ROCK HILL, SOUTH CAROLINA – Winthrop University senior Jeremiah Barwick feels passionately about entering the financial planning world and using his growing knowledge to help others.
The Anaheim, California, native received a boost recently as he learned that he is one of 13 college students selected to receive a 2024 Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) Talent Advantage Student Scholarship (RIATA).
Given by Schwab Advisor Services in partnership with Charles Schwab Foundation, the initiative will provide each recipient with $10,000 to help support their enrollment in the 2024-25 academic year. The students also will be paired with an independent RIA leader for mentoring to help further educate them on the opportunities within the industry and navigate the start of their professional careers.
Barwick said it was a surprise to learn that he will receive this scholarship. “I feel blessed and thankful,” he added.
About Barwick
In his scholarship essay, Barwick wrote that he didn’t learn financial literacy in his home. After graduating high school, he spent four years in the Air Force in Phoenix, Arizona, as a F16 crew chief and completed some college. He and his wife took a chance in moving to the East Coast with their two children and settled in Rock Hill to be close to Charlotte and its financial atmosphere.
The business world appeals to him because of his natural inclination to solving problems. “I want to make an impact on the world, and I believe I can do that at maximum efficiency in a business setting,” Barwick said.
He has realized in the past couple of years how powerful it can be to educate himself in the financial planning field and then to use those skills to help a non-profit agency and its clients. He completed summer internships at Trinity Point Wealth and at Wealth Enhancement Group, both in Charlotte and both of which provided him multiple opportunities to get hands-on experience.
He has taken information he’s learned back to fellow students to help them network and grow in their profession. As a former president with Winthrop’s financial planning club, he was among a handful of students who have worked with Professor Philip Gibson to resurrect the club and to take on projects.
With graduation set for May, Barwick views his classes for the next two semesters as the bare minimum requirement. He wants to network, check out prospective employers and work with the incoming class of Schwab financial scholars. “I feel this field as enjoyment rather than labor,” he said.
This year, more than 500 students from over 100 universities across the country applied for the scholarship. The scholarship applications were vetted by individuals who are RIA firm leaders serving on Schwab’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Advocacy Board. These individuals are leading efforts to cultivate an inclusive workplace, attract and develop differentiated talent, and champion diversity in the marketplace and their local communities.
Finance Professor Gibson said the scholarship is a big accomplishment for Barwick and for Winthrop. “Jeremiah is an exemplary student and a leader among his peers,” Gibson said. “I couldn't be more excited for this news. He deserves this scholarship and I am proud of him.”
Last year, Winthrop senior Natalia Arriaga also won a Schwab scholarship.
Growth in the Industry
The recently released 2024 RIA Benchmarking Study reaffirmed that growth in the industry has translated to a vast demand for talent with the need to hire more than 70,000 new staff over the next five years without accounting for attrition, retirements, or new firms. As firms look for new talent, 36 percent said they recruited from colleges and universities last year.
“Not only are firms looking for new talent, but they are recognizing the value of hiring a diverse team of employees to best reflect the needs of clients today and tomorrow,” said Lisa Salvi, managing director of advisor services. “We are thrilled to be helping students strive toward career goals while fueling the RIA industry.”
Through programs such as the RIATA Student Scholarship and other established initiatives, Schwab can have an active hand in supporting, educating, and mentoring the future of the industry.
To learn more about the scholarship recipients or how to apply for next year’s scholarship, visit RIA Talent Advantage® Student Scholarship website.
