Summer Analyst at BofA Private Bank

This summer, I completed the Summer Analyst Program at Bank of America Private Bank in their New York City office. During my internship, I participated in a wide range of enriching activities such as case studies, symposiums, company outings, pitch presentations, and panel discussions alongside 13 other NYC interns and 49 national interns, being the only student from an HBCU. The main theme of the analyst program was educational and encouraged curiosity, centering around learning the ins and outs of private wealth management. It served as a crash course on investments, relationship management, and trust and estates. I found the experience to be challenging yet eye-opening and rewarding.

At times, it felt overwhelming because I entered the program with no prior background or experience in finance, unlike many of my peers who majored in finance or business at schools such as Harvard, Cornell, and the University of Pennsylvania. I initially felt discouraged, but I reminded myself that I was selected for a reason despite my different background, and I learned to use my uniqueness to my advantage. Through the program, I gained valuable knowledge about managing personal finances, investing, and how the corporate world operates. One of the most interesting aspects was learning proper dining etiquette for corporate dinners, while the most challenging part was understanding the technical components of reading the market and making investment recommendations.

This experience greatly contributed to my personal and academic growth by helping me strengthen my written communication, interpersonal abilities, critical thinking, and overall grit and tenacity. I learned that I am capable of mastering new concepts under tight deadlines, even when it initially feels impossible. Overall, this internship inspired me to focus on and advocate for adult financial education, as many adults are financially illiterate and either too ashamed to seek help or overlooked by existing literacy programs.

By Aisjah Glaspie