n an age where many students struggle just to keep up with lectures, Bailey Sauvé is juggling an entire ecosystem of ambition.
A finance student at the University of Wisconsin–River Falls. A cadet in the Army Reserve Officer Training Corps. An intern in fixed income research. A newsletter writer. A finance club leader. And most recently, the team lead of the winning squad at the local CFA Research Challenge local finals.
We caught up with Bailey to explore what fuels this high-achiever – and how he’s already making waves in the world of finance before even graduating.
The Art of the Hustle
How does someone balance military training, academics, extracurricular leadership, and a demanding internship?
According to Bailey, it starts with hunger. “I’m a very hungry person,” he laughs. “I love the finance field.”
His weekends are reserved for military leadership training, but his weekdays are anything but relaxed. He recently began a role at a local wealth planning firm, focusing on fixed income research—specifically ladder bonds and income generation strategies.
“It’s all aligned with what I love,” he says.
So even though it’s a lot, it doesn’t feel like a burden.
A Cold Call from 4,000 Miles Away
Bailey’s entry into the CFA Research Challenge wasn’t planned—it was sparked by a phone call.
“I was studying abroad in Scotland when two of my best friends called me from the U.S. and said, ‘We’ve got this great opportunity to do equity research.’ I said, ‘Let’s do it.’ And that’s how it started.”
That spontaneous decision would eventually lead his team to take the top spot in the local round—thanks to grit, strategy, and a bold sell call on Sun Country Airlines.
Dividing the Work, Playing to Strengths
What made the team click?
They played to their strengths. Jared, already working in commercial banking, handled ESG and investment risk. Luke, a sales major, took on the business and industry overview. Bailey? He dove deep into the financial analysis.
“I enjoy numbers and valuation. So I did all the modeling and forecasting.”
The end result?
A comprehensive, data-driven report—and a confident sell recommendation on Sun Country Airlines at $13.40, when the stock was trading at over $16.
Making the Call: Why They Said “Sell”
It wasn’t just a gut feeling. The team took a conservative approach, grounded in industry insight and valuation discipline.
“We spoke with management, and they gave us a bullish narrative,” Bailey recalls. “But when we talked to people at other airlines, they said Sun Country wouldn’t be able to grow beyond Minnesota because of brand limitations.”
That, combined with low growth guidance and cyclical headwinds, led the team to favor bonds over equity exposure.
“We asked ourselves—why take equity risk when the upside is less than what a AAA bond is yielding?”
The market seems to agree. As of January, Sun Country’s stock had dropped more than 30% from the time of their call.
Lessons for Future CFA RC Competitors
Bailey’s advice to future teams?
“Build your own model. Don’t rely on software to spit out a valuation. When you build it yourself, you understand every variable and assumption. That gives you confidence when presenting.”
And he’s right. That deep understanding showed in their presentation—and helped clinch their win.
What’s Next? Eyes on the CFA and More
Looking ahead, Bailey’s setting his sights on the CFA charter.
“It’s definitely in my future,” he says. But he’s keeping his options open across three areas: equity research, financial planning, and transaction advisory.
Each one feeds a different part of his curiosity. Whether it’s valuing companies, building portfolios, or advising on private equity deals, he’s determined to explore it all.
Rapid Fire with Bailey Sauvé
Favorite sector to analyze? Financials.
Morning person or night owl? Morning, thanks to the Army—but weekends are fair game.
Favorite business book? Rich Dad, Poor Dad — “It changed my life.”
Worst investing advice you’ve heard? “Buy AMC because the Minecraft movie is coming.”
Where would you invest $10,000 today? 50% in S&P 500, 30% in Nasdaq QQQ, and the rest in individual stocks.
Finance role model? “My friend Ryan, a CFA charterholder and advisor to our team.”
Final Thoughts
Bailey Sauvé isn’t just another finance student checking boxes. He’s creating his own playbook—fueled by discipline, initiative, and genuine curiosity. His story is a reminder that excellence isn’t just about talent—it’s about getting in the arena, saying yes to opportunity, and doing the hard work that others won’t.
We’ll be watching his journey closely. Because if this is how far he’s come already, the best is definitely yet to come.
📍 Interview by Elad Smadja | Charter Doozy
Background, Links and Related Info
Connect and follow Bailey on LinkedIn
University of Wisconsin–River Falls (UWRF)
Winner of the CFA Research Challenge local finals 2024-25.
Teams analyzed Sun Country Airlines
Sun Country Airlines is an ultra-low cost airline in the United States. Based at Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport with headquarters on airport property, Sun Country operates to about 140 destinations in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean.
Sun Country Airlines stock price: https://g.co/finance/SNCY:NASDAQ
Watch the full CFA RC Local Finals here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZ3eudiizNY
The 2025 Research Challenge Local Finals participants were:
- University of Minnesota Duluth – 1
- University of Minnesota Duluth – 2
- University of Minnesota Duluth – 3
- University of MN Twin Cities – 1
- University of MN Twin Cities – 2
- University of Wisconsin – River Falls
Read the winning research paper here: https://charterdoozy.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/UWRF-2025-CFA-Research-Challenge-Report.pdf
The book which changed his life (and many others): Rich Dad Poor Dad
