Jade Meier

What were your job responsibilities as a VPF intern?

Some of my more prominent responsibilities were portfolio research and client meeting preparation. One of the interesting concepts I was able to research was ESG investing for clients. David and I spent time getting to know the landscape and understanding how clients felt about sustainable and socially responsible investing.

What is one of your favorite memories from interning at VPF?

One of my favorite memories was attending a client event that we put on at the Harvard Club. The event was on how to best prepare and “pivot” for retirement. The event was extremely educational for not only clients but also for me. I was able to see the considerations that should be made for someone reaching retirement age. Ironically, there were also some correlations with my “pivot” from college life to “adult” life!

Another great memory was getting to attend Commonwealth 101 training with Joanna. We learned the ins and outs of software and CRM systems Commonwealth provides VPF with. We also were able to have lunch with Commonwealth CEO Wayne Bloom, who shared some great words of advice and memorable stories.

What was your biggest takeaway from interning at VPF?

My biggest takeaway from my internship at VPF was how the financial services space is all about trust. David and Ashley really showed me how impactful they have been on the lives of their clients. Joanna illustrated the importance of going above and beyond for clients. Together, the VPF team taught me what the client-advisor relationship should look like— something I am able to take with me every day in my current role.

How did your VPF internship prepare you for your career post-graduation?

My internship with VPF prepared me for my current role at Apex by teaching me the basics of the financial services and planning industry. At VPF, I became very familiar with financial planning through David and Ashley. The financial plan is vital to the services we offer at Apex and I am grateful that I was exposed to this concept before starting in my role at Apex.

Where do you work now?

I work at Apex Financial Advisors as the Assistant Vice President.

What are your job responsibilities?

My job responsibilities range from creating and updating financial plans, attending client and prospect meetings, day-to-day interactions with clients, monitoring custodial accounts, and involvement with the purchase of commercial real estate projects.

What's your favorite part about your job?

My favorite part about working for Apex Financial Advisors is that every day is different. Much like Vantage Point Financial, we assist clients with every aspect of our client’s financial lives. There’s always something new to learn!

If you had one piece of advice for someone entering the financial services industry, what would it be?

One piece of advice that I would give is to become familiar with financial concepts. Read up on investing, financial planning, taxation, or general money management. If you are passionate about financial services, becoming well-rounded in financial topics will prove to be invaluable.