Fall grad already putting financial savvy to work for investors
- Alec Dent
- Student success
- Contributors: James Greco, Photos | Rob Salazar, Video
4 – minute read
As a portfolio analyst at Humilis Investment Strategies, Ryan Edwards empowers his clients by helping them make daily investment decisions. That’s nothing new for the fall Florida Gulf Coast University graduate. He honed his skills as an undergraduate helping manage a portfolio of more than $1 million as part of his classwork in the Lutgert College of Business.
“It was great exposure to actual money management where you’re required to do equity research, learn and have opinions and give stock pitches — which were definitely very helpful,” said Edwards of his time working on the Eagle Fund, an applied investments class that helped him gain critical skills. It was one of many experiences at FGCU Edwards credits with preparing him for a career in investment.
The Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, native enrolled at FGCU in 2022 with an interest in the markets that he’d developed in high school. But it wasn’t until he started exploring other elements of the financial sector that he decided it was the field to spend his career.
“The first semester I had the chance to take honors microeconomics with Dr. (Amelia) Biehl, and that was my first real exposure to economics,” said Edwards. “I really kind of fell in love with it.”
Learning and tutoring
That passion for economics was solidified in his macroeconomics course with instructor Thomas Mathews, his Eagle Fund experience, a class on financial policy and many other activities related to his economics and finance double major.
He used his burgeoning knowledge to help others by teaching financial literacy classes at the Guadalupe Center in Immokalee and tutoring other Lutgert students as well as area high school students. He was also active in the Student Trading Optimization Club.
During his first year, he balanced his activities with his role as a defender on FGCU’s 2022 men’s soccer team, which he credits with helping him learn time management.
“I had to be up every single morning for practice,” said Edwards. “You get your day going, you’re focused and locked in. And coming in as a freshman student-athlete, you’re required to do study hall hours. And so you have dedicated time where you’re sitting down doing work and focusing on school.”
Over the last two summers, Edwards gained valuable hands-on experience through internships at JP Morgan Private Bank in Greenwich, Connecticut, and at Moran Wealth Management in Naples. He was one of five FGCU students to attend the Berkshire Hathaway annual shareholders’ meeting last May where Warren Buffett announced his retirement. He also presented at Student Managed Investment Fund Consortium Conference in Orlando, where he spoke alongside industry professionals.
From mentee to employee
Early in his time at FGCU, Edwards said he was fortunate to have been connected with a mentor, Brian Belski, who has 35 years of experience in investment strategy and as a contributor to outlets including CNBC, Bloomberg and Fox Business News.
Belski not only advised Edwards throughout college but hired Edwards when he launched Humilis Investment Strategies this fall in Naples. Humilis provides investment portfolios to banks and wealth firms throughout Canada and the United States. As a portfolio analyst, Edwards performs market strategy and research to help develop those portfolios.
FGCU’s close proximity to investment firms in the area creates a mutually beneficial relationship, he says. The next generation of financial sector employees receives the benefit of mentorship, while firms help shape a talent pool they can hire from. For fellow Eagles who want to prepare for a career in finance, Edwards recommends reading as much as they can.
“I feel that not enough people read at the amount that they should,” he said. “In the financial world there’s constantly new things going on. Keeping up to date as much as you can and formulating your own opinions on things is super important.”
Edwards credits his success thus far to his hunger for learning, Belski’s mentorship amd seeking out conversation with people he disagrees with. But his alma mater is where it all started.
“FGCU has played a pivotal role in my development, providing me with the knowledge, resources and connections that have fueled my success,” Edwards said.