Undergraduate finance student Bryan Reyes ’23 has entered his senior year with focus and determination, actively immersing himself in academic and extracurricular opportunities that prepare him for a career in wealth management. His experiences highlight not only his personal ambition but also the many ways in which UC Riverside equips students with practical, hands-on opportunities to apply classroom knowledge in real-world settings.
Central to his involvement is his leadership role as vice president of the Hylander Financial Group (HFG), a UCR student club that welcomes students of all disciplines and levels of financial expertise. The group provides a collaborative learning environment where students can come together to learn about financial markets, investing strategies, and the broader business world. Through workshops, speaker events, and peer collaboration, HFG emphasizes experiential learning and professional development.
“Every time I go to a meeting, I’ve increased my financial knowledge and have the opportunity to network with like-minded individuals,” says Reyes of the HFG meetings. For him, these gatherings are not only about theory but also about building a professional community that extends beyond the university setting.
In addition to HFG, Reyes has become deeply involved in the Hylander Student Investment Fund (HSIF), a student-managed fund that was established in 2019 with a $200,000 donation from an alumnus. The fund offers students the opportunity to act as investment managers, evaluating equities and fixed-income securities while applying the principles of portfolio management.
“I have learned that the art of investing is not only to build a strong real-world portfolio, but to develop the skills to keep it growing,” says Reyes, who has also served as a research assistant with finance faculty. His academic journey includes working on certifications in SQL and Excel, technical skills that enhance his ability to analyze data and support investment decisions.
As for his involvement with HSIF, Reyes explains the group’s long-term strategy: “The target asset allocation for the HSIF portfolio is 80% equity and 20% fixed income,” he says. “By using and sticking to this strategy, we hope to outperform the benchmark.” This disciplined approach reflects the importance of consistency in investment management and reinforces the lessons taught in the classroom.
Evidence of their success came in 2021. “Our benchmark was 70% of the Russell 3000 and 30% of the Bloomberg Barclays Aggregate Bond Index,” Reyes reports. “For the fourth quarter of 2021, HSIF returned 6.59% while the benchmark returned 5.52%.” These results demonstrated that disciplined planning, informed decision-making, and teamwork can generate real-world returns, giving students confidence in their training.
Reyes looks ahead to a profession that allows him to “give advice to people and companies on what to do with their money,” he says. He has also set his sights on graduate education, recognizing that advanced study will strengthen his technical knowledge and broaden his career opportunities. “I have learned a lot, and I have improved my analytical, problem-solving and teamwork skills,” he reflects.
Among the most important lessons Reyes has taken from his academic and extracurricular work is the personal discipline required for investment management. “It’s very important to have the discipline to manage money with a solid plan—and the ability to control emotions,” he says. These insights underscore the balance of technical knowledge and emotional intelligence required to succeed in finance, and they reflect the strong preparation that UC Riverside students gain as they prepare to enter competitive industries.