Student Organization Spotlight: Financial Planning Association
The SDSU Financial Planning Association mentors students interested in the financial services industry.
Through the organization, students are able to network with industry professionals, attend panel discussions and learn about new job and internship opportunities.
Matthew Mizuta, president of the SDSU Financial Planning Association, said he joined the organization to learn more about the financial services industry and possible career opportunities. Becoming involved in the organization allowed him to speak with industry professionals from around the country, attend conferences and make lifelong friends.
Is the Financial Planning Association open to all majors or is it major specific?
We welcome students from all majors. Many people in the industry do not have a financial planning-related degree, and many of our members come to learn about financial planning.
When it comes to finding new members for your organization, what type of students are you looking for?
We're looking for students who want to learn about financial planning, want a job in financial planning or want to meet people in the industry.
When are your meetings and is there a membership fee?
Our meetings are from 2-3 p.m. every other Thursday in the Aztlan Room on the second floor of the Conrad Prebys Aztec Student Union. Our next meeting is Sept. 21. There is no membership fee for student chapter members.
What kind of activities does your organization plan and attend?
We have a career path panel, which allows students to see the different directions aspiring financial planners can take. Last semester, we hosted representatives from registered investment advisor firms, banks and insurance companies. We are launching an externship program in October, giving students the opportunity to shadow a financial planner for several weeks. We also have regular networking events with the San Diego chapter of the Financial Planning Association (FPA) and the Financial Planning Association NexGen, a group for younger financial planners.
Does your organization have any events coming up?
At our meeting on Sept. 21, we will have FPA San Diego President Krysta Cordill, who works as an advisor and partner at D’Arcy Capital Management, and Adam Werner, a financial life planner at Donnelly Wealth Advisors. He is also the FPA NexGen board chair. They will speak about FPA resources and give an overview about the industry.
How can students find more information about your organization?
Students can find out more information on our Facebook page or at our website.
Which SDSU faculty have had an impact on your organization?
Professor Ning Tang has guided us as the organization advisor, and professor Thomas Warschauer has been a great supporter of the financial services major and the organization.
