History & Vision
Today’s rapidly changing business environment compels business leaders to embrace innovation in order to sustain profitable, socially responsible growth in their organizations. The Paul Merage School of Business at the University of California, Irvine is committed to serving our students, industry professionals and the Southern California Business community with interactive, creative experiences that build strong networks with leading executives from regional companies in a vast array of professions.
 After extensive discussions with industry leaders and research into the rapidly growing professional wealth management community, Dean Andy Policano announced the formation of the Center for Investment and Wealth Management in November of 2005 and became the first Faaculty Director. The Center is to be a vehicle to connect with the investment and wealth management community in southern California and beyond, and to provide information and activities of interest to leaders in this and related industries.
Since inseption, the Center has become a leading resource for innovative programs that enhance and spotlight the fields of investment and wealth management. During the Center’s quarterly meetings, members and guests are exposed to topics of current interest.
Recent presentations have included topics such as:
- the latest research on behavioral finance
- mutual fund advisors’ impact upon fund performance
- credit crisis
- municipal bonds
- impact of the ongoing intergenerational transfer of trillions of dollars of wealth.
- Changing demographics and the impact of global dynamics
- Implications of federal policy on the equity markets
In addition, the Center serves Merage students by providing specific instruction on investment and wealth management are available as part of the Merage MBA program. The goal is to produce graduates with specific skills and a commitment to the investment and wealth management profession as a career.
For additional information please download our Center “White Paper”.
Why a focus on investment and wealth management?
An increasing percentage of the U.S. population is entering retirement, and this shifting demographic is transforming industries. A need now exists to help families adequately provide financial support for retired family members, while planning the transfer of wealth to the next generation. These issues represent the investment and wealth management challenges now facing the country.
An exciting and dynamic industry is emerging to provide portfolio and wealth management, including services, advice, and products estimated to be worth more than $3 trillion.
As a topic not adequately studied or taught in most business schools, the Merage School Center for Investment and Wealth Management embraces the complexities of creation, management, and intergenerational transfer of wealth. We will draw on expertise from business leaders and university scholars as we mentor, teach, and advise students and the community.
The Center will provide the impetus for discussion and study of critical industry issues. It will emerge as a thought leader and source of innovative analysis for new methodologies and strategies. It will also provide careful analysis and critique of existing practices — a hub of activity, research, networking, and application for a vital international industry.
Investment and wealth management issues include: financial institutions, portfolio management strategies (needs analysis, risk profiling, and investment advice), insurance, real estate, and financial planning (inheritance and trust management, fiduciary services), and tax advice.
|