Launch of DSB-Fidelity Canada Balanced Students Investment Fund

Students at McMaster’s DeGroote School of Business gain real-time investing experience with launch of DSB-Fidelity Canada Balanced Students Investment Fund 

Students at McMaster’s DeGroote School of Business (DSB) are getting a real-life taste of what it takes to be a world-class investor.

Fidelity Investments Canada ULC and McMaster’s DeGroote School of Business have partnered to create the DSB-Fidelity Canada Balanced Students Investment Fund, which will allow students in the DeGroote Finance and Investment Council (DFIC) to gain broad experience in investing and managing real capital. Faculty and industry mentors will guide students as they gain exposure to the markets and bridge the gap between theory and practice.

The balanced fund will invest in Canadian and U.S. public equities and bonds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs), with an emphasis on investing over a three-to-five-year time horizon. New equity positions will be initiated based on recommendations by DeGroote Finance and Investment Council (DFIC)’s investment teams.

Fidelity Investments Canada ULC and McMaster University are committed to championing diversity and inclusion across the world of finance and investment. DFIC will ensure that gender and cultural diversity are represented within its executive team and that all members have gone through Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) training.

Fidelity Investments Canada ULC President Rob Strickland, a DeGroote MBA ’88 alumnus, is thrilled to help students gain real-time experience through the Fund. “Giving back and investing in leaders of tomorrow is a top priority for Fidelity. Through this opportunity, students will be able to apply their learnings and grow, while contributing to our shared goal of advancing diversity and inclusion.  We look forward to watching the teams grow and succeed.”

Khaled Hassanein, Dean, DeGroote School of Business, says that the Fund is set up in alignment with McMaster’s mission and vision for creativity, innovation, and excellence. “The DeGroote School of Business-Fidelity Canada Balanced Students  Investment Fund will provide our undergraduate students with vital experiential learning opportunities through exposing them to the world of investing and managing real capital, while gaining insight from skilled industry advisors with varied and diverse backgrounds. This sponsorship from Fidelity will help showcase diversity and inclusion in the world of finance and investment as we develop the next generation of business leaders. On behalf of the faculty and students, we are most grateful for this investment.”