Chaifetz Finance Student Josh Parney to Begin New Role With Edward Jones
Josh Parney, a senior at the Chaifetz School of Business majoring in finance, has secured a full-time role with Edward Jones as a wealth management advice and solutions rotational development program associate that will begin after his graduation.
While originally working through the college decision process, Parney was searching for academic rigor and community. He found both when he visited SLU’s campus for the first time.
“I came to SLU for an overnight visit and I could just see myself here,” Parney said.
Parney joined the Chaifetz School during his sophomore year and found his professors and peers were supportive. The transition was a positive experience even with classes being all online due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“A lot of the faculty and the finance department itself is extremely approachable,” Parney said. "They make classes that are challenging less stressful because they’re so accessible.”
During the Fall of 2022, Parney was a student in the Chaifetz School’s Applied Portfolio Management class, which consists of upper-level finance students in the Chaifetz School. During the course they work closely with real finance industry professionals from the St. Louis region and learn investment strategies from these mentors. Students spend the semester managing a portfolio of University endowment funds while conducting market research on potential stocks to add to the portfolio for the next year.
“It’s a lot of work but it’s also really rewarding,” Parney said. “My mentor works at Kennedy Capital and we meet on a weekly basis. I like that aspect because I get to build my professional network as well as gain hands-on experience.”
Along with hands-on experience and network building, Parney feels that the soft skills he’s learned in his courses at the Chaifetz School have helped him excel in the finance industry.
“I consider myself a people person, but there are certain skills that the business school did a great job at teaching me like how to be personable and team-driven. It goes a long way,” Parney said.
Last summer, Parney began his professional career with Edward Jones as a taxable fixed income trading intern. The internship offered Parney an in-depth understanding of the financial industry and investment banking.
“The internship allowed me to get as close as possible to hitting buy and sell without actually trading,” Parney said.
After succeeding in his internship, Parney earned a position as a Wealth Management Advice and Solutions RDP at Edward Jones which he will start next fall. Parney’s time at the Chaifetz School has prepared him through this position with soft skills and specifically, the Applied Portfolio Management class.
“The APM class gave me a leg up for my position at Edward Jones because everything we did is what you do in the market,” Parney said.” I learned how to work with the market in school and now I get to do it after graduation.”
Founded in 1910, the Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business at Saint Louis University has shaped the future of industry for more than a century. As one of the oldest business schools west of the Mississippi, the Chaifetz School has built a reputation as a leader in business education committed to innovation, inclusion and impact and recognized with eight undergraduate and graduate programs nationally ranked by U.S. News & World Report.