May 13, 2026 | Claire Hall

Principle Wealth’s ‘Micro-Internships’ Give Students Exposure to Wealth Management

By offering a one-week, paid internship, students can get exposure without having to disrupt their academic schedule or bypass other work opportunities.

A group of people posing in an office environment

Principle Wealth Partners of Madison, Conn., offered week-long, paid "microinternships'' to UConn business students interested in learning more about individual financial management. Pictured, from left, is Glenn Zavorskas, wealth advisor; student Tiffany Aldana; Theresa Donatelli, senior wealth advisor; students Christian Bonvisuto and Hannah Sacoto and Kyle Farrell, senior investment specialist. (Contributed Photo)

Junior Christian Bonvisuto ’27, said one of the experiences that got him interested in a career in wealth management was attending client meetings.

“What I think is so rewarding is that so much of the business is relationship building,’’ said Bonvisuto, a finance major. “Seventy percent of the job is getting to know people’s personal values and finding out what’s important to them, and then developing a trusting relationship. I loved it! I enjoy people, so I think it is potentially a good match for me.’’

Bonvisuto was one of three UConn students to complete a one-week, paid micro-internship at Principle Wealth of Madison, Conn. over winter break.

The students were exposed to everything from portfolio construction to cutting-edge financial planning software to client presentations.

‘We Can Tell How Much You All Love What You Do’

When alumna Theresa Donatelli ‘91, Senior Wealth Advisor at Principle, met with UConn staff a few years ago, she discovered that students didn’t have a firm grasp of wealth management and some thought the career was intimidating.

She wanted to expose students to what the job entails, debunk misconceptions, and reinforce the idea that a career in wealth management appeals to both those whose talents involve analytics, and those who love people. When she suggested offering mentoring internships, the Principle team was all in.

“I was very fortunate that I ‘fell into’ this career and I love the relationship building,’’ she said. “When students leave here, they often say, ‘We can tell how much you all love what you do!’ It’s all about helping people. That’s what we all enjoy. We help them live out their dreams and goals.’’

By offering a one-week, paid internship, students can get exposure without having to disrupt their academic schedule or bypass other work opportunities. The paid position elevates the experience and demonstrates the company’s respect for the work of their protégé. “The payback for us is that we get to spread the word about a great profession and a growing company,’’ Donatelli said.

Alumnus Mike Castiello ‘06, Principle’s Chief Compliance Officer, said he is impressed with the UConn students he has met.

“They are incredibly intelligent and very focused,’’ he said. “It is awesome to watch their growth in just one week. They are quickly applying what they learned in school and drawing the right conclusions. For them it opens a new world of appreciation, interest, and excitement.’’

The company has one rule: no ‘busy work’ for the interns. The week is very structured, with many learning opportunities and time to ask questions of an assigned mentor.

“Students get exposure to the client portion, but they also learn about the relationships with the staff, with leadership, and get to use the software. They talk to the advisor about what questions the advisor is preparing to answer, be it geopolitical tensions or family dynamics. We want it to be a very immersive and valuable experience.’’

‘This Really Helped Me Focus My Career Path’

Kelly Kennedy, Director of Transformational Learning at the School of Business, said the Principle micro-internship is the kind of experience that students crave.

“These one-week micro-internships are powerful catalysts connecting students directly with our business alumni, expanding their networks, and creating tangible real-world internships into industries they aspire to enter,’’ Kennedy said.

“Our alumni at Principle Wealth are enthusiastic about helping students understand how to break into wealth management by offering their experience in the industry, making the experience practical and immediately actionable,’’ she said.

Hannah Sacoto ’28, a finance major, said she learned a great deal about the wealth-management industry and the exposure was so powerful that she has been able to incorporate it in subsequent interviews.

She was most intrigued by the investment plans and the financial side of the business but also enjoyed meeting the clients and learning about their lives.

“In just a week, we felt like a part of the team,’’ she said. “Overall, it was a great experience, and I would recommend it to anyone who is interested.’’

Tiffany Aldana ’28, a finance major, said the micro-internship was extremely valuable to her.

“The internship was really great. I connected well with someone on the client side who shared what she does. I like the environment and the focus on putting clients first,” she said. “This really helped me focus my career path. I’ve always liked finance, but I also like working with people.”

“The employees who were working with the internship team were very welcoming and very kind, and often poked their heads in just to see if we needed anything,” she said. “I felt I made really good connections and built a strong network of people I can call on.”