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Investors With Purpose

Investors with Purpose Program

Learn How to Apply View Current and Past Students

Investors with purpose program

Connecting Experts and Students to Advance the Finance and Asset Management Profession

Through the Investors With Purpose program, high-achieving students in the College of Business gain a broad perspective of financial markets and the role of wealth management. The program centers around a new course in asset management. Business leaders will supplement existing curriculum and provide real-life business discussions on topics in asset and wealth management. Course content emphasizes the purpose of finance and investing and how it impacts lives.

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Click Here to Apply for Fall 2025

Program Benefits

Crucial Conversations

Crucial Conversations

Experts lead discussions and share their real-life experiences to prepare students with skills and knowledge to be successful in finance.

Topics include:

  • History of Asset Management
  • FinTech
  • Real Asset Alternatives: Real Estate, Infrastructure and Energy
  • Financial Asset Alternatives: Hedge Funds, Venture Capital, Buyouts, Private Equity and Private Credit
  • Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Investing
  • Active and Passive Investing
  • Quantitative Investing/Artificial Intelligence
  • Financial Planning/Wealth Management
  • Regulatory Issues
  • Client Relationship Management
  • Asset Allocation
  • The Role of a Chief Investment Officer

Mentorship

Each industry leader will cultivate a mentor relationship with a student. After each class, discussion continues over dinner with students. They will also offer career advice and contact their mentee outside of the program.

Mentorship
Internships

Internships

A few students in this program will be offered paid investment internships. Nick Callahan interned with the University of Nebraska Foundation and worked with their endowment investment portfolio.

How to Apply

You will apply during the spring semester to be part of the program and take the Investors With Purpose class (FINA 464) during the following fall semester.

Applicants must:

  • Have earned a 3.5+ GPA
  • Have taken pre-requisites of Finance (FINA 361) or Interest Theory (ACTS 440)


Apply Here

Alum Sparks Program's Launch

Douglas Waggoner, ‘75 BSBA & ‘77 MBA, built a very successful career in finance and investment management at firms including Ford Motor Company, Rockwell International and BlackRock, where he spent the last 25 years as managing director. Waggoner is determined to transform his experience into tools and resources for our future business leaders. With leadership and financial support from the Douglas and Karin Waggoner Family Foundation, the College of Business and Department of Finance launched the Investors With Purpose program in 2020 to educate and develop community among students and industry leaders.
Read Story About Waggoner's Partnership

Doug Waggoner

Our goal is to provide students with the skills and knowledge of asset management with real-world experiences. Presented by global investment professionals, the Investors With Purpose program is committed to providing mentorship to our students. Industry leaders are excited to be a part of this program, and our students, the College of Business, and the future of asset management will all benefit.

Doug Waggoner, '75 & '77, Former Managing Director, BlackRock, and Program Founder and Executive Sponsor, Investors With Purpose

Contact

DeFusco, Richard A
Richard A. DeFusco
Department Chair and Professor of Finance
HLH 425 Z
P.O. Box 880490
Lincoln, NE 68588-0490
402-472-6763
rdefusco1@unl.edu