NW Valley Times

Drake Qualls, senior wealth advisor at InterOcean Capital at the Colony Group, Lily Styrmoe, advisor at TCI Wealth Advisors, and Chris Erblich, CEO and chairman of TFO, recently addressed Grand Canyon University (GCU) students in an event organized by the campus' Financial Planning Association.

A significant milestone occurred over a year ago when GCU's Colangelo College of Business introduced a bachelor's degree with an emphasis on financial planning. This allowed students to take specialized courses such as retirement planning, estate planning, and life and health insurance earlier in their academic careers. These classes are certified by the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) Board, enabling graduates to take the CFP test immediately upon graduation.

Dr. Joy Clady, finance chair at the college, noted that Matthew Kerin switched his major from finance to finance with an emphasis on financial planning. He subsequently became a student leader in this area. Under the leadership of Nate St. John, Madalyn Nelson, Ashley Villa, and Kerin, the GCU Financial Planning Association was established as a chapter of the Finance and Economics Club. The association has grown from 40 members to over 100.

The rapid growth of this association has attracted attention from prominent firms like Charles Schwab. The firm hosted a Registered Investment Advisor event featuring panelists from notable companies including Colony Group and TCI Wealth Advisors.

Ashley Villa described her experience: “It was truly a blessing to be part of this (GCU) program.”

Kerin highlighted an industry age gap: “You have a lot of old advisors who are not looking to sell but hand off...their book of business to a young aspiring planner who they trust with their clients.” He emphasized that succession plans often involve transferring client relationships gradually over time.

Teagen McGee from the marketing team for the Financial Planning Association engaged in networking at recent events.

Kerin mentioned that pursuing certification through required classes saves students significant time compared to traditional methods: “That pursuit...could take up to three years,” he said.

He also noted technological advancements aiding client onboarding processes: “There’s never been this much technology that can be implemented...So there’s a lot of opportunity.”

The university has partnered with several fee-only companies which allow advisors greater freedom in serving clients' best interests without incentives affecting decisions.

While discussing potential earnings for new CFPs reaching six-figure salaries within their first year, Kerin stressed meeting many students motivated by helping others financially rather than just earning high incomes.

“I’ve met students who want to go into high networks to help people give away more money...It’s an awesome cause,” Kerin said about Christian financial planners aiming for philanthropic goals.

Dean John Kaites praised Blue Trust for its collaboration with GCU in promoting charitable giving among clients.

Kerin shared how he got involved after learning about an opportunity through professor Alan Klibanoff: "I would like to be considered for [the Schwab conference] if someone dropped out." This chance led him deeper into meaningful professional connections.

Reflecting on his career choice he added: "What captivated it for me was...how much they care for their clients...I don’t just want to sit behind a Bloomberg machine all day."

GCU News Senior Writer Mark Gonzales can be reached at [email protected]

---