SAIFE offers students risk-free investment experience

The Society for Applied Investing and Financial Education (SAIFE) will offer students a safe way to delve into the stock market when it holds its first trade competition of 2013 Feb. 10 through April 12.

Participating teams -- comprised of one to five people -- will use a computer model to make mock investments based on real stock prices. Each competitor will start with $1 million to invest in 15 stocks. Prizes for highest returns will be awarded as tuition credit in the amounts of $1,000 for first place, $600 for second place and $400 for third place.

The competition is open to all OU students, regardless of major.

“Anyone can invest, and anyone can benefit from it,” says SAIFE President William Gross, a junior finance major in the SBA’s Applied Technology in Business minor program. “When you get started, it’s hard to know when to buy and sell. You need experience. Through SAIFE, you can have a safe experience without the trauma of losing money.”

SAIFE’s faculty advisor, Assistant Professor of Accounting Seong-Yeon Cho, is presenting a series of training workshops on stock market trading cases and fundamental analysis tools. The workshops will be held 5-6 p.m. Jan. 17 and Jan. 24 at 234 Elliott Hall. The public is welcome.

SAIFE was designed to teach students the basics of financial investing.

To request a sign-up sheet for the competition, e-mail SAIFEinc@oakland.edu.

To learn more about SAIFE check out the Society for Applied Investing and Financial Education at OU on Facebook.