At Oakglen Wealth, we are passionate about helping people to grow and thrive, no matter where they start their career. This is why we created our Internship Initiative, a programme designed to develop the potential of young people.
Our aim is to support candidates on their professional journey and help set them up with the basic tools and preliminary skills needed for a future workplace and fast-paced environment. The initiative is also great exposure to a variety of business areas, providing a head-start on deciding key interests and where strengths (and weaknesses) may lie.
But don’t take our word for it.
Let’s hear from some of our keen and bright interns on how they have found life at Oakglen Wealth so far, halfway through their placement year.
Freddie Horney
Freddie is a student at the University of Sussex studying BSc (Hons) Accounting and Finance.
How would you describe your internship experience to others?
A placement year at Oakglen Wealth has not only given me an excellent introduction to wealth management, but it has provided an insight into the different business segments and how Oakglen effectively collaborate as a group. The highlights so far have been working with a great team and being able to sit in on the market update meetings for a greater exposure to insights from the CIO and investment team.
My main role is the onboarding of new client accounts and supporting the investment managers with their admin tasks. The most challenging aspects have been where we are a relatively new company, there have been teething issues with systems that have had to be resolved.
Reflecting upon your time with Oakglen Wealth up to this point, what do you wish you would have known before starting this internship?
I was nervous about joining Oakglen Wealth as a placement year intern, but I needn’t have been so apprehensive as the whole team have been friendly, inclusive and approachable. As well as a hugely valuable experience, it has also proven to be very enjoyable too.
How did you feel about your training and mentoring / supervision?
The ongoing training I have received has provided me with a thorough understanding of systems and processes, which I would be facing in the future and how they relate to wealth management. I have always felt supported and able to ask questions. The entire team have been happy to help and share their knowledge when needed.
What is the greatest lesson you’ve learned from this experience?
The experience of being an intern at Oakglen Wealth has increased my confidence and I feel I have learnt how to conduct myself within a working environment. The importance of communication, compliance and confidentiality when dealing with clients have also been valuable lessons.
What was the most rewarding thing about working with Oakglen Wealth?
The most rewarding aspect is being able to work for a small and fast-growing company, so even as an intern I feel I am contributing to the overarching business. I get to observe all the different fields within wealth management working together, rather than only experiencing one isolated department in a larger company. As Oakglen is a relatively new company I have also been fortunate enough to watch how systems are implemented as we continue to grow and expand.
George Beaumont
George is a student at the University of Exeter studying BSc (Hons) Business Economics.
Tell us about any new skills, techniques or knowledge you have gained.
I found that my skill set, both hard and soft skills, has significantly improved, ranging from excel competency to my communication patterns and mannerisms when dealing with clients. However, my knowledge around equity and fixed income markets has been my standout development. Being constantly surrounded by a wealth of knowledge from the team has vastly grown my understanding of certain topics and pushed me to take on deeper, independent readings around these subjects.
If you could make any changes to your internship experience, what would you change?
I am struggling to pinpoint any changes I would make. This is partly due to the team culture and my line manager’s desire for me to get the most out of my time at Oakglen. Regular meetings with my manager have permitted me to express where my interests lie, thus allowing me to experience other areas of the business outside my usual role. I guess that being at a smaller company has created this dynamic working environment, which is perfect for an internship.
Did this internship match your expectations?
No, this internship has not matched my expectations, it has in fact exceeded them by far. I found this to be the case for a multitude of factors. The standout point is the exposure I have had. Whether that has been sitting in meetings with fund managers, traveling across London to attend talks at investment banks or being a part of regular market update and investment committee meetings. The team are constantly inviting me to events and seminars, sending over relevant articles and seem to have a genuine care about how I can better myself.
What do you believe the next step is in your career path?
It is hard to say where I will find myself after university due to the competitive nature of the industry. However, my main goal is to secure a graduate scheme in the buy-side of finance, as this follows on nicely from my work experience. It is also where my passion lies, with investment management being a stimulating topic of discussion for me. I am hoping that for the remainder of my placement I keep developing my knowledge and skills, enabling myself to have the best chance at achieving my goals.
Would you recommend this internship to other students?
I cannot emphasise enough how useful this internship has been for me personally. It has given me time away from my studies to understand the broad and fascinating intricacies of the finance industry. I have developed great habits, met a wide scope of professionals, as well as expanded my knowledge far beyond the level that I was expecting. I haven’t just learnt about wealth management and investment services, but many different other sectors that intertwine, preventing any narrow-minded views from developing. So, unsurprisingly I would highly recommend this internship.
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Thanks to both Freddie and George for taking part in this interview and their ongoing dedication to the firm. Unfortunately our internship initiative programme is currently closed to any new applicants however if you would like to be considered for a future round, please get in touch.