Victoria Albanese of Lincoln is a 2018 graduate of Bryant University with a Bachelor of Science in financial services with a concentration in economics. She is the 2018 winner of the National Financial Plan Competition presented by the International Association of Registered Financial Consultants, held in Asheville, N.C., in April.
PBN: When did you know you wanted to pursue a career in finance?
ALBANESE: When I was growing up, my dad, a pharmacist with a strong interest in finance, instilled in me and my siblings the importance of saving and investing. I’ve always found it fascinating, and when the time came to think about what I wanted to do for a living, I knew it would revolve around money and finance.
In high school, I excelled in business and math, which further influenced my choosing financial services as my major. Early on, I learned some very basic estate planning concepts and then discovered Bryant’s Certified Financial Planner board-registered undergraduate program in financial planning. By sophomore year, my passion was sparked and I knew I was in the right place.
PBN: What drew you to apply for the IARFC’s National Financial Plan Competition?
ALBANESE: Last summer, [finance lecturer] Mara Derderian, who heads the CFP program, emailed the financial-planning students to let us know about the competition. I thought it would be a perfect opportunity to test myself and see if I could successfully apply what I had learned, so I decided to enter.
PBN: How did you feel when you were announced the 2018 winner of the competition?
ALBANESE: When I heard I had won, I was excited and proud of my accomplishment. It was pretty rewarding to be able to beat some impressive teams from all over the country.
Throughout my time at Bryant, and during the competition, I often wondered if I was ready for the real world. Through this competition I was able to prove to myself I am. The process definitely helped ease any self-doubt while building confidence in my education. The hard work has paid off.
PBN: You graduated from Bryant in the spring, what resources and faculty do you think best set you up to succeed in your future career?
ALBANESE: The unique blend of coursework and experiential learning provided a well-rounded foundation, which has prepared me to be knowledgeable in all key areas of financial planning.
Bryant’s finance curriculum features the Archway Investment Fund, a $1.7 million investment portfolio managed by students and led by [finance] professor Asli Ascioglu. With her guidance, this advanced, two-semester course has given me invaluable hands-on experience with handling investments.
In addition, all Bryant students have to learn public speaking and presentation skills. As someone going into a career where interacting with people and making presentations is a vital part of success, it’s critical to communicate concepts and ideas.
The Bryant faculty do an amazing job guiding and mentoring students. I have always been impressed by how willing professors are to help and with the opportunities they provide, both at Bryant and in the business community.
Derderian, in particular, has been a great mentor and positive influence on my education and career path. In addition to surfacing opportunities, she has always been willing to give advice and direction when needed and has been a reference for me in the job search process.
PBN: Have you secured a job and what are your goals in your first year out of school?
ALBANESE: I am currently studying for my Series 7, 66, and life accident and health licensing exams. Pioneer Financial Group Inc., the Warwick-headquartered company I completed an internship with in summer 2017, is sponsoring me to sit for the exams and I will be officially joining the company once I pass them.
Emily Gowdey-Backus is a staff writer for PBN. You can follow her on Twitter @FlashGowdey or contact her via email, gowdey-backus@pbn.com.
