Alternative Asset Management Center

EnCap & LCM Group Alternative Asset Center

William Maxwell

Professor William Maxwell is the Academic Director of the EnCap Investments & LCM Group Alternative Asset Management Center (AAMC) at the Cox School of Business at Southern Methodist University. The AAMC is at the forefront of training students for careers in finance. A selection committee selects finance undergraduates in either their sophomore or junior year for this highly selective BBA honors program. Admission is based on academic performance [the median GPA of the 2024 incoming class was 3.93], strength of courses, demonstrated work ethic, and interviews. The Center seeks to identify smart, ethical, and highly motivated students who are interested in pursuing a rigorous, application-oriented program with motivated peers.

The training begins in the spring semester of the junior year with a case-based class, which provides the basic skills necessary for private equity/investment banking. Students complete a summer internship after their junior year typically at an investment bank, consulting firm, hedge fund, or money management firm. In their senior year, the students can take a second Master’s level class dealing with hedge funds or an energy related class.  A distinguishing feature of the Alts program is the active involvement of accomplished speakers from the finance industry on topics covered in the program. Finally, in the spring semester of the student’s senior year, the Finance Department funds a voluntary CFA review course (the course meets for three hours on Fridays for 14 weeks) for students sitting for the CFA Level 1 exam upon graduation.

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Practicum in Portfolio Management

Kitt Investing Trading Center

The Finance Department runs two Portfolio Management Practicum classes, one for undergraduates, and one for graduate students. The Practicum combines hands-on money management of equity and fixed-income investments, and the su