Lada Corcoran '27 (Finance) Wealth Advisor Group Intern

Lada Corcoran '27 (Finance) was a Wealth Advisor Group Intern at LPL Financial in Tempe, AZ

LPL Financial provided a stipend to cover housing costs. 

Tell us about your internship.

During my internship, one of the larger projects I worked on involved re-engaging clients who had become difficult to reach. We identified clients for whom we were the advisor of record but who had not been in contact with their advisor in months or even years. My role was to reach out to these clients, update their contact information when needed, and encourage them to reconnect with their advisor to discuss their financial strategy and goals. This experience strengthened my communication skills and showed me how important consistent client relationships are in wealth management.

Surprisingly, one of my favorite parts of the internship was studying for the Securities Industry Essentials (SIE) exam with my fellow interns. In Arizona, individuals pursuing a career as a financial advisor typically complete the SIE before taking additional licensing exams, including the Series 7 and Series 66. Preparing for the SIE was a highlight because it connected the concepts I had learned throughout my finance coursework to the real-world financial industry. It gave me a much deeper understanding of how financial markets, investment products, regulations, and client relationships come together in practice.

Overall, the internship challenged me to take what I had learned in the classroom and apply it in a professional setting. It was a valuable learning experience that gave me a better understanding of wealth management and reinforced my interest in building a career in the financial services industry.

Do you have any advice for other students?

My biggest piece of advice is to take advantage of how unique an internship opportunity can be. You have the chance to spend three months somewhere new, meet new people, and experience a completely different work environment, so don’t be afraid to step outside of your comfort zone. I know several people who were initially hesitant about accepting an internship, but ended up absolutely loving the work, the company, and the people once they gave it a chance. You never know what you might discover about yourself or your career by simply saying yes and being open to a new experience!