PASSING THE TORCH.

Some years ago, a few business and economics students set up the Northern Illinois Investment Association in my office. A gratifyingly large number of students who participated in the association have done well as financial professionals.  Some of those students also took part in a different association for aspiring financial professionals, on occasion with gratifying results.

Paula Veyhle, Nicholas Stone and Nolan O’Rear achieved that right while they were NIU College of Business Department of Finance students. And they did so, soaring to epic heights, all while keeping their feet firmly planted on the ground.

During spring 2022, the three competed as a team in a prestigious two-semester-long global industry event, the Charter Financial Analyst (CFA) Research Challenge.

Yes, if there can be poster contests for grade schoolers and stock selection challenges for high schoolers, why not put the textbook stuff into practice?

This year, participants included more than 6,400 students, 1,100 universities and 91 countries. All of which represent the highest participation ever in the 16 years of the challenge. The competition was staggered at the local, subregional, regional and global level in the Americas, Asia Pacific, Europe, Middle East and Africa regions. In the Global Final, only one team emerged as world champion.

That's the aforementioned Northern Illinois team, also the first overall champion out of the Chicago Local since 2012.  Well done.