IMA 2026 YTD
Student-managed fund at Gies
Investment research with real capital and real responsibility.
The Investment Management Academy gives select Illinois students practical experience researching companies, pitching investment ideas, managing portfolio decisions, and reporting on fund performance.
Overview
Members learn the practice of investing by taking part in the work of a fund.
Founded in 2016, IMA gives Gies students hands-on experience in research, valuation, pitching, portfolio construction, and professional communication.
70
Student members
$2,000,000+
Assets under management
7.9%
Annualized returns
Performance
A track record measured against small-cap benchmarks.
Since inception, IMA has compounded at 7.9% annualized and returned 78.5% cumulatively. In 2026 YTD, the fund returned 36.2%, compared with 15.1% for the S&P 600.
Performance figures as of May 5, 2026.
S&P 600 2026 YTD
Annualized since inception
Cumulative since inception