Mackenzie Investments’ $500,000 gift boosts student-run portfolio at QSB

The Queen’s University Investment Counsel (QUIC), a student-run investment portfolio at QSB, in March received a gift of $500,000, along with mentorship support, from Mackenzie Investments, one of Canada’s leading investment firms. This donation nearly doubled the assets in QUIC’s portfolio, enabling more students to participate. “Mackenzie Investments’ gift will ensure Queen’s students gain valuable hands-on investment knowledge about a broader set of global financial topics,” said Dean David Saunders. “Queen’s prides itself on academic excellence and an exceptional student experience, and QUIC provides an unparalleled opportunity for students to develop skills in finance through real-world investing.”

Founded in 2003, QUIC managed a notional investment portfolio until 2010, when QSB seeded the fund with $500,000 and the Counsel was structured as an unincorporated asset manager. The original portfolio is now valued at $693,000.

With the donation from Mackenzie Investments, QUIC will establish a second equity portfolio, which will focus on world equities. This new portfolio will also enable QUIC to add eight positions to its current membership of 25 undergraduate portfolio managers and analysts.

QUIC members are divided into sector teams, each of which manages a portion of the overall portfolio. The team meets  weekly  to monitor the fund’s performance and discuss market trends and investment strategies. In addition to the financial donation, Mackenzie Investments will also provide mentorship by offering internships and staff expertise as judges and speakers at QUIC events.

Beyond asset management, QUIC conducts educational initiatives to improve the finance knowledge of Queen’s Commerce students, including tutorials, interview workshops, stock market simulations and a guest speaker series. An Alumni Advisory Council and Board of Directors oversee the executive team.

Visit www.quiconline.com to learn more about QUIC, track the progress of its investments and read its 2013/14 Annual Report.