Lunch N Learns
Lunch N Learns were a unique opportunity to hear more from our amazing coworkers and their respective roles at Parkside. Throughout the summer we attended various lunch meetings in the office with employees from different departments. These sessions offered a great opportunity to learn more about our coworkers’ career paths and how their day-to-day supports Parkside’s mission of providing an uncommon partnership. Though we had many great discussions during the summer, we have highlighted just a few below.
Loans 06/13
In June we had the pleasure of talking with Karen and Kinna from the loans department, joined by Ann, our senior banking analyst. They gave us a great overview of the bank’s operations and the timeline of loans from the moment a prospect steps in the door to the inner workings before the loans are finalized. Throughout the meeting Karen, Kinna, and Ann shared the due diligence behind the loan process and the importance of analytical spreading. This was followed by time for questions as well. This meeting was a testament to how talented and experienced Parkside’s banking staff truly are.
Investments & Financial Planning 06/26
Later in June, we sat down with Matt Harlow to get an overview of investments and financial planning. Matt is an analyst manager on the TFO side of Parkside, and gave great insight into the world of investments in and beyond the stock market. We talked about the history of the US stock market, alternative investments, foreign markets, and even got to gear a little bit of Matt’s personal insight into his investments! It was great to hear a professional perspective on topics we have touched on at school, as well as hear his own thoughts. This Lunch gave us knowledge that we can carry with us both professionally and personally for our investment habits!
401k Overview 07/17
During mid-July, we shared a meal with Brian and talked about his role as a Retirement Plan Advisor. Brian provided great wisdom on the importance of retirement plans and what we should look for as we approach the corporate world. During our time with Brian, we had the opportunity to ask questions on the multitude of retirement plans and each of their distinct benefits. We talked about Roth IRA, Traditional IRA, Pension, and various 401K plans. Regardless of what path we choose, Brian’s advice will be extremely helpful as we enter the workforce!
Book Discussion 07/22
During our time at Parkside, we were assigned to read “A Random Walk Down Wallstreet” by Burton G. Malkiel. This book touches on the power of passive investment strategies and the general efficiency of the public market. During one of our last Lunch N Learn’s we joined Matt Harlow for a book club meeting. Alongside Matt, we shared insights, thoughts, and questions about the book and its meaningful advice. The book club was a great summary of our internship and a perfect way to end the summer.
