My Summer at Savant: Impactful. Fun. Worthwhile.
Nolen Wolfe, a senior at Samford University’s Brock School of Business, interned with Savant Wealth Management in our Huntsville, Alabama, office this summer. He shares what that experience has meant to him.
Why I Chose Savant
I was looking for an internship in the wealth management space where the company’s main goal is genuinely helping the client. Once I learned Savant was a fee-only fiduciary, I knew it would be a good fit; a place where I could gain real-world experience while working somewhere that aligns with my core values.
First Impressions
I’ll be honest, I was nervous walking in that first week. I’d never been in an office environment, much less worked a 40-hour week. But it didn’t take long for me to see that every person in the Huntsville office loves what they do and genuinely wants to see each other and their clients succeed. I knew the best way to learn from people who’ve walked this path before me was to dive in headfirst, and that’s exactly what I tried to do.
What I’ve Actually Been Doing
Under the mentorship of the advisory team, my main responsibility has been conducting portfolio reviews for clients: checking whether a portfolio is in balance, confirming the right forms are signed, evaluating fee structures, and looking for tax-loss harvesting opportunities. This thorough examination has enabled me to learn the importance of attention to detail and diligence and taught me to slow down, double-check my work, and never assume a review is complete until every box has been checked.
A typical day starts around 8:00 a.m. with our office’s daily stand-up meeting; then I’m usually working through portfolio and email reviews or sitting down with an advisor who’s mentoring me on a project. In the afternoons, we often have Zoom calls where I learn about different areas of Savant, including former interns who are now advisors talking about their own career paths.
What surprised me most is how meaningful this work has been. I expected busy work that helped the team but wasn’t very impactful for my own growth. It’s the opposite. I’ve been exposed to real work in the financial planning industry. I’ve also built email templates for different client types, which the team believes may help improve efficiency going forward.
What I’ve Learned
The biggest thing I’ve learned, professionally and personally, is how much people value communication. If the advisors or Client Services Associates don’t know what I have going on, they won’t know I’m open to learning more. It’s the same with clients. Communication is so important, and at Savant, that is a priority.
Something really clicked for me at the Lincolnshire Intern Kickoff, where former interns-turned-advisors stressed the importance of taking notes on everything. I’ve always felt like I remember conversations, but taking notes has genuinely been a game changer for me this summer.
The biggest challenge was learning to navigate all the different platforms needed to complete the portfolio and email reviews. I succeeded by asking advisors like Jenny Jessup, Stephanie Faught, and David Hart to walk me through a few reviews, then doing some on my own and having them check my work. Repetition was the real teacher. The more reviews I did, the faster and more accurate I became.
The Team and the Culture
Working with my team in Huntsville has been great. They’re full of energy, always ready to answer questions, and they’ve made sure I received hands-on knowledge this summer, not just observation. The culture here is contagious, and everyone is in a good mood and eager to lend a hand.
I was also invited to attend the Lincolnshire Intern Kickoff with 16 other interns from across the company and country. We were all a little nervous heading up there, but everyone left glad they went. We heard from people who’d been in our shoes and are now thriving at Savant, and we even played Whirlyball as a team-bonding exercise, which is something I’d never heard of before but would happily do again.
Looking Back
If I had to sum up this internship in three words, I’d say: Impactful. Fun. Worthwhile.
Even if you don’t plan to work in this industry, there’s real value in understanding how to manage finances and make wealth last. I’ve learned about many aspects of financial planning, and I’ll conclude my internship with real experience. That is something hard to find anywhere else. Thank you to Savant and the entire Huntsville team for investing in me this summer.
This is intended for informational purposes only. You should not assume that any discussion or information contained in this document serves as the receipt of, or as a substitute for, personalized investment advice from Savant. Please consult your investment professional regarding your unique situation.
senior, Samford University Brock School of Business