BWFA Institute & Internship
The Intern Experience
At BWFA, we are committed to education in finance and supporting students to explore career opportunities in wealth management, investment, and financial planning.
Our internship program provides mentorship, hands-on experience, meaningful projects, and direct guidance from President & CEO Rob Carpenter. These opportunities reflect the real operations of a financial advisory firm.
Interns collaborate closely with our team across the planning, tax, and investment management departments. Their work includes market research, portfolio development, client service support, and the creation of new resources for the BWFA website. They also gain transitional skills by participating in client meetings, taking calls, and assisting with day-to-day operations.
Through this experience, interns develop practical knowledge, build strong relationships, and strengthen skills in technology, data analysis, marketing, and client service. BWFA’s goal is to provide an environment that fosters growth, confidence, and career readiness.
BWFA White Papers
At BWFA, we believe education and research are essential parts of our mission—not only for our clients, but also for the next generation of leaders in finance, policy, and economics. That’s why our internship program challenges students to collaborate on one or more original white papers each year.
These white papers allow our interns to:
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Conduct in-depth research on pressing national and economic issues.
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Apply classroom knowledge to real-world problems.
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Present thoughtful, practical solutions that encourage dialogue and new perspectives.
Over the years, topics have included the modernization and reform of the IRS, strategies to ensure the long-term solvency of Social Security, the future of digital currency, real estate as an investment strategy, and approaches to building a stronger U.S.–China relationship. Other projects have explored ways to reduce robocalls, address congressional stock trading, and evaluate the privatization of major federal services such as the USPS, TSA, and Air Traffic Control. Together, these papers highlight the creativity and insight of BWFA interns as they engage with complex challenges that affect both the economy and everyday life.
Each project reflects BWFA’s belief that thought leadership extends beyond investing. By encouraging students to ask difficult questions and seek solutions, we foster innovation that benefits not only our interns but also the communities we serve.
Explore our collection of white papers and discover the insights BWFA interns have developed.
Meet Our Interns
Each year, our Summer Interns are highlighted in BWFA’s The Advisor Magazine. Get to know them and learn more about their experience at BWFA by clicking the links below.
Testimonials
“My summer at BWFA has been an amazing experience and an invaluable stepping stone in my professional career. I had the unique opportunity to contribute to meaningful projects that supported the team and learn from everyone in the office. What set this experience apart was the welcoming culture at BWFA. Every colleague was approachable and always happy to answer any questions, which made it easy to learn and integrate into the team. I’m grateful for the knowledge that I gained this summer, and I know that these lessons will continue to guide me in my career.” —BROOKE SMITH, BWFA Institute – Class of 2025
“I’m grateful for the opportunity to join the BWFA Institute internship, which helped me grow personally and professionally while clarifying my goals. The blend of mentorship and independent projects made it an enriching experience I would recommend to any student. ” —MYA LALIBERTE, BWFA Institute – Class of 2025
“My internship at BWFA taught me valuable lessons and helped me grow both personally and professionally. The collaborative environment gave me the chance to contribute to meaningful projects while receiving mentorship, hands-on learning, and real-world insight across a wide range of financial services. This experience has truly equipped me with the skills and confidence to pursue a career in finance.” —EDDIE AGUILAR, BWFA Institute – Class of 2025
“My time at BWFA has been incredibly valuable and rewarding. I was lucky enough to work alongside a talented, supportive team that truly invested in my growth. I had the opportunity to sit in on client meetings and contribute to a variety of projects, gaining firsthand insight into using different platforms, relationship-building, and the client experience. Most importantly, I built connections that will last well beyond my internships, and I’m grateful for the mentorship and opportunities that have prepared me for the next chapter of my career.” —CAYLAH KANG, BWFA Institute – Class of 2025
“My internship at BWFA gave me practical experience in investment management and the technical side of finance, while also underscoring the importance of relationship building and management. I gained a deeper appreciation for acting with transparency, placing clients’ interests at the forefront, and providing them with a life-changing service.” —TADEO ASPRELLA, BWFA Institute – Class of 2025
“I had a great time working and getting to know everyone. The internship was an amazing experience, from working on group projects to sitting in on client meetings. It opened my eyes to what career path I want to pursue, and I can’t thank everyone enough, ” —ZACH TAYLOR, BWFA Institute – Class of 2024
“This summer at BWFA, I learned valuable skills that will be able to help me in my future career, including improving my ability to work with a team to complete collaborative work.” —MAX PFLUGRAD, BWFA Associate Financial Analyst (BWFA Institute – Class of 2021)
“My summer at BWFA provided me with a range of experiences in personal finance and wealth management, retirement planning, tax strategy, estate planning, mergers and acquisitions, and investment management. Most importantly, this internship has gifted me personal insight into how successful, efficient, organized, and effective a team can be together. BWFA is a marvel at the power of teamwork, and each member is expertly crafted toward their role. It was an honor to contribute to an organization where impossible goals can be met with precision, accuracy, and timeliness.” —MEGAN MCINERNEY, BWFA Institute – Class of 2021
“I enjoyed my time at BWFA. It was an amazing learning environment and experience for me. The family atmosphere at BWFA was special. Everyone there is super nice and willing to teach you whatever you want to learn about finance.” — CASMIR OCHIAKA, BWFA Institute – Class of 2021
“Working at BWFA has been a great experience for me because of the knowledge and experience I have gained in the fields of investment management and financial planning. The team was always ready to answer any questions I had and even take the time to sit down with me to share the strategies they’ve mastered and the experiences they’ve had in the industry.” —JAKE PLINER, BWFA Institute – Class of 2021
“My internship with BWFA has been an amazing learning experience. The team at BWFA still managed to provide an incredible online intern experience for all of us during this pandemic. I have gained a lot of knowledge and actually felt that I was useful to BWFA this summer. I am sure that I wish to pursue a career in financial advising/planning after this summer.” —STEVEN STANISLAV, BWFA Institute – Class of 2020
“I am interested in financial services and investment management, and interning at BWFA this summer has allowed me to pursue that interest while gaining a greater knowledge about the industry.” —ANNIE SHI, BWFA Institute – Class of 2020
“Summer 2020 was my third year interning with BWFA, and the internship program has provided a lot of insight into the different aspects of business and has been a great learning experience, applicable to life even outside of the financial services field.” —ANDREW CADE, BWFA Institute – Class of 2020
“Interning at BWFA this past summer has been an extremely valuable experience for me, as it has allowed me to develop both my professional skills and my confidence for future success. After I graduate from college, I plan to pursue a career in digital marketing, which will allow me to combine my interests in digital media and data analytics.” —JENNIFER HORNOR, BWFA Institute – Class of 2020
“The personal and professional skills I learned this summer will certainly prove to be beneficial as I enter into the workforce.” —SPENCER LIN, BWFA Institute – Class of 2019
Current college students can check out our profile on Handshake and apply to be a part of the next class of interns.