Eliza Reinmund
This internship has no doubt played an instrumental role in my understanding of what it means to be a financial advisor. I have gotten to sit in on both internal and external meetings, build and present a financial plan for mock clients, work on tax, insurance, and estate planning projects, and run an investment analysis. These opportunities gave me a better grasp of what I want my career to look like in the years to come. Most importantly, I learned that financial advising is a relationship-driven business.
PYA Waltman sets a high standard in how they intentionally care for both clients and employees. I got to watch them remember birthdays, acknowledge life milestones, and regularly check in with clients. It was so clear to me that many of these clients would consider PYAW to be family, which is a testament to the deep, authentic relationships they’ve built over time. Seeing this played out in real time has inspired me to be more intentional in both my personal and upcoming professional life.
However, the things that I learned about the culture of PYAW in no way took away from the technical and logistical skills that I also developed. While I still have so much to learn, I have grown a deeper understanding of financial planning concepts such as what it looks like to work with financial planning software, and how plans should be presented to clients. I have gotten to experience back-office procedures focused on compliance, inputting and updating client information, and account management.
Ultimately, I witnessed what it means to be part of a phenomenal work environment, where each team member loves both what they’re doing, and those they are working alongside. This type of culture isn’t created by accident but is instead an indicator of incredibly strong leadership. It was truly a privilege to spend my summer at PYA Waltman, learning from such a remarkable group of professionals. I’m so grateful for the way each person mentored me and invested in my growth.
Reid Curlin
This entire summer has been an incredible learning experience, but the most valuable realizations that I’ve had are from examples that my coworkers have set. For example, seeing the way that Waltman employees treat each other highlights that culture can only improve when there are intentional efforts to strengthen relationships within and outside of the office. Those efforts, from what I have seen, entail everything from randomly organized pickleball games after work to consistent check-ins for every person here. With appreciation and respect for life outside of work comes a greater appreciation for coworkers, leading to heightened trust and enjoyment of daily work. Because of this, employees can better serve clients because they are confident in the support structure that has been built behind them.
In my own work, being exposed to areas where I was previously unfamiliar and growing in them over the last ten weeks has also shown me that that unfamiliarity can lead to greater enjoyment of my work once proficiency begins to take hold. Waltman advisors are firm believers in the idea that “Confidence comes from reps,” which could not have been more true for me. Specifically, being tasked with creating estate summaries and having to read through estate trusts was at first difficult; however, the more time I spent in them, the more I began to appreciate the challenge that they presented, as well as the gratification that came when I was able to piece it together. Ultimately it was a great reminder that a little discomfort initially brings humility and makes you grateful for the growth you experience in the future.
PYA Waltman is an investment adviser registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. More information about PYA Waltman’s investment advisory services can be found in its Form ADV Part 2 and/or Form CRS, which is available upon request. PYA-25-47
.png)