Why would a couple decide to underwrite a $1 million investment fund to be managed by a group of college students? For Rob and Rachel Hatchett, the decision to invest in Freed-Hardeman University students sprang from a desire “to mentor young believers as they grow in their faith and grow as future business leaders.”
“There is a war for the hearts and minds of young adults,” Rob said. “We want them to know they can be successful in business or any profession, while choosing Jesus as Lord of their lives every step of the way.”
In managing the $1 million investment, students will research potential stock buys, present their findings to the whole group, make recommendations for purchase and defend their decisions. The whole team will vote to determine which stocks to invest in. At the end of a year of buying and selling, the balance sheet will be checked. If the fund has made money, the Hatchetts will share a portion of the profits with the FHU College of Business. If the fund has lost money, that amount will be deducted from future years’ earnings until the loss is repaid.
FHU’s investment team began in 2007, when Jim Clayton, co-founder of Clayton Homes and chairman of Clayton Bancorp at the time, provided the initial investment. Since then, it has generated $703,796 for the FHU College of Business Finance Program. These funds are used to strengthen the program through technology initiatives, student experiences, career preparation, guest speakers and other innovative ways. Total distribution stands at $1,376,507.
Faculty leaders for the investment team are Jay Satterfield, chief investment officer at FHU, and Michael Prentice, instructor in finance.
A 2003 graduate of FHU, Rob Hatchett holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in finance.
“I wish there had been an investment team when I was a student,” he said.
Rob does not intend to be a silent partner in this venture, as he hopes to visit campus once a semester to meet with the team. Additionally, he is finding a side benefit to their involvement with the team.
“Rachel and I are certainly learning a lot about investing along with the team. We mainly just know trucking!” he said of the recent acquisition of his transportation marketing agency and Rachel’s position as a board member for Covenant Logistics Group. “We are thankful for the opportunity to partner with Freed-Hardeman and are excited about the great members of the team this year.”
Members of the investment team are selected from junior and senior business majors who apply for a position. The 2022-23 investment team members are: David Clayton, a financial planning major from New Albany, Mississippi; Jacksen Eddy, an accounting major from Charlestown, Indiana; Nathan Brown, an accounting major from Manchester, Tennessee; Bowman Blocker, a finance major from Chattanooga, Tennessee; Aleksa Pesic, a business analytics major from Pancevo, Serbia; Matthew Ray, an accounting major from Benton, Kentucky; Anna Zondervan, an accounting major from Grand Rapids, Michigan; Hailey Harrington, an accounting major from Nashville, Tennessee; and Samuel Matthews an accounting major from Huntsville, Alabama.
Since the investment team, which is student-led and student managed, combines financial analysis, problem-solving and collaboration, Zondervan believes she will be well prepared for future job interviews.
“The team has prepared me for a realistic work environment, and it has given me some real experience to talk about in interviews with potential employers,” she said.
The FHU College of Business is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) for the MBA and bachelor’s in accounting, finance, management and marketing. Accrediting more than 300 institutions, ACBSP is the leading specialized accreditation association for business education.
The mission of Freed-Hardeman University is to help students develop their God-given talents for His glory by empowering them with an education that integrates Christian faith, scholarship and service. With locations in Henderson and Memphis, FHU offers associates, bachelor's, master's, specialist and doctoral degrees.
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