Corporate Finance
Overview
An interest area
Studying corporate finance opens doors to the exciting world of mergers and acquisitions, multinational financial management, and working-capital management. There are more than six million corporations in the United States alone, according to the latest Census Bureau data.
Value creation is at the heart of effective corporate decision-making. At Bryant, will you learn tools and principles that have broad applications in all areas of finance, including nonprofit and personal finance. Courses include corporate taxation, managerial economics, and financial statement analysis.
Future careers, post-grad opportunities
With a background in corporate finance, you can enter the fields of financial advising, nonprofit management, financial services, and portfolio management. You also will be well prepared for graduate studies.
OPTIMAL LEARNING ENVIRONMENT
David Louton, Ph.D.
Associate Dean, College of Business
In 2004, Louton, then professor of finance and coordinator of the CV Starr Financial Markets Center at Bryant, had the idea to provide a world-class course on investment strategy for undergraduate finance majors.
The following year, the Archway Investment Fund was launched with a contribution of $200,000. Today, the fund operates at just under $700,000 and continues to grow. It offers finance students hands-on investment experience in a two-course sequence where they serve first as securities analysts and then as portfolio managers.
Louton is currently taking a break from teaching to serve as associate dean.
INVESTING IN THE FUTURE
Steven Rogé ’03
Currently: R.W. Rogé & Co.
Rogé was drawn to the stock ticker at a young age, and it’s one of the tools he uses as a co-founder and president of the Rogé Partners Fund.
He shares his passion for investing with Bryant students managing The Archway Investment Fund portfolio of just under $700,000 of University money. Rogé has been on the advisory board since its inception in 2005.
His financial analysis opinions have appeared in Smartmoney.com, The New York Times , and on CNBC and Fox. He is a contributing editor for Forbes.com and a variety of online publications.
A GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE
Maricarmen Toro ’92
Currently: Banco Santander
Toro is vice president of Banco Santander, S.A., one of the world’s largest banks, and manages a multimillion dollar investment portfolio.
Santander, she says, was able to weather the recession reasonably well because its business model is “segmented,” enabling the bank to respond quickly and differently to problems as they appeared around the globe.
When asked what people might learn from the recession, Toro emphasizes the need for financial discipline – not only for banks but also for individuals as well. “The better approach is to have a commitment to long-term sustainable goals,” she says.
