Lafayette Real Estate’s Post

Last week I had the honor to welcome an incredible group of interns to Charlotte for the summer. The Charlotte Regional Business Alliance’s Young Professionals advisory board convened interns from many of our Alliance investor companies to build connections with each other and our region. The event was a walking tour of Charlotte’s SouthEnd which originated at the Vantage building (home to Grant Thornton (US) Charlotte). As I welcomed the interns on behalf of the CLT Alliance Board and the many tenants of Vantage that are Alliance members, I shared the following three points that I have heard from my mentors over the years. I thought I’d share today here as we all have interns and new associates joining in the coming weeks.     #1 – Deliver in role. You were hired for a reason and you have a certain amount of time with the organization to leave an impact. Meet and exceed expectations. You have the chance to define yourself. You don’t want anyone to say about you at the end of the summer “They were fine”. No matter what the task, think about how to over deliver. Try to get better every week. “Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.” -- Maya Angelou #2 – Build your network. Take the opportunity to learn from executives, business owners, community leaders. Don’t focus on someone’s level as you build connections -- friends around you today will be executives of tomorrow.   Look left and right, in 15 years these will be the executives leading companies in the region. They will be fellow not-for-profit board members and own businesses. Some will be peers and some may work for you or you may work for them. “Make friends before you need them.” #3 - Be positive. Work doesn’t feel like work when you show up connected to your purpose and with an inherently positive outlook. As you accelerate your career, understand our rapidly growing and changing community. Help. Lead. Engage in causes you care about. Show up. In many situations people ask, “What can I do” and the first thing you have to do is show up.   “Do well by doing good.” – Ben Franklin “If you love what you do, you’ll never feel like you worked a day in your life.” – various, including my father

🎧 Earbuds in, wisdom on! Thinking about Accounting? Then give this podcast episode a listen!

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In our fourth summer of partnering with our Prep for Prep summer interns we tackled challenges for Anita Job, Al Dente & Sue Flay and Bill Board & Lucy Board. While the clients may have been fictional, the work was most definitely not. Our interns, who have yet to take on any real #economics/finance courses, found themselves entrenched in the world of #financialplanning. Under the guidance of Alina Miska Carlson, CFP®, a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® at Cannell & Spears, the interns utilized professional tools to #model various portfolio outcomes based on different scenarios. Their fresh perspectives reminded us of the importance of mastering the basics. Here are their key #takeaways: - Understand the time value of money. It does matter what you do with that first #paycheck, because the earlier you start saving and investing the more flexibility you have in the future. If Anita Job had done this, she wouldn’t have to think about moving cities to afford #rent. -It's crucial to have a #purpose for your money. Allocating funds into different buckets—such as daily expenses, savings, and investments—helps in understanding your overall #financialhealth. -In one of our scenarios, Bill Board got distracted driving while looking at one of his billboards, and drove into Bergdorf’s on 5th. He had to pay a massive settlement for ruining luxury merchandise. While this is extreme, having #sufficientsavings does help against potential financial setbacks. -Identifying #goals and #diversifying a portfolio according to risk/reward ratios is key. It's not just about "making a lot of money," but about making it work for you, while also understanding your #risktolerance. It’s what let Al Dente and Sue Flay retire at 50 after selling their business. -Financial literacy at a young age, such as opening a #highyield savings account or learning about a #401k, can significantly impact your future. We’re grateful for this opportunity and look forward to extending our knowledge to our community. We’re excited to continue working with our talented #interns this summer. They just might end up teaching us a thing or two!

Looking for a referral to one of these companies: Clifford Chance, KPMG, Fidelity International, and haysmacintyre then keep reading! ⬇ After running a poll on types of student opportunities that you guys are looking for and seeing the 250+ votes. I’m proud to announce this year I’ll be representing the following companies with the Wiser Academy: 💡 ⚖ Clifford Chance - One of the biggest Law firms and a new client that we didn’t work with last year we’ll be promoting multiple roles with Clifford Chance. They are accepting international applications and even have internationally based roles so keep your eye out for the incoming information about them! 🏙 KPMG - One of the big 4 and a client that I had the pleasure of working with last year. I’m sure many of you will be interested in applying to their schemes so really do be sure that you’re letting me know ahead of time your interest with them as many roles will be filled up fast. 💱 Fidelity International - A major financial employer with a stunning London based office near St Paul. I had the pleasure to see this last year and look forward to helping many of you with your applications there. Much like KPMG, these roles can be filled extremely quickly so do engage with polls, comment, or message me directly. 🌆 haysmacintyre - Looking for a career in accountancy? Haysmacintyre has some amazing schemes to help you get ACCA qualified. If you’re interested in seeing the offices of these firms have a scroll through my posts or my featured section. I’ll be releasing the following company specific information shortly so do keep checking the page. 👀 Like and comment to show your interest! 📩 Repost to share this to your friends applying to insight weeks, summer internships, placements, and graduate roles! ♻ 💜

Recently, Charles Schwab RIA interns visited the Aspen Wealth Management office. The interns had the opportunity to see how a growing firm operates and get an understanding of what the first few years at an RIA are like. We outlined our services, how we create our client experience, and how we collaborate as a firm. Valuable insights and great discussions! #FutureAdvisors #WealthManagement #RIA

Embracing the Power of Long-term Investing   Amidst the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, I embarked on a journey that reshaped my perspective on finance. Today, I'm thrilled to share a story that underscores the profound impact of long-term investing on my career path.   As my internship at BDO was drawing to a close, I found myself captivated by the world of the stock market. Determined to seize the opportunity, I decided to invest the last bits of my internship stipend into stocks. Despite the market's volatility, I remained committed to playing the long game. Armed with a foundation in fundamental analysis, I allocated a modest sum of Rs. 20,000 towards acquiring stocks, drawing upon insights from my finance background. Life after qualification ushered in a busy chapter in the UK, causing me to forget about my investments momentarily. Yet, it was during these moments of neglect that the true power of long-term investing revealed itself.   With each passing milestone, my portfolio flourished, boasting an impressive overall return of approximately 130% and a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 35% over 3 years. Today, as I reflect on this transformative journey, I'm reminded of the virtues of patience and belief in the potential of long-term vision.   I stand proud of the lessons learned and the growth experienced along the way. I eagerly anticipate the continued growth story of the Indian financial markets.   #Finance #Investing #LongTermInvesting #SuccessStory 

I developed a strong interest in the financial sector during my internship with Northwestern Mutual years ago. I found great satisfaction in engaging with clients and appreciated the role it provided. While it is challenging work, assisting individuals in achieving their financial goals is deeply rewarding. Message me today to learn more about how I can help you with your financial planning! #WealthManager #MyStory #AboutMe #FinancialGoals #FinancialPlanner

Embarking on an internship at Keylynk Business Consulting Private Limited has been a highly enriching journey, blending theoretical knowledge with real-world application. As a finance intern, I immersed myself in a variety of financial tasks that significantly contributed to my professional growth and the company’s operational efficiency. The hands-on experience included critical functions such as GSTR filing, MAT calculations, and trademark registration, which allowed me to grasp the intricacies of financial compliance and regulatory frameworks. One of the key aspects of my role was to assist with GSTR filing, a task that involved ensuring accurate and timely submissions. This process not only improved my understanding of GST regulations but also highlighted the importance of meticulous attention to detail in maintaining compliance. Similarly, working on Minimum Alternate Tax (MAT) calculations provided me with valuable insights into tax strategy and financial planning, enabling me to contribute effectively to the company's tax optimization efforts. In addition to these tasks, I played a significant role in the trademark registration process. This experience underscored the importance of protecting intellectual property and enhancing brand identity. Beyond these specific tasks, my involvement in financial reporting, budget management, and expense tracking was instrumental in improving the company's financial oversight and resource allocation. These activities helped me develop a clearer understanding of how financial strategies influence overall business performance. Reflecting on my internship, I recommend a few strategies to further enhance the value of such experiences for future interns. Implementing a structured onboarding process and comprehensive training programs can help interns quickly adapt to their roles and responsibilities. Expanding the scope of intern assignments to include strategic financial projects can provide deeper learning opportunities and more substantial contributions to the company. Additionally, establishing a feedback mechanism will ensure continuous improvement and alignment with organizational goals.