Alum makes $500,000 gift to College of Business Administration

Bob Oros, a 1990 graduate of Central Michigan University, has provided a generous gift of $500,000 to develop a new fund, the Bob Oros Multi-Asset Investment Fund. This gift will provide opportunities for students in the College of Business Administration to gain real-world experience managing an asset portfolio while becoming familiar with Global Investment Performance Standards. 

Oros is the chairman and CEO of Hightower, a national wealth management firm that invests in and supports independent-minded financial advisory businesses to accelerate their growth. He has more than 20 years of leadership, strategic and operational experience, with a strong track record of successfully recruiting, retaining, and supporting advisors at firms such as HD Vest, Fidelity, LPL Financial, and Charles Schwab. Oros also serves as a member of the CBA Dean's Roundtable advisory board. 

"I am a big believer in practical learning. As I thought about how I could make a difference with my time and treasure, this seemed like a great way to accomplish both," Oros said. "I wanted students to have broad latitude to set asset allocation and invest in all areas of the market. This will help students gain real-world learning, but also they will see their efforts pay off in growing this financial asset, which will benefit the university for years to come." 

The Bob Oros Multi-Asset Investment Fund will allow 15-20 students each year to gain hands-on experience managing a portfolio that includes equity, fixed income, cash, and alternative asset categories. The investment committee will meet each week to discuss risk, return, and additional investments. In addition, an advisory committee consisting of Oros, finance faculty member Dr. Brad Taylor and CBA Dean Chris Moberg will review the investment activity of the fund.