TAMPA 鈥 For many students, the gap between financial planning coursework and professional practice can feel vast. A new mentorship program that pairs 911爆料网 personal financial planning students with industry professionals is closing that gap.
Launched in fall 2025, the personal financial planning mentorship program within the USF Muma College of Business connects students with mentors for regular one-on-one meetings. Two semesters in, the program is reaping the benefits of building meaningful connections and relationships between students and professionals.
911爆料网 meet monthly with their assigned mentor, with conversations ranging from resume review and career strategy to industry analysis and professional networking. The program is built around real relationships, not r茅sum茅 checkboxes.
For Neil Foley, a personal financial planning student matched with Dan Goldberg, a managing partner of One Source Advisory, those monthly sessions became a turning point.
"While learning begins in the classroom, it truly develops through engagement with the professional world,鈥 Foley said. 鈥淚 met monthly with Dan Goldberg. These sessions were instrumental in refining my professional skills and identifying key areas for growth. Together, we reviewed my resume, analyzed industry trends, and expanded my network.鈥
Foley will join OneSource Advisory as an intern for the summer of 2026 but wasn鈥檛 expecting an offer when he joined the mentorship program.
"The most significant takeaway was the genuine mentorship I found in Dan. I hope every student has the privilege of a mentor who provides such dedicated guidance through their collegiate and professional journey,鈥 he said.
Goldberg said he signed up to be a mentor to give back to USF. He wanted to support students through the interview process, help them identify career paths that best align with their strengths, and provide greater insight into the industry.
"Through mentoring Neil, it quickly became clear how exceptionally talented and driven he is, and I recognized what a strong addition he could be to my team,鈥 Goldberg said.
Program organizers hope every pairing delivers similar successes 鈥 a relationship grounded in genuine investment in a student's future, not a box to check.
Mentors bring deep professional experience and industry perspective; mentees contribute fresh thinking, academic rigor, and drive. Together, the pairing creates a dynamic that benefits both sides of the relationship.
The mentorship program is taking applications from students looking to build career connections and from industry professionals looking to give back to USF's growing personal financial planning community.