A student-led university organization is creating a new pathway into financial planning by connecting students with mentors, firms and real-world advisory experience.
When college students think about careers in finance, financial planning is not always the first path that comes to mind. Mu Nu Upsilon (MNY) at the University of South Florida is trying to change that by introducing students to the profession earlier and creating a direct pipeline into advisory careers.
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MNY, a professional fraternity focused on financial planning and financial services, is building connections between students and the industry through mentorship, speaker events, financial literacy programs and more.
The organization was created around the idea that students need more exposure to the profession before entering the workforce. It also operates under a no-dues model, removing financial barriers that can prevent some students from accessing professional opportunities.
“We believe there should be no financial barrier to professional development,” said Alex Healy, chair of MNY. “We focus on drive and the willingness to learn.”
Since joining MNY, Healy has watched the organization grow into a larger community of students interested in financial planning and financial services. MNY currently has about 50 active members and expects to continue expanding its membership in the fall.
“The vision of MNY was to truly create a community for financial planning students that felt like their own,” Healy said. “More than just a club, we wanted a fraternity where lifelong bonds would be created that could prove beneficial both socially and professionally.”
For students, that exposure has helped reshape their understanding of financial planning as a career option.
Before joining MNY, member Radhika Rangwala knew financial planning existed but did not realize the range of opportunities available within the field. Through the organization’s mentorship and speaker events, she gained a better understanding of what a career in financial advising could look like.
“I’m currently pursuing corporate finance, but learning more about financial planning has made me seriously consider it as a future career path,” Rangwala said.
That shift reflects one of the industry’s broader challenges: attracting younger generations to financial planning. While firms continue to face concerns about the aging advisor workforce, MNY’s leaders believe the profession must start reaching students earlier.
Healy said one of the biggest barriers is simply a lack of awareness. Many students still associate financial planning with outdated perceptions of sales-focused roles rather than the relationship-driven work that defines much of today’s industry.
“The relational aspect of the business is something that not many students are aware of,” Healy said. “The true difficulty in this industry is building trust with a client.”
MNY aims to close that awareness gap by connecting students directly with professionals. The organization hosts more than 15 industry speakers each year across areas including estate planning, investing, insurance, banking and tax planning. It also offers mentorship opportunities through partnerships with advisors and the University of South Florida’s Personal Financial Planning Program.
Members also gain practical experience through MNY’s Financial Services Division, which gives students exposure to the advisory process through mock client scenarios, financial planning software and recommendation development.
Anthony Auteri, a junior member and vice president of financial services, helped launch the division with the goal of creating a bridge between classroom learning and hands-on advisory work.
“We wanted to create an experience that bridges the gap between the classroom and the real world,” Auteri said.
Auteri said his own view of financial planning changed after joining MNY. Before becoming involved, he viewed the profession as more transactional, focused primarily on creating financial plans. The organization helped him understand the importance of relationships and trust.
Beyond preparing students for careers, MNY is also focused on expanding financial literacy and bringing together students from different academic backgrounds. Healy said the organization’s membership includes students who entered college without plans to pursue financial services but have developed an interest.
For Healy, success is not just measured by membership numbers but by whether students leave with greater confidence and a clearer career path.
“If a student joins MNY unsure of where they fit in the industry and leaves with confidence, relationships, experience and direction, then MNY is doing what it’s built to do.”
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