Dylan Bach

Story Posted: Fall 2023

Dylan Bach, Finance and Accounting major, graduated from Souderton Area High School in 2022.

After attending Accepted Students Day, where he met Dr. Alan Harper, he knew GMercyU was the school for him.

“During this visit, I decided I was going to attend GMercyU. I was sold on the small class sizes, with greater opportunity to develop a relationship with professors,” said Dylan. “I also later met with Dr. Patrick Messina, who was the selling point for my admission into the Honors Program. I had favorable impressions from the professors I have met, and those expectations have so far been exceeded by the faculty.”

Experience in Finance and Accounting

Dylan chose Finance because he enjoys learning about the stock market and related investments. He added an Accounting major as a way to enhance his career options post-graduation.

“The field has interested me for many years, and I have continued to study the subject inside the classroom as well as through the University Research Conference and related readings. I find it to be a very diverse field in the different jobs and responsibilities upon graduation,” Dylan shared.

So far, Dylan has loved his experience in both programs, highlighting Dr. Harper as a factor in his growth as a student.

“He assisted me during the research conference, and he also encourages dialogue regarding current business and stock market events,” said Dylan.

In addition to Dr. Harper, Dylan shared his appreciation for all of his professors.

All of the faculty I have had the pleasure of working with in the classroom have stood out to me in some manner. I like to think that my experience is unique to myself, and that I would not have equal relationships had I chosen another university.

Dylan looks forward to applying what he's learned in an internship with Herbein + Co, starting spring 2024.

Campus Life

Dylan is a peer mentor and a tutor for business, finance, and accounting.

“It is very rewarding to assist my classmates in their studies, and it is rewarding to teach the subjects I am passionate about,” shared Dylan. “For peer mentoring, I enjoy developing relationships with those in the Integrated Studies program. They are all a pleasure to be around.”

He is also President of the Investment Club, run by Dr. Harper, and plays the electric bass in the Open Jam club.

Dylan is also in the Honors Program, which allows him to delve into topics outside of the business world.

“As much as I enjoy studying Business, I also have my own hobbies and interests that are unrelated to business. The Honors Program has given me the opportunity to study subjects I would not have otherwise had the chance to study, such as Latin, and to analyze books that have had historical impacts on society,” said Dylan.

University Research Conference

In spring 2023, Dylan presented at the annual University Research Conference. He researched the relationship between the stock price of a company and its earnings per share, a metric used to assess a company’s profitability.

I chose this because I felt that it would give me a strong foundation into studying other related topics, and studying this relationship was a good place to start. I also felt as if a compelling answer could assist those who listened to my presentation implement my findings into their portfolio management.

In conducting his research, Dylan found a strong relationship between earnings growth and stock price growth. Specifically, if earnings grow during a given period of time, it can be expected that the stock price will also grow.

“There was also evidence that 1) a decrease in earnings led to a decrease in stock price and 2) a decade of earnings growth (at least in the sample I chose) had more of a chance of continuing than not. In conclusion, I feel as though somebody can put together a portfolio of companies with historically consistent earnings growth and feel comfortable with its future returns,” said Dylan.

Post-Graduation Plans

After graduating from GMercyU, Dylan hopes to work in a career related to the stock market and equity investments. He has a goal of earning his master’s and preferably a doctorate, or related certifications such as Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA).

“My specific dream job is being a security analyst for an investment firm. For this reason, I was motivated to present research at the University Research Conference. Having a background of research will really help me in the career that I envision myself having,” shared Dylan.