Rhodes College students Cole McNair ’26 (business), John Mori ’26 (business), Jason Rubinstein ’27 (business), Graham Allen ’26 (business), and Ismail Malik ’26 (economics and business) secured first place at the Mid-South competition of the Chartered Financial Analysts (CFA) Institute Research Challenge held Feb. 21 at The University of Memphis.
Dr. Andrey Zagorchev, associate professor of business, serves as the team’s advisor and said, “The students on the Rhodes team demonstrated the depth and versatility of a liberal arts education in a real-world financial setting. Throughout the CFA competition, the students drew on a broad spectrum of academic experiences, integrating principles from their business coursework with the analytical rigor and critical thinking skills cultivated across various disciplines.”
For the competition, each team was tasked with researching and analyzing a designated publicly traded company, writing a report about their findings, and making a recommendation regarding buying, selling, or holding its stock. The Rhodes team presented their analysis of AutoZone Inc. (NYSE: AZO).
“In preparing their final report and delivering their presentation, the students showed their ability to translate complex ideas into clear, convincing written arguments and well-structured oral communication. The combination of analytical analysis and articulate expression highlighted the value of a liberal arts education,” said Zagorchev.
“The Rhodes students demonstrated excellent financial knowledge and business insight in the competition. The performance shows how interdisciplinary training empowers students analyze complex financial problems with clarity and sound judgment—qualities essential to success in today’s investment landscape.”
Moving forward, the winners from local competitions will advance to regional competitions hosted by the CFA Institute, leading to a global final where one team is crowned champion. The Rhodes team will continue in the next round of the competition in March.