Brinn Trousdale ‘20 - MSMF Wealth Management

MSMF Financial - Summer 2021 Internship
*co-edited by Ella Funke ‘22

When I attended the Cor Jesu INC event, I was a freshman business administration student at the University of Missouri-Columbia. Academically, however, I was a sophomore (thanks to my CJA college credits!) and would be applying for my emphasis area the next semester. Being a year ahead, while also never having in-person college classes, I was feeling a lot of pressure to figure out what I wanted to do with my life. I knew I wanted to do something in business, but I didn’t really know what that could look like. I remember receiving an email from Cor Jesu announcing the INC event and decided to jump on the opportunity to, at the very least, practice talking to different companies and learn what kind of jobs are out there. While attending the event over Zoom, I talked with MSMF, a wealth management firm located in Sunset Hills, Mo., and it piqued my interest. I asked about the company, what they do, how they help their clients, etc. Then, I asked for their contact information. A few months later I reached back out to MSMF to see if they were hiring for a summer internship position, and they were! I emailed them back, was interviewed and then hired on as a 2021 summer intern.

                Working with MSMF was an invaluable professional experience because I learned so much about myself and my future career plans. I learned all about the business model of MSMF, the kind of services they provide their clients, how they work as a team and what it really means to be a financial planner or analyst. I didn’t know working with a wealth management team as a financial planner could be an option for me, but my internship was such a positive experience that I decided it could be. While applying for my emphasis this semester (Fall 2021), I leaned on the advice I received over the summer and decided on a double emphasis in finance and economics, while pursuing a certificate in financial planning.

                I really encourage anyone who is exploring their major or just wants some professional experience to participate in the INC event! Not only has it led me down a path that I would have never expected, but I have gained so many professional contacts and experiences that I can use in my future internships as well. You never know what kind of opportunities will come up just by reaching out and taking a chance on the companies that spark your interest during INC. Because of INC, I know I can move forward in my academic and professional career with a little more confidence and experience.