Five Interns Share Their SJS Summer Experience
At SJS Investment Services, we believe financial literacy is about more than understanding money - it’s about giving people the knowledge and confidence to make informed decisions about their futures. Through our financial literacy initiatives, educational programs, and commitment to developing young professionals, SJS is investing in the next generation.
This summer, five interns across all four offices joined our team to gain firsthand experience in financial services, explore careers in wealth management, and learn about helping individuals, families, and organizations build a stronger financial future.
Here’s a look at their experiences, what they learned, and the perspectives they’re taking with them as they begin the next chapter of their education and careers.
Meet Caleb Householder
Sylvania, Ohio – I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity to learn more about the financial services industry and gain a firsthand look at what goes into helping clients plan for their financial futures.
Throughout the summer, I was able to sit in on client meetings, learn how financial simulations are built and used, and explore different investment and planning strategies. I gained a better understanding of tax strategies such as tax-loss harvesting, the role that diversification plays in managing risk, and how different elements of investing come together when creating a financial plan.
One thing that stood out to me was that there is no single approach that works for everyone. Each client has different goals, circumstances, and risk tolerances, which makes understanding the person behind the numbers so important. Beyond the technical knowledge, this experience also taught me a lot about the importance of communication, attention to detail, and building strong relationships with clients.
I’m very thankful to everyone at SJS Investment Services for welcoming me this summer, sharing their knowledge, and giving me the opportunity to learn from their experience.
Meet Gabi Sterling
Sylvania, Ohio – Throughout the summer, I’ve had the opportunity to sit in on client meetings, travel with the team to meet with regional institutional clients, observe the 401(k) planning process, build meaningful business relationships, and gain firsthand insight into how the firm develops unique investment portfolios and approaches different client needs.
I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to learn from such a talented and supportive team. This experience has taught me far more than just the fundamentals of investing. I’ve gained valuable perspective on relationship building, business development, professionalism, compliance, and the unique role RIAs play in helping clients achieve their financial goals.
Most importantly, this internship has given me experiences and knowledge that I’ll carry with me throughout the remainder of my college experience and into my future career.
I’m extremely thankful to everyone at SJS Investment Services who made this summer such a meaningful experience. I’m excited to take what I’ve learned here and continue building on it in the years ahead.
Meet Evan Caplan
Scottsdale, Arizona – When I discovered the field of wealth management, my interest was piqued as it is a field that allows one to use their financial literacy to serve individuals. Furthermore, I was enthralled by the scope of financial planning; the breadth of knowledge surrounding investments, taxes, and important life events such as retirement and estate planning conveyed to me that one must have a wide repertoire of skills to be successful in this industry. In my time at SJS Investment Services, it has become clear to me that Jennifer, Austin, Esther, and the rest of the SJS team embody that deep skillset, and I would like to thank everyone for a great experience!
Meet Ford McDonnell
Chicago, Illinois – Before the internship, I knew a little bit about how wealth managers interact with clients. I knew nothing about how they interact with their fund managers. Therefore, one of the most interesting things for me was seeing how Tom and Elizabeth communicate with every fund manager, and how they pick and choose managers to work with based off SJS' philosophies.
One area I really increased my knowledge in is private markets. I was grateful to get to read and learn about investments like private credit and reinsurance. Additionally, I enjoyed learning different strategies SJS offers to clients, such as long/short separately managed accounts (SMAs) which can have tax benefits. I liked learning how big a role the MarketPlus® philosophy plays in what SJS does every day; that was something unexpected that I will remember.
Meet Nick Williams
Chicago, Illinois – My internship at SJS provided me with a substantial amount of learning and gave me a much deeper understanding of both the technical and interpersonal aspects of wealth management. While I had already felt a prior interest in wealth management, I found myself constantly being amazed and intrigued by many of the topics, ideas, and tasks that I learned.
Throughout my time at SJS, I slowly began to understand more and more of how nuanced a career like wealth management can be. I was fascinated by the SJS team members explaining all the intricacies of their jobs, which seem to come with many various and unique roles and tasks each day. While my time at SJS was full of many hands-on tasks like reading, researching, designing, and writing, I found that the most impactful lessons I learned were from simple conversations with other SJS team members including:
What makes a good operational leader
How to present yourself to have a positive impact on others, especially clients
How much it matters to find a firm's culture agreeable
How fulfilling it is to truly believe in what you are doing
How one's growth and learning never really stops
At SJS, our commitment to financial literacy and education goes beyond teaching the fundamentals of investing and personal finance. We believe that providing students with meaningful experiences, exposure to the financial services industry, and opportunities to learn from professionals can help prepare them for whatever comes next.
We’re proud to play a small part in building a more financially confident and capable next generation. And as these five interns take what they’ve learned into their classrooms, careers, and communities, we look forward to seeing where their journeys take them.
Important Disclosure Information:
There is no guarantee investment strategies will be successful. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Diversification neither assures a profit nor guarantees against a loss in a declining market.
MarketPlus® Investing models consist of institutional quality registered investment companies. Investment values will fluctuate, and shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than original cost.
Advisory services are provided by SJS Investment Services, a registered investment advisor (RIA) with the SEC. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. SJS Investment Services does not provide legal or tax advice. Please consult your legal or tax professionals for specific advice.
Statements contained in this article that are not statements of historical fact are intended to be and are forward looking statements. Forward looking statements include expressed expectations of future events and the assumptions on which the expressed expectations are based. All forward looking statements are inherently uncertain as they are based on various expectations and assumptions concerning future events and they are subject to numerous known and unknown risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected.