Pioneer Summer Internships

Every summer, Pioneer football players disperse across the country for their exciting summer internships. Throughout the course of the summer, they will share their experiences here. Today's entry comes from utility-player Chad Christoff '10:



This summer I am participating in an internship at a branch office of Edward Jones in my hometown of Eldridge, IA. The local office houses just two employees – the perfect setting to work one on one with the Financial Advisor, Dave Schnorrenberg. The unique thing I have learned about Edward Jones is their focus on the community. Their business plan requires a strong local presence, meeting clients and potential clients face to face, and building trust through a sincere effort for a personal relationship with everyone. Throughout my internship, I have realized the wide variety of tasks and roles that a Financial Advisor takes on: from a market analyst performing research, to a small business owner doing marketing and promotion, to a counselor listening to and enhancing clients’ financial and everyday lives. My tasks have included marketing to potential clients through face to face interactions, sitting in on meetings with clients, becoming familiar with the proprietary Financial Assessment Software Tool, and studying relevant security options available to fit clients’ needs. The internship has been a valuable learning experience not only in the financial services sector, but in the overarching theme of entrepreneurship and developing a reputation.