Robert J. Atra
- Lane 410
- [email protected]
“Wealth can never really be hoarded. Once created, it is funneled back into society through financial markets and reappears as more abundant and better goods and services. It’s a pleasure to teach about such a remarkable system.”
Faculty Information
Additional Faculty Information for Robert J. Atra
Education
Ph.D. in Finance, University of Illinois at Chicago
M.S. in Finance, Northern Illinois University
B.A. in Business, The College of the Ozarks
Chartered Financial Analyst, CFA Institute
Graduate, College for Financial Planning
Certified Financial Planner Program
Previous Teaching Experience
Professor and Chair, Finance Department, Lewis University
Visiting Professor, Zhongshan University, Guangzhou, China
Visiting Professor, University LaSalle, Canoas, Brazil
Previous Industry Experience
Senior Valuation Consultant, Valuation Counselors, Inc. (a subsidiary of Laventhol and Horwath)
Project Finance Officer, Mitsubishi Bank Limited
Other Experience
Kaplan/Schweser CFA Level III Instructor
Other Affiliations
Member – CFA Society of Chicago
Publications
“Should Glidepaths be Gender-Specific?” (with Yuntaek Pae) The Journal of Wealth Management, Fall 2023
“Rules of Thumb versus Industry Glidepaths: Some Bootstrapping Evidence” (with Yuntaek Pae), Journal of Investing, 2020
“HIFO Accounting by Asset Classes” (with Yuntaek Pae), Journal of Wealth Management, 2018
“Volatility and HIFO Accounting” (with Yuntaek Pae), Journal of Financial Planning, 2015
“Likely Benefits from HIFO Accounting” (with Yuntaek Pae), Journal of Financial Planning, 2014
“Can Taxes Save Dollar Cost Averaging?” (with Thomas Mann), Journal of Financial Planning, 2011
“Linking Automated Discounted Cash Flow Valuation with Stable Paretian Portfolio Construction” (with Rawley Thomas and Dandan Yang), Chapter in The Valuation Handbook: Valuation Techniques from Today’s Top Practitioners, by Wiley, 2009
“The Life Cycle Returns Valuation System” (with Rawley Thomas), Chapter in The Valuation Handbook: Valuation Techniques from Today’s Top Practitioners, by Wiley, 2009
“The Fundamentals of Automated Discounted Cash Flow Valuation” (with Rawley Thomas), Chapter in The Valuation Handbook: Valuation Techniques from Today’s Top Practitioners, by Wiley, 2009
“Monetary Policy Indicators and Stock Market Performance” (with Thomas Mann and Richard Dowen), International Review of Financial Analysis, 2004
“Dollar Cost Averaging and Seasonality: Some International Evidence” (with Thomas Mann), Journal of Financial Planning, 2001
Quoted in WalletHub.com and BankRate.com
Biography
Finance is about the efficient use of resources to benefit society. But it is also about freedom and liberty. A key aspect of being a member of a free society is individual responsibility, which includes financial responsibility. Knowledge of savings and investing allows individuals to provide for their own financial well-being and promote their independence. I am very pleased to be a faculty member at Hillsdale where both the benefits of finance and free markets are ingrained in the learning process.
Prior to coming to Hillsdale, I was chair of the finance department at Lewis University outside of Chicago for over 20 years. My work previous to academia includes being an officer at one of the world’s largest international banks and a consultant valuing private equity. I have also continued to be involved in consulting and training throughout the U.S., including Wall Street. Though I enjoy working in the finance world, I am also proud of the numerous non-glamorous jobs I have had over the years, which have taught me the value of hard work and perseverance. I have worked construction, bailed hay, poured concrete, and helped work my way through college as a janitor at College of the Ozarks in Missouri.
In addition to my teaching and consulting, I continue to research numerous finance topics such as analyzing the effectiveness of investment strategies and proper asset allocation for retirement planning. I have also researched valuation models and how undervalued securities can be used to create optimal portfolios.