Plymouth Court Associates Celebrates its 70th Anniversary

Plymouth Court Associates will mark its 70th anniversary this year, and it remains one of the oldest investment clubs in the United States. It was founded by Chicago Booth Executive MBA alumni in 1953 and has maintained a strong sense of community throughout its storied history.

From the beginning, the club has aimed to keep active ties with both the school and fellow alumni. It provides ongoing opportunities for members to apply their Booth analytical skills to profitable investment opportunities while learning more about the art of investing from experts, including financial planners and brokers.

Originally composed exclusively of Executive MBA alumni, Plymouth Court Associates opened its membership in 2016 to all Booth MBA alumni, as well as Booth faculty. Today, the club has about 30 members, with graduation years ranging from 1971 to 2014. 

Members have proved their skill time and again, as the club boasts a long history of successful investment results and has repeatedly outperformed the S&P 500. In July 2023, the club’s portfolio exceeded $1.7 million, with year-to-date returns of nearly 25 percent. 

Richard Weiland, ’80 (XP-45), a former senior partner, attributes Plymouth Court’s strength to its all-Booth membership. “It means that nobody is a lightweight,” he says. “Everybody’s got an opinion that is worth listening to.”

The club is run by officers elected annually. Two committees present recommendations to the other partners: the Portfolio Committee focuses on evaluating current holdings, and the New Investment Committee investigates future investment opportunities. The club is deliberate and long-term oriented in its investments, with sectors as diverse as technology, healthcare, and industrials in its portfolio.

Bimonthly gatherings are held in downtown Chicago and begin with a dinner where partners can socialize prior to a two-hour business meeting—a tradition that began with the group’s founding.

Since the pandemic, partners have also been able to attend the business meeting via Zoom. This has allowed out-of-town and limited-mobility partners to continue their active involvement.

Plymouth Court Associates has remained a tight-knit community through difficult times, most recently the pandemic and a rough 2022 for investments. Senior partner-elect Judy Andringa, ’94 (XP-63), says that this resilient and collaborative club “is a wonderful opportunity to connect with generations of astute and diverse Booth grads—all of whom have become great colleagues and friends!” 

Continuing this 70-year tradition of “bonding” through investments, friendly debate, and sharing a meal is something for all these Boothies to be proud of.

More information about Plymouth Court Associates can be found here.