Putting theory into practice

Every Wednesday morning, Billy Bloom ’25 and a group of classmates taking the portfolio management course don professional business attire to talk stocks in Daly 108, the Brown Advisory Investing Lab. This isn’t a theoretical discussion, however. The group, known as the Brown Advisory Program, are managing a portfolio that surpassed $2.2 million this winter.

 

“It’s real money,” said Bloom, co-portfolio manager. “We have our investment policy statement, so there are certain things we can and can’t do in the fund, and we find the most optimal way to work under those conditions.” 

The portfolio contains about 30 stocks in 11 different sectors, Bloom explained, and each student in oversees one or two stocks. Those Wednesday class times are spent with students presenting their stock and suggesting what the group should do with it: buy, hold, sell, or trim positions. Students appointed to senior analyst oversee each sector, and during presentations provide rebuttals to the argument presented. John Poulton, lecturer of business management, oversees the whole program. 

Not only does Bloom co-manage the portfolio alongside Sean Nkem ’25, he’s also a senior analyst, overseeing the industrial and energy sectors. 

Following presentations and alternative perspectives from the senior analyst for that sector, others in the class can ask questions and challenge or support the suggestion. 

“It’s a requirement for most classes in the business department to read at least two Wall Street Journal articles in the business section every week with a 250-word summary on the article, so most people are generally aware of the market,” Bloom said. “And in portfolio management, you have people that are interested in the investment field who stay up to date on everything, so you get a lot of questions driving productive conversations and debates.” 

After questions have been asked and answered, the group takes a vote with a supermajority rule. If the split is 60-40 or closer, they will discuss again, with Poulton guiding them. 

Members of the Brown Advisory Program visited New York City last year for a portfolio competition. While only three students presented, all of the Washington students on that trip sat in on the presentations and heard the judges’ feedback.

“Hearing their critiques and their praise of the presentation definitely provided insight on how to talk, how to behave, and how to act at a conference or any professional setting,” Bloom said. 

While Bloom has learned a lot during his time with the Brown Advisory Program, he has spent time perusing different professions within several business-related industries, participating in externships, viewing the tourism industry from different angles in Spain as part of a short-term study abroad program, and more. From all that, Bloom has decided his future is in accounting. 

In the fall, Bloom will attend Loyola University of Maryland Master of Accounting program, one of Washington’s post-graduate partnership opportunities. Bloom is also the recipient of the Allender Family Scholarship in Accounting, which will pay for that degree. 

The Allender Family Scholarship in Accounting was founded by John Allender ’11 and his father Pat Allender P’11, who earned his undergraduate degree from Loyola.

“It’s been such a pressure lifted off,” Bloom said of earning that scholarship. 

— MacKenzie Brady '21