Managing Millions

At the Sam M. Walton College of Business, a select group of finance majors do more than just study investment theory—they handle real money, confront market volatility, and make strategic decisions that shape multi-million-dollar portfolios. In the Portfolio Management class, led by Dr. Craig Rennie, students experience high-stakes, high-reward learning that consistently launches them into elite careers. Dr. Rennie holds the Clete and Tammy Brewer Professorship of Business and serves as the managing director of the Walton College's Garrison Financial Institute.

"The goal of the class is for students to succeed spectacularly in their careers."

-Dr. Craig Rennie

This isn't just a classroom course. It's an apprenticeship in action. Students are responsible for managing over $2.6 million in the Rebsamen Trust—an amount that would make even seasoned professionals pause. It's one of several student-managed funds in Walton College's Department of Finance program, which includes an additional $650,000 graduate portfolio and a $5 million fixed-income fund developed in partnership with Arvest Bank.

And these students don't just study investment theory—they test it through active fund management. "We're one of the few schools where undergraduates can use derivatives as part of their investment strategies," Rennie says. "But we're careful. Options can hedge risk—or amplify it. Our students learn to use them responsibly."

Each student in the class is assigned a specific Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS) economic sector—like healthcare, financials, or consumer staples—and is expected to develop deep expertise, monitor holdings, and recommend new investments or divestitures. They're guided by a peer-selected portfolio manager and supported by a student economist and derivatives specialist, fostering both leadership and collaboration. Along the way, students master professional-grade data and trading tools like Bloomberg, S&P Capital IQ, and Morningstar Direct.

But what makes this class legendary is its network. Founded in the early 1970s, Walton College's Portfolio Management class is among the oldest of its kind in the world. Its alumni include investment bankers, CEOs, and a self-made billionaire. And their success is contagious.

In 2024, the class made history during its first international study trip to London and Switzerland. Funded by the portfolio itself, students visited the Swiss Stock Exchange and industry giants like Swiss Re and Nestlé. At Nestlé, the world's largest consumer staples company by revenue, Walton College students left such an impression with their insightful questions that executives were still buzzing days later. "They were the most prepared and asked the best questions of any group in Nestlé's 150-year history," one executive remarked.