SMF Program Ranked Among the Best

Demonstrating Fisher’s dedication to producing the next generation of finance leaders, the college’s Specialized Master in Finance (SMF) program was recently ranked among the best in the United States by the Financial Times.

Fisher’s SMF program was seventh overall among U.S. schools and first among the country’s public universities.

“This distinction is great recognition for a program that has quickly differentiated itself as among the leading masters programs in the country and around the world,” said Bernadette A. Minton, chair of the Department of Finance. “Our continued commitment to providing finance students at Fisher with the very best in curriculum and applied learning opportunities in and out of the classroom makes this specialized program a notable point of pride for our department and for our college.”

Established in 2011, Fisher’s SMF program is a rigorous, nine-month experience that, in addition to extensive training in finance, provides deep insights into topics including financial economics, data analysis, and teamwork and leadership skills.

George Pinteris, associate clinical professor of finance and academic director of the SMF program, said the most recent ranking illustrates the growing awareness about the quality of the master program at Fisher.

“This recognition by the Financial Times, the most prestigious ranking of Master of Finance programs, is a testament to the success of our alumni, since a key driver of a program’s ranking is alumni satisfaction and their professional growth three years after graduation,” Pinteris said. “A distinguishing feature of Fisher’s SMF program is individualized attention and support from a dedicated team of faculty and staff, equally focusing on mastering analytical and soft skills, to prepare our students for a promising career.”

The Financial Times’ ranking explored a number of key metrics for SMF programs around the world, including salary data, career and employment success, diversity of faculty and students, and global mobility, among others.

In addition to curricular offerings, students in Fisher’s SMF program have access to critical software tools such as Bloomberg Terminal, Capital IQ, Rotman Interactive Trader and Crystal Ball—all of which enhance their financial analytical skills. The SMF program also prepares students for key professional exams, including the Chartered Financial Analyst and Financial Risk Manager exams.

Students in the SMF program regularly collaborate on projects with leading companies including JPMorgan Chase, Diamond Hill Investment Group, Wells Fargo and Nationwide Insurance.

“I chose to come here because of the excellent learning opportunities the program offers,” said Didier Hirwantwari, a 2016 graduate of the SMF program. “There is a large base of prominent alumni and renowned faculty attached to the program, which was a major draw. Though I had already graduated in finance, I wanted a deeper understanding of the inner workings of the markets as well as firm drivers.”

SMF students have access to Fisher’s Office of Career Management, whose career consultants work individually with students to connect them with employment opportunities at some of the most recognizable companies in finance, including EY, Fifth Third Bank, Huntington Bank, KPMG, L Brands and P&G.

“In the last seven years, I’ve hired 37 Fisher finance and accounting students at Johnson & Johnson, and in the last two years, I have seen what I’ve always known—the excellence of a Fisher education and how well it translates to the corporate world,” said Eric Lenard (BSBA ’97; MBA ’97), senior director of finance for DePuy Synthes, a J&J company.