Pat Moon, Marshall Moon, and SMIF Students

To add to the success of its students, the inaugural investment of the Student Managed Investment Fund (SMIF) was started in a course taught by Dr. Mike Casey. The students in the spring 2025 class selected and invested in the fund’s first portfolio, which is currently up more than 17% as of early fall 2025.

In the Student Managed Investment Fund Class, students manage a portfolio of stocks drawn from each major industry sector. Students decide which stocks to keep, which to sell, and which to add to the portfolio. Students research the financial prospects of companies by examining their financial data and by evaluating how companies will be affected by current events. This class provides excellent training for students who plan to seek jobs as wealth managers.

Experts were regularly invited to share successful advice with the spring students:

• Pat and Marshall Moon (pictured) from Meridian Investment Advisors visited the Student Managed Investment Fund. Pat runs a wealth management company that manages $800 million in assets.
• Drew Gainor, one of Arkansas Business’s top 40 under 40, a COB Advisory Board member, a very successful wealth manager, also joined the class to share his success.

UPDATE: As of November 2025, the portfolio shows a total gain of 25%. .

Drew Gainor and SMIF Students

Dr. Haibo (Stephen) Yao

Dr. Haibo (Stephen) Yao was recently featured as an expert contributor in articles by WalletHub. While the articles are geared toward college students, these are questions many people may have.

In his first article about the best credit cards for college students, he addresses , the college students can make with credit cards, and for students who use credit cards.

In this second article, he answers questions about, including why and how they are used.

Dr. Yao is an Assistant Professor of Insurance & Risk Management in the Department of Economics, Finance, Insurance & Risk Management for the UCA College of Business.