Portfolio Management Team

Last week, Fatimah Hijjawi, CFA and Will Olafsson, CFA from the CFA Society joined PMT to share valuable insights about the CFA program. They explained how the curriculum benefits students with practical investment skills while providing industry wide credibility that enhances career opportunities. Additionally, the Healthcare sector, led by Brian Jung, emphasized Abbott's strong growth potential and its diversified medical device portfolio leading it to outperform competitors in this sector. The team highlighted Abbott's market leading positions in glucose monitoring systems and pediatric nutrition, earning a spot in our portfolio.

On March 12, PMT was honored to host Jeremy J. Heer, CFA, CAIA, managing director at the University of Illinois Endowment, to share insights about the endowment world and his success in the industry. We also welcomed Damian Porzadek, CFA, CFP, CAIA, a portfolio manager at Northern Trust and PMT alumni, who shared valuable insights from his career journey since graduating from UIC. Additionally, our Energy sector presented a sell on Alpha Metallurgical Resources (AMR). The team stressed its overexposure to a single commodity market, which increased volatility risk rather than hedging against it. Our Consumer Goods sector presented a buy on Amazon (AMZN). The team highlighted the company’s diverse revenue streams and strong income statement while also making a strong case for the company’s growth potential. Following a vote by our members, these adjustments were made to our portfolio.

Attention Finance Professionals & UIC Students: Join us for our 2nd annual Finance Reception on April 10 to learn from Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management MD, Trevor Mathias, CFP®, CRPC® as well as make new connections and enjoy the city views presented by 167 events. We are very grateful for this year’s sponsors, Morgan Stanley and AbbVie! We look forward to bringing this great community together once again. Be sure to grab your tickets before they sell out! The link for tickets can be found here: https://lnkd.in/gbgvZM4g

On Wednesday March 5th the Portfolio Management Team was proud to host our semi-annual Alumni Night, bringing together PMT alumni, from firms such as Bank of America, Citadel, and Goldman Sachs, who worked to turn the organization into what it is today. We’d like to thank all of the alumni who came out and shared their stories and experiences with the members of PMT! It was an incredible event and we are very grateful. We also hosted a successful networking night, where our members had the opportunity to connect with successful alumni and gain insights into how they achieved their career positions. We want to give as special thank you to PMT’s President Eliezer Zagorin, Vice-President Akshat Khatri and the executive board for organizing this amazing event. Join us for our next meeting on Wednesday 3/19/25 at 6 P.M.

Recently, members of the Portfolio Management Team had the opportunity to visit Northern Trust’s Chicago office. During the visit, our members learned about the rich history of the company, gained insights into the company’s business operations, and toured the office space. We even had the opportunity to observe the underground vaults and secret meeting rooms. It was a fantastic experience, members of PMT got a first hand experience of the inner workings of the prestigious Chicago private bank. We’d like to thank Tyler Converso, CFA, Joseph Podbielski, CFA and Al Pakrosnis for organizing this opportunity for PMT to visit Northern Trust. We hope to be able to extend this opportunity to future members and visit again!

Last week, we had great presentations from the Technology Sector and Healthcare Sector. The Technology Sector, led by Andres Fernandez, pitched a sell on Analog Devices Inc (ADI) and with the popular vote of our members, it was sold. Andres and his team worked hard to argue the threats ADI is facing and the overall state of the semiconductor industry. The Healthcare Sector, led by Brian J., also convinced our members to sell Merck & Co (MRK). Brian and the Healthcare Sector stressed the risks of Merck’s main products Keytruda and Gardasil’s near patent expirations, as well as Robert F. Kennedy’s appointment and past history with Merck. Join us tomorrow (3/5) for the biggest event of the semester, Alumni Night! The meeting will take place at 6 P.M. in lecture center C, C3.

A couple weeks ago, members of the Portfolio Management Team had the opportunity to visit the Chicago Trading Company (CTC) office at the historic Chicago stock exchange. The visit began with a tour led by Payton Morse giving us an inside look at the firm's trading operations. Our members gained valuable insights into quantitative market making by participating in an interactive trading simulation led by William Macfadden and explored the career opportunities available at the Chicago Trading Company. To cap off the experience, we toured the Cboe trading floor, one of the few remaining trading floors in the world. Standing above the open-outcry floor was a rare opportunity to witness a piece of financial history in action, and we are very appreciative of it. A huge thank you to Thomas Pradd, Payton Morse, William Macfadden, Francisco Enriquez III, and Al Pakrosnis for making this visit possible. We’re grateful for the opportunity and look forward to future collaborations!

A few weeks ago, the Portfolio Management Team collaborated with DePaul’s investment club to host Tom Sosnoff founder of Thinkorswim, Tastytrade, and Tastylive. PMT members had an incredible opportunity to engage directly with the seasoned prop trader, entrepreneur, and innovator, gaining firsthand insights into the world of trading and risk management. The event also fostered valuable networking between UIC and DePaul students, strengthening connections within Chicago’s community of finance students. Sosnoff shared candid perspectives on the challenges of entrepreneurship, strategic risk-taking as young professionals, and academic and career development. His insights resonated deeply with our members, providing both inspiration and practical guidance. Special thanks to Al Pakrosnis and Demetri Frangiadakis for helping make this event happen. We are extremely grateful for his time and expertise and look forward to future collaborations.

We are pleased to share that last week’s meeting was a great success. Our sector leaders had the opportunity to present a sample pitch, providing PMT members with a preview of the structure and quality of presentations we will be delivering throughout the semester. Additionally, Eliezer Zagorin and Akshat Khatri led an insightful weekly market recap, offering valuable perspectives on recent developments. Join us today at 6:00 P.M. in Lecture Center C, Room C3, as our Financials Sector delivers the first pitch of the semester, featuring Visa. We look forward to seeing you there!

Recently, members of the UIC Portfolio Management Team had the opportunity to participate as panelists at the Security Traders Association of Chicago (STAC) 99th annual Mid-Winter Meeting. Al Pakrosnis, Eliezer Zagorin, and Quinn Basta represented PMT and UIC, providing an overview of the organization’s operations and how it prepares its members for a career in Finance, while discussing their outlook on the next generation of traders. The event also allowed a numerous PMT members to engage with industry professionals and gain valuable insights and connections. We appreciate The Security Traders Association of Chicago, STAC Young Professionals, Lauren Arbid, and Hanna Droessler for making this opportunity possible. We look forward to continuing our great partnership and collaboration with the distinguished professionals of STAC!