Internship Highlights

I interned in the Summer of 2018 on the Broker-Dealer Team of Financial Advisor Services at Dimensional Fund Advisors in Austin, TX. 

I learned so much and was able to do meaningful projects that are directly applicable to what i learned in the financial planning courses here at WKU.

I was offered a full-time job with Dimensional Fund Advisors after graduation due to this internship opportunity.       

My time at Kuhn Advisors, inc. gave me a greater undertstanding of the way in which financial advisors can help their clients. I was able to assist with and learn from the various aspects of the firm, including sitting in on meetings, utilizing financial planning software, and meeting with various investment managers . WKU prepared me for this opportunity through my courses on investments, retirement and insurance planning. I would never have had the opportunities I do now without the guidance and support of our Finance Department.      

I've spent my summer interning with Ritter Daniher Financial Advisory, LLC in Cincinnati, OH where I have been given a variety of projects to work on such as building out clients in EMoney, creating comprehensive financial plans, researching specific mutual funds or topics of concern, and creating charts and visuals to communicate concepts with clients.  Thanks to the knowledge I've learned from the Finance Department at WKU and the guidance of Dr. Rhoades, I have been able to implement concepts learned in the classroom and have obtained valuable experience in the field I hope to continue working in.

 

My internship experience at ARGI was truly amazing. I was able to learn so many things in just 8 short weeks. I had the opportunity to work closely with the Personal Planning Department, Investment Department, 401(k) Department, and Business Development Department. During my internship I was able to assist advisers in client meetings, produce investment reports, engage in soft skill training, and form friendships with coworkers.  I was able to learn so much that I couldn't believe they were actually paying me as well.  The Finance Department played a huge role in my awareness of ARGI. There were many times throughout the semester where ARGI was invited to speak to our class or set up a booth, which helped me learn more about the firm. Our financial planning program was also a key indicator that set me apart from other applicants because many schools do not have this type of program. I would recommend any student to check out ARGI!

This summer, I had the opportunity to work as a Financial Planning & Investments Intern at ARGI Financial in Louisville, KY. As an intern, I was responsible for applying what I was learning in the classroom to meaningful work to improve client’s holistic financial health. I had the opportunity to work with several Financial Advisors and Investment professionals, allowing me to take part in every aspect of financial planning. Another great part about working at ARGI was the opportunity to work with driven individuals who pursue both personal and professional growth, which was impactful to the firm, but also to me, because I realized I want to strive for what they are achieving. The WKU Finance Department, specifically Dr. Rhoades introduced me to ARGI Financial, which was my “foot in the door” for this opportunity. Also, the CFP Board Certified coursework is also a huge advantage when pursuing an internship or career in the Financial Planning industry. I would recommend an internship to anyone because of the opportunity to apply classroom knowledge, network, and test out what you want or do not want in a career.

I applied for a position with Franklin Bank and Trust thorugh WKU's Career Portal Handshake. I gained exposure to many difference aspects of banking though my duties as a part-time teller.

I feel fortunate to have made numerous friends and connections in the banking industry and I am glad I was able to find this opportunity through WKU. 

Over the summer of 2017, I got the chance to intern with Citizens First through KBMI. It was a great opportunity to be thrown headfirst into the banking industry. My internship was unique because there was a woman who worked in the accounting department who was on maternity leave for the summer. So, a major part of my internship experience was taking care of her responsibilities. It was practical, hands-on, and gave me a great feel for commercial banking. I learned lots and am very prepared to enter the workforce one day. I'm very thankful for the experience I got.

I spent my summer at Hilliard Lyon's headquarters in Louisville, KY. I was working in the Trust Department, which is a huge part of Hilliard's total assets under management as most of those clients in Trust are ultra high-net wealth. Thus, having the proper investment methodology was very important!

I worked directly with the Chief Investment Officer and the Investment Strategy and Research Team. I presented weekly to the CIO, on various topics such as dollar valuation and repatriation. I spent a lot of time creating financial data models for the dollar and other currencies. I also employed some qualitative skills, and examined several macroeconomic events for their impact on the dollar. I spent so much time working with currency because the company was considering an asset allocation move at the time.

I was tasked with determining what direction the dollar would move in the future, which was interesting because there are so many different variables that go into the valuation process. The company wanted to decide if they should allocate more towards international stocks, or remain within the 70% domestic stance that they had.

I also did a lot of ad hoc work for whoever needed help. I worked with Spencer, the head of the ISR team, to create notes for several company calls. It was really fun to hear from the Investment Relations team of different companies, and get the opportunity to ask them questions. I also worked a lot with one of the portfolio managers, who assigned me several equity valuations to complete, and then present on. 

The finance department helped me prepare for this internship in numerous ways. Taking international finance before this class helped me to decipher what exactly currency valuation was and how various things could impact the value of the dollar. I think that class was invaluable to the base of knowledge that was required for this internship. The TVA class also helped me with the fundamentals of equity valuation and modeling, and enabled me to get those reports to those who needed them. Overall, the finance department gave me the skills necessary to be successful in this internship, and I am very thankful for their help!