BEAM students parlay portfolio success into prestigious summer internships

BEAM students on the annual trip to visit Toronto-based global financial institutions.

Participating in the Beedie Endowment Asset Management fund (BEAM) is paying dividends for the students’ careers.

This summer, all fifteen BEAM students that participated in the BEAM recruit successfully obtained summer co-op placements and internships at prestigious financial institutions, including Scotia, RBC, TD, and Leith Wheeler, working in roles such as Investment Banking, Equity Research, and Asset Management.

“It was exciting to see the entire team place so well this summer in some of the financial sector’s most challenging internships,” says Fraser Ince, portfolio manager of BEAM. “Our recent recruiting success is the result of a multi-year effort undertaken by all of BEAM’s internal and external stakeholders to continually improve the program’s quality and recognition.”

Established in 2011, BEAM is the largest undergraduate-run investment fund in Canada, with $5 million invested in Canadian equities, fixed income and cash. The program allows students to gain real-world investment experience, rather than through virtual simulations.

Students accepted into the BEAM program go through an intensive four-month course, learning about security analysis, fixed income fundamentals, and investment management. As well, they often present research pitches and create research reports to a panel of top industry professionals.

“Having so many of our BEAM students earn internships in world-renowned financial institutions is testament to the program’s success,” says Casey Dorin, Executive Director of Undergraduate Programs at the Beedie School of Business. “BEAM is a prime example of Beedie’s emphasis on experiential learning, and the success these students have earned illustrates perfectly why this approach is so worthwhile.”

The team will be heading to Toronto this fall for the annual trip that allows students to network with top finance professionals. Previous trips have proven to be successful for participating students, with the 2014 trip resulting in four students earning co-op placements.

“BEAM’s rigorous training platform, collaborative work environment, and key industry relationships gave me the competitive edge needed to secure a full-time investment banking position at TD Securities upon graduation,” says Ince.

For more information about BEAM, visit beedie.sfu.ca/beam/