Junior Christian Bonvisuto \u201927, said one of the experiences that got him interested in a career in wealth management was attending client meetings.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat I think is so rewarding is that so much of the business is relationship building,\u2019\u2019 said Bonvisuto, a finance major. \u201cSeventy percent of the job is getting to know people\u2019s personal values and finding out what\u2019s 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.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n
Bonvisuto was one of three UConn students to complete a one-week, paid micro-internship at Principle Wealth of Madison, Conn. over winter break.<\/p>\n
The students were exposed to everything from portfolio construction to cutting-edge financial planning software to client presentations.<\/p>\n
When alumna Theresa Donatelli \u201891, Senior Wealth Advisor at Principle, met with UConn staff a few years ago, she discovered that students didn\u2019t have a firm grasp of wealth management and some thought the career was intimidating.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was very fortunate that I \u2018fell into\u2019 this career and I love the relationship building,\u2019\u2019 she said. \u201cWhen students leave here, they often say, \u2018We can tell how much you all love what you do!\u2019 It\u2019s all about helping people. That\u2019s what we all enjoy. We help them live out their dreams and goals.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n
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\u2019s respect for the work of their prot\u00e9g\u00e9. \u201cThe payback for us is that we get to spread the word about a great profession and a growing company,\u2019\u2019 Donatelli said.<\/p>\n
Alumnus Mike Castiello \u201806, Principle\u2019s Chief Compliance Officer, said he is impressed with the UConn students he has met.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey are incredibly intelligent and very focused,\u2019\u2019 he said. \u201cIt 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.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n
The company has one rule: no \u2018busy work\u2019 for the interns. The week is very structured, with many learning opportunities and time to ask questions of an assigned mentor.<\/p>\n
\u201cStudents 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.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n
Kelly Kennedy, Director of Transformational Learning at the School of Business, said the Principle micro-internship is the kind of experience that students crave.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese 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,\u2019\u2019 Kennedy said.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur 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,\u2019\u2019 she said.<\/p>\n
Hannah Sacoto \u201928, 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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn just a week, we felt like a part of the team,\u2019\u2019 she said. \u201cOverall, it was a great experience, and I would recommend it to anyone who is interested.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n
Tiffany Aldana \u201928, a finance major, said the micro-internship was extremely valuable to her.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe 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. \u201cThis really helped me focus my career path. I’ve always liked finance, but I also like working with people.”<\/p>\n
\u201cThe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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