Shawn Simpson

Shawn Simpson

Shawn Simpson is the Business Manager and a Ph.D. Finance Candidate at Morgan State University. Throughout his tenure, he has continually expressed a genuine interest and curiosity in specific areas of finance including investment research, risk management, exogenous shocks, market efficiency, derivatives, capital allocation decisions, financial inclusion, and financial regulation.

Shawn has completed and presented three research papers at three separate conferences. All three research papers have been submitted for publication. In addition, he teaches two separate finance courses. Shawn also has work experience in the field of finance. His experience stems from working as an investment consultant, senior loan consultant, financial analyst, financial manager and, most recently, business manager. Shawn is a Ph.D. Finance Candidate while also working full-time as the Business Manager for Morgan State University.

Shawn teaches several courses that cover a variety of topics that include bond evaluation, equity evaluation, financial statement analysis, risk and return, market efficiency, time value of money, capital investment decisions, and leverage. He has significant experience assessing and analyzing budgets, funding sources, and grant requirements, using due diligence.

If you recall, what influenced your decision to become a member of the International Atlantic Economic Society?

As a Ph.D. Finance Candidate, I saw joining the International Atlantic Economic Society as an excellent opportunity to interact and learn from economists, finance professionals, and government employees on a global scale. This allows members to obtain feedback from a variety of perspectives not only locally, but internationally. Having research interests in topics that include investment research, risk management, exogenous shocks, market efficiency, derivatives, capital allocation decisions, financial inclusion, and financial regulation aligns with the scholarly research that the IAES publishes. I presented my research at the Fall 2022 International Atlantic Economic Conference in Washington, DC and received valuable feedback. I have been a member of the IAES ever since. I look forward to future conferences and publications.

What types of projects/research are you currently working on and what inspired/motivated you to pursue these interests?

I am currently working on my dissertation. It includes a total of three essays. These essays examine financial inclusion when preparing for retirement, performance of fixed-income portfolios during times of increasing inflation, and pricing and performance of treasury-inflation protected securities (TIPS) with both dynamic interest rates and inflation. The literature suggests that approximately 30% of consumers are not participating in employer-sponsored retirement plans. In addition, investors face heterogeneous inflation needs which TIPS may not cover. These are the primary motivating factors that inspired me to research in these areas.

What advice would you give to someone who is considering entering your line of work/field of study?

My advice to anyone who is considering pursuing a Ph.D. or research position would be to have a genuine curiosity for the concentration/topic that you select. Having a desire to learn more about the field or particular areas within that field will help motivate you to take a deep dive into research. Always keep an open mind which will allow you to remove any biases when researching. It is exciting to explore new findings and convey the results through presentations and publications. The variety of available data types facilitates the analysis of research projects research projects. There are plenty of opportunities to explore and conduct research, so do not constrain yourself! Explore and enjoy!

Going forward, what other projects/research are you planning to or hoping to pursue?

I am interested in the following areas: digital currencies, financial inclusion, investor protection, and healthcare finance. These areas interest me based on the potential impact that they have on the economy.

What’s your favorite hobby?

My hobby is to read the latest research in the field of finance and economics. I like to see how researchers pursue their ideas and convey their results. I like attending conferences to interact with researchers. I also enjoy analyzing companies and financial securities. Besides finance and economics, I like to workout at the gym and travel.