UMD News Releases

DULUTH, MN – The Labovitz School of Business and Economics (LSBE) on the University of Minnesota Duluth campus recently celebrated a monumental occasion in the history of its Bulldog Fund, LLC. For the first time in the program’s 13-year history, the “fund” has breached the $1 million mark in assets under management.

The Bulldog Fund, LLC, a hands-on educational opportunity for students was officially launched in January 2003 through generous investment support of LSBE and NorthStar Foundation. The opportunity and responsibility to manage the “fund” is one of three key elements of the LSBE Financial Markets Program experience along with Academic Studies and the Wells Fargo Financial Markets Lab. Traditionally, 15-20 students are given the opportunity to actively manage all aspects of the “fund” each year; cash management, buy / sell decisions and performance attribution.

The Bulldog Fund, LLC challenges students to make strategic investment decisions across the ten sectors of the S&P 500, where the decisions are directly applicable to the management of a portfolio of more than $1,000,000 in total assets. Hands-on portfolio management experience is gained through active research and analysis conducted in the Wells Fargo Financial Markets Lab, a state-of-the-art lab designed to replicate a real world investment setting.

“At the end of 2013, the fund was up just shy of 33% for the year,” said Joe Artim, Director of LSBE’s Financial Markets Program. “2013 was an impressive period for our “fund” that pushed it past the $1 million mark for the first time in its existence! I am so proud of all the hard work and dedication each class has had in making this moment a reality. Breaching the $1 million mark is a testament to the hard work, commitment and dedication of our program students. Additionally, numerous other supporters played a key role in this achievement; I like to call them “Friends of the Program.” None of this would be possible without their support.”

The main goal of the LSBE Financial Markets Program is to provide students with an educational experience that can be directly applied to the Financial Services Industry. Through the generous support of the local and regional financial community, Wells Fargo, JNBA Advisors, Parametric Clifton, Midwest Professional Planners, Royal Bank of Canada, the Teberg Fund and others, LSBE students have the opportunity to apply learned ideas, theories, and tools directly.

This non-traditional learning environment offers students the opportunity to apply Fundamental, Technical, and Quantitative Analysis techniques and encourages the development of students’ own methodology towards analyzing investment options within the financial markets.

Participation in the program provides students with the skills necessary to make sound critical thinking decisions, not only for today but also throughout their careers. Students learn the importance of integrity and the power of personal relationship development through networking opportunities in the industry and alumni contacts.

LSBE is accredited by the AACSB International (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business). Less than 5% of business schools worldwide have earned this prestigious distinction. In Northeastern Minnesota, LSBE is the only school to have attained AACSB accreditation. Its website is lsbe.d.umn.edu.