You are here

Home » Faculty & Research

Maraist Financial Services Lab & Student Managed Portfolio

The Maraist Financial Services Lab opened in August 2018 and offers the latest technology for students to gain real-world experience in portfolio management, financial strategy, trading, modeling, and business performance analysis. It also provides data resources and statistical tools to enrich research opportunities for business students, faculty and the community.

The 1,178 square-foot facility is located in F.G. Mouton Hall. The Bloomberg Terminals provide students and faculty the same platform used by the world’s leading banks, corporations and government agencies. The service includes real-time price data, financials, news and trading data to build portfolios, benchmark fund performance, conduct portfolio analysis and compare investment strategies.

Maraist Financial Services Lab features:

  • 24 computer workstations
  • 12 dual-monitor Bloomberg Terminals
  • Interior and exterior full-color LED tickers with a continuous live feed of current stock prices
  • Rise Market Wall with global financial market data
  • Bloomberg Market Concepts (BMC) certification

In addition to Mike Maraist and the Maraist family, financial support for the Lab is also provided by the Gachassin family, Gene Fortier State Farm, and Darnall Sikes Wealth Partners LLC.

For more information, contact the Moody College of Business at moodybusiness@louisiana.edu. 

     

     

The Student Managed Portfolio

In 2015, even prior to the Maraist Financial Services Lab being constructed, the University of Louisiana at Lafayette Foundation allocated $100,000 for a Student Managed Portfolioo. Once the Maraist Financial Services Lab was open, the Foundation invested another $200,000 for the Student Managed Portfolio.

As of December 31, 2025, that original $200,000 had grown to become $720,000 during the 10 years of the Student Managed Portfolio.

The Student Managed Portfolio is just that - a portfolio managed by students. Each semester, 8-15 students enrol in FNAN 485 - Student Managed Portfolio. This is a for-credit finance elective course offered every semester.

Dr. Praveen Das, Associate Professor of Finance, is the faculty advisor of the course and the Student Managed Portfolio. The SMP has benefited from expert industry perspective from Mr. Tommy Kreamer and Mr. Dave Romagosa, both alumns of the University, since its inception.

The Student Managed Portfolio's Investmnet Strategy is simple:

  • S&P 500 stocks only
  • Target the S&P 500 sector weights in the SMP
  • All investments are held for a minimum of 2 semesters.

The students make investment recommendations to the UL Lafayette Foundation Investment Committee at the end of each semester. Each student spends the entire semester tracking two equities and presents a sell-side analyst report and recommendation to the Investment Committee. The students' classroom is the Maraist Financial Services Lab, where they research their companies through the Bloomberg technology, become Bloomberg Markets Certified and give practice presentations throughout the semester.

As of December 31, 2025, the portfolio held 35 individual stocks and had a total value of $720,000.

The College is deeply indebted to Mr. Mike Maraist and other donors for providing the investment necessary to establish the lab, as well as to Mr. Tommy Kreamer, Mr. Dave Romagosa and Dr. Praveen Das for running the Student Managed Portfolio each semester and providing our students with one of the best academic experieinces available anywhere in the world.