Programs included under the Titan Capital Management
1) TCM Applied Investments Certificate
- 12-month practicum training qualified students to apply fundamental analysis principles to manage 3 portfolios valued at over $3.2 million.
TCM is a hands-on investment management practicum in which teams of selected students act as security analysts and portfolio managers for funds donated to the CSUF Philanthropic Foundation (CSFPF). TCM students develop and implement investment strategies consistent with the investment policy statement adopted by the Titan Capital Management Advisory Board and approved by the CSUF Philanthropic Foundation. Such strategies may include top-down economic analysis and/or bottom-up security selection to build efficient stock and bond portfolios.
The purpose of the TCM Applied Investment program is to provide students with the resources and guidance necessary to:
- Develop a fundamental understanding of common drivers of stock and bond markets.
- Use industry-standard analytical tools to evaluate the value and risks of stocks and bonds or ETFs, mutual funds, and other commingled vehicles.
- Evaluate the financial condition of investment candidates to determine the suitability of that investment for one of the TCM portfolios.
- Clearly, concisely, and persuasively communicate both the qualitative and quantitative rationale for a recommendation within the context of the client profile and/or portfolio.
2) Finance 341 Student Managed Investment Fund (SMIF)
- 1-unit lab associated with the Introduction to Investments course Finance 340.
- Prepares students to compete against local universities to manage a portfolio of stocks and bonds for the Chartered Financial Analyst Society Orange County (CFAOC).
Finance 341 (SMIF) is a foundational course that prepares students for more advanced classes in financial planning or asset management. SMIF is designed as a 1-unit ‘lab’ where students apply investment concepts to help manage a balanced portfolio of stocks and bonds for the Chartered Financial Analysis Society of Orange County (CFAOC). Students compete against other local universities each fall to determine the amount of money each school with manage for the CFAOC. Because the course may be repeated up to 3 times, SMIF students are encouraged to select assignments from a variety of difficulty levels appropriate for each student’s growing familiarity with investment practices.
The purpose of the Student Managed Investment Fund (SMIF) is to develop a foundational understanding of the stock and bond markets. Learning objectives include:
- Develop a working vocabulary of common investment terms.
- Distinguish between the risk and return characteristics of various stocks and bonds.
- Recognize market conditions where higher risk is acceptable and when caution is prudent.
- Consider the impact of economic, environmental, and political news on the financial markets.
- Exercise critical thinking skills to create a logical narrative with supporting evidence for forecasts and recommendations.
3) Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) scholarship program
- Recognized by the Chartered Financial Analyst Institute (CFA Institute) as preparing students to take the CFA Level I exam.
California State university, Fullerton is recognized by the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Institute as part of the Institute’s Affiliation Program preparing students to take the CFA Level I exam. Preparation for CFA Level II and Level III exams is not supported by this program. For more details go to https://www.cfainstitute.org/.
The CFA Level I examination covers topics such as ethics and professional standards; investment tools, including quantitative methods, economics, financial reporting and analysis, and corporate finance; asset classes, including equity investments, fixed income, derivatives and alternative investments; and portfolio management and wealth planning.
The CFA Institute allocates scholarships to each affiliated university based on the number of CFA charterholders employed as faculty. CSUF students may apply to the program director for scholarships to cover much of the cost of the Level I exam.
Program Success Metrics
The success of the Titan Capital Management program will be measured by:
- Student placement with desirable employers or graduate programs
- Registering for the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Level I exam or Certified Financial Planner (CFP) exam within 2 years of graduation
- Interest and engagement of local employers with the Titan Capital Management program
- Alumni involvement as guest speakers, student mentors, ambassadors of the program with their employers, and ultimately financial donors to the program or college
- Improved visibility for the CSUF College of Business and Economics as a source of graduates well-prepared for careers in financial analysis and asset management