Arizona Financial Planning Club

As we reach the midpoint of the semester, the Financial Planning Club (FPC) continues to provide students with valuable opportunities to explore careers in finance, connect with peers, and gain insights from industry professionals. On February 19th, we welcomed Cody Erlbeck and Robbie Daugherty from Renaissance Financial, who shared their perspectives on building a successful career in finance. On February 26th, representatives from Edward Jones, Northern Trust, Fidelity, and Vanguard joined us to offer insights on financial planning and career development. On March 5th, we had the pleasure of hosting Stephanie Allen, who led an in-depth discussion on her experience in corporate finance, how to stay on top of industry and market trends, and recruitment strategies. Looking ahead, we’re excited for the rest of the semester, starting with our March 19th meeting featuring Mariner Wealth and Equitable Advisors, followed by sessions with Morgan Stanley and Fidelity. We look forward to seeing you there!

Last week, we had the privilege of speaking with the University of Arizona’s Arizona Financial Planning Club! Cody, Steve, Alessia, and Dalton enjoyed sharing insights on marketing yourself as a financial planner, adding value in the industry, and much more. We also highlighted our structured training program and Renaissance’s unique value adds. Thank you to the Arizona Financial Planning Club for having us and for such an engaging discussion! Alessia Perla Dalton Herrington Steve Steinbruegge Cody Erlbeck

Last week we welcomed back Renaissance Financial, represented by Cody Erlbeck, Alessia Perla, Steve Steinbruegge, and Dalton Herrington! They discussed the unique value Renaissance adds for clients and their structured training program. They shared advice on how to market ourselves as financial planners, entering into our careers, and adding value as a financial planner. A common theme across all guest speakers was to always find a way to add value, such as by finding gaps in a client's plan and addressing those gaps. A huge thank you to Cody, Alessia, Steve, and Dalton for taking the time to meet with our members and share their experiences within the industry!

Last week we heard from Samuel Scherer and Matthew Apostolik from Merrill Lynch! They discussed Merrill Lynch's high net worth investment management, team-based approach, and broad spectrum of services. Sam and Matthew also offered advice on building a book, obtaining your CFP, building a relationship with clients, and more. A couple pieces of advice are: ? “Know your stuff, and be honest when you don’t.” ? “Tailor your approach and cadence your communication to each individual client.” A huge thanks to Sam and Matthew for sharing their time and knowledge with us!

This week we were privileged to welcome Ironwood Investment Counsel with speakers Spencer Heath and Alek Sokoloski, CFP?, accompanied by their Summer 2024 intern, Kennedy Hudson, who will be returning full-time after graduation. Spencer and Alek shared interesting insights into Ironwood's client-first approach and individualized wealth management plans. Ironwood is actively seeking Summer 2025 interns for private wealth and investment research roles. Standout as an intern by being well-spoken and conversational and exemplify intellectual curiosity. A huge thanks to Spencer and Alek for speaking with our members, as well as to Raymond James for providing food for our members!

Educating and inspiring the passionate next generation of leaders interested in the world of business and finance is an honor. Thank you to the University of Arizona Eller College of Business for partnering with Meridian to do just that! This month our Tucson Team spent time hosting students in the Meridian office for an Industry Experience and spoke at the UA Financial Planning Club! Go Cats! Natalie Fernandez Lee & Jake Blumenthal

This week we had two insightful opportunities for members to learn from and network with financial industry professionals. With the University of Arizona Financial Literacy Club, we heard from Josh Guenser, the CFO of Dutch Bros Coffee, and Curtis Butler, a former J.P. Morgan NYC banker! Two pieces of advice from Josh and Curtis are to work at a firm that makes you excited to show up every day and that your resume should mimic who you are. We also were fortunate enough to welcome back Charles Schwab for the third time! Josh Love and Benjamin Shaver shared their experiences and advice on breaking into the financial industry, as well as information about the different opportunities Charles Schwab offers for students and recent graduates. A few takeaways from Josh and Ben are: ? Reach out early and seek out information ??Overperform and set expectations high for yourself. ? It's about "who knows you, not who you know." A huge thanks to Josh G., Curtis, Josh L., and Ben for taking the time to share their insights and helping prepare our members for their career journies!

Meet our executive board! These individuals work hard to help the club run smoothly and create engaging and beneficial experiences for members. Interested in getting involved? We're holding elections at the end of the semester and it's never too early to reach out to the officers of positions you're interested in! Executive board: Colin Dempsey - President Kira Okuma - Vice President Samm Hannula - Treasurer Ariel Tobiasson - Secretary Abbie Thomas - Marketing Chair Bryce Zinn - Social Relations Chair Joseph Heck - Social Relations Chair

Last week a few of our executive board members were able to represent FPC at the CFP Board's Springboard Career Fair, and many more members were able to attend! Springboard was filled with insightful guest speakers, including Ben Katsel and Marcelina Castel de Oro. They shared their experiences and details of their roles, letting attendees step into the shoes of a financial advisor. There was also a wide range of firms present, many that you can expect to see in the spring! This was an incredible opportunity to learn from industry professionals and network with those in the financial industry. Thank you CFP Board for hosting an informative and memorable event!

Yesterday we had the privilege of welcoming back Natalie Fernandez Lee and Jake Blumenthal from Meridian Wealth Management, LLC! Meridian has experienced tremendous growth, and it was a pleasure to hear Natalie and Jake share their inspiring journies and industry advice. Some key takeaways include: ? There will be a defining moment in your life and you have to choose to either accept defeat or suck it up and keep going. ??"Practice makes permanent; nothing is ever perfect" ??Success is built on consistent habits and discipline. ? Always be prepared, make yourself noticed, and stand out from others. We extend a sincere thank you to Natalie and Jake for taking the time to share their experiences and insights!