Trulaske professor talks life, teaching and Ted Lasso

A surprising trajectory took Matteo Binfarè from the soccer fields of Italy to a classroom in the University of Missouri’s Robert J. Trulaske, Sr. College of Business. The assistant professor of finance and recipient of the 2025 Provost’s Outstanding Junior Faculty Teaching Award spoke with us recently about how his life experiences have shaped his approach to teaching, and what he hopes students take from his classroom.

First off, soccer: You played both semi-professional and professional soccer in Italy before college. What teams did you play for? What position did you play?
I grew up playing for the youth development team of my hometown club, Varese FC, a professional team in Italy. It was an amazing experience because we competed against other top youth squads, including Inter Milan, AC Milan, and Juventus. I played as a goalkeeper.

What was that experience like?
Being a goalkeeper was both rewarding and challenging. You train differently from the rest of the team and carry a unique kind of pressure. If you make a save, it often goes unnoticed, but if you concede a goal, it almost always feels like it’s on you. That dynamic taught me resilience early on.

Is there anything you learned from your time on the field that you continue to apply, either professionally or personally, off the field?
The importance of consistency, focus, resilience in the face of adversity, and independence. Those lessons still guide how I approach both work and life.

What first sparked your interest in finance?
I’ve always enjoyed math, numbers, and a natural curiosity about money. Growing up, I traveled a lot and started collecting currencies from different countries even within Europe before the euro was introduced. That fascination with markets and value sparked my interest in finance.

Can you tell us a little about the path that led you to teaching at Mizzou?
I earned my PhD in finance at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. I interviewed with Mizzou in January 2020, just before COVID hit, and later that year I joined the department in August 2020.

What kinds of classes do you teach at Trulaske?
I teach Investments and a new course on Alternative Investments, which covers hedge funds, private equity, and real assets.

You’re a long-term cancer survivor. Has that experience shaped your approach to teaching?
Yes. I was diagnosed with Primary Mediastinal B-Cell Lymphoma in 2013 when I was 23 and working in investment banking. That experience reshaped my priorities: health and family come first. It also inspired me to pursue a PhD and eventually move into teaching and research.
As a survivor, I try to always be present and supportive for my students. You never know what someone is going through outside the classroom. I contrast that with my own experience: While undergoing aggressive chemotherapy, I was still required to sit for two finance exams because my school made no accommodations. That left a lasting impression, and it makes me deeply value how student-centric education is in the U.S.

What do you hope students take from their time in your class?
I hope they walk away not only with technical knowledge of investments, but also with the ability to think critically and apply concepts in the real world.

What continues to drive your work at Trulaske?
The incredible support I’ve received from my department and the truly fantastic colleagues I work with.
Since you’re a soccer fan, I have to ask — favorite Ted Lasso quote?
“For me, success is not about the wins and losses. It’s about helping these young fellas be the best versions of themselves on and off the field." I try to bring the same philosophy to my teaching.

Mizzou’s Robert J. Trulaske, Sr. College of Business prepares students for success as global citizens, business leaders, scholars, innovators and entrepreneurs by providing access to transformative technologies, offering experience-centered learning opportunities and fostering an entrepreneurial mindset.