From April 3-4 in New York City, Quinnipiac University in New York once again brought together current and emerging leaders in the financial services industry for the annual Global Asset Management Education (GAME) Forum XIV. 

Among the more than 1,000 participants engaging in meaningful discussions on the topical issues shaping the global investment environment were Missouri State University finance students William Ayers, Eli Cox and Van McNutt. They represented the Financial Management Association at Missouri State.  

“Hearing directly from portfolio managers and chief economists gave me a much clearer picture of how professionals think about risk and opportunity in today’s market,” Cox said. 

 “They walked us through the real challenges of adapting investment strategies to rising rates and shifting investor expectations around ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance).” 

Discussion and debate 

Held at the Sheraton Times Square, the largest student-run financial conference in the world, served as a dynamic platform for students, academicians and industry leaders to discuss and debate trends shaping the world of investing, economics and global markets. 

This year’s event explored pressing financial issues, from the impact of ongoing inflation and interest rate hikes to the evolving role of ESG factors in portfolio construction. It kicked off with a fireside chat with Antony Ressler, co-founder, director and executive chairman of Ares Management Corporation. There were sessions that featured executives and economists from firms such as BlackRock, J.P. Morgan and Vanguard. They offered insights into how macroeconomic shifts are influencing asset management strategies. 

The forum also provided powerful networking opportunities. Students got to meet peers from across the country and interact directly with representatives from top financial institutions.  

“It was a great space to practice pitching myself and asking smart, informed questions,” Cox said. “Those conversations helped me think more concretely about roles in equity research and portfolio analysis.” 

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