provided exactly what I was seeking as a business finance student preparing to enter the financial services industry,” he said. “I had the opportunity to learn from seasoned professionals about various career paths, gain insights from their professional experiences and receive valuable advice on how to best prepare for a successful career. The knowledge and guidance I gained will help me make informed career decisions and build a strong foundation for success in whichever area of financial services I choose to pursue.”
Manley also noted that he was impressed by the information about technical analysis, and Keaton enjoyed learning about how AI is currently being integrated into the financial industry. Both students stated that the opportunities at UAM through the UAM Investment Club and the managing of the SMIF portfolio have enhanced their educational experience and allowed them to apply financial knowledge and investment strategies to their own lives.
While in Chicago, the group visited renowned sites such as Wrigley Field, Navy Pier, Magnificent Mile, The Bean and Millennium Park, and many tasted Chicago-style pizza and Chicago-style hot dogs for the first time.
Dr. Knowles said, “The educational exposure students gained from this field trip simply cannot be replicated in a classroom. This experience has strengthened their understanding of the professional world and equipped them with valuable knowledge and confidence to kick-start successful careers.”
The UAM Investment Club meets the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month at 12:30 p.m. in Babin Business Center, Room 316, on UAM’s Monticello campus. Students from all majors across UAM, the UAM College of Technology-Crossett and the UAM College of Technology-McGehee are welcome to join. More activities and trips are expected in spring 2027.
For more information about the UAM Investment Club or the SMIF, contact Becky Philips at phillips@uamont.edu or 870-460-1111.