Photo of Chelsea Helms

Chelsea Helms graduated in 2013 with a BSBA in finance. She is now an associate at Berstein in California.

Major: Finance

Minor: Economics

Current job: Associate at Bernstein

Main job responsibilities: Partner with a team of three Financial Advisors with over $1.5 billion AUM; develop and execute tailored investment solutions for high-net-worth clients including asset allocation advice, portfolio analytics, trust & estate planning, retirement planning, and tax management; provide outstanding client service and act as the central liaison between the client, advisors, senior management, portfolio managers, traders and wealth planning specialists; participate in a comprehensive and robust three-year financial training program; and maintain series 7 and 63 licenses.

What do you like best about your job?

It is very fast paced and I am constantly learning. My job is challenging yet simultaneously extremely rewarding because I can see the direct impact of my work on our client’s lives. I love developing relationships with clients and working with them on a one-on-one basis. Even over the course of the past year, some of our clients have begun to depend on me and the work I do for them, and that is extremely satisfying. Having the opportunity to help people think through their lifetime goals and objectives while also planning out their investments to make sure those goals are met is an incredible experience. Overall, I would say the best part for me is being able to absorb industry knowledge by being in financial services while also feeling like I’m making a difference in someone’s life by doing my part to help other people.

What have you been up to since graduating?

After graduating from Elon, I moved to New York and worked for FactSet as a consultant. After almost two years as a consultant, I took my next step to San Francisco, working at Bernstein as an associate. I’m still in San Francisco and I am loving it!

How did the Love School of Business prepare you for your career?

The expertise and experience that the LSB faculty provided me accelerated my growth as a business student and propelled me forward to be ready for the real world when the time came. I became very close with many of the professors, as did many students in my class, and it created a community of learning unlike anything I could have imagined from a business school. The level of support between students and from faculty was incredibly strong. There was always someone available willing to answer my questions.

How did Elon’s liberal arts curriculum help strengthen your understanding of your business major and your overall educational experience?

Elon’s liberal arts curriculum allowed me to take classes that finance majors may not have been able to focus on in a more segmented program. I think Elon’s curriculum keeps students well-rounded, even while they are refining their skills in one particular area. Being well-rounded definitely set me apart while I was interviewing, and continues to be a strength I utilize to advance my career.

What did you enjoy most about being a Love School of Business student?

The community. Everybody knew each other, everybody cared about each other, and everybody wanted to do what they could to help you succeed. And of course, Professor Raj Gupta’s stories!

What advice do you have for current Love School of Business students?

Get to know the faculty. Learn from their impressive experiences. Engage in a club that interests you. Read the newspaper and soak in as much information as you can so you can start to develop your own opinions and ideas of how you would like to shape your career. If you can, study abroad and definitely have an internship to talk about during interviews.

Elon Activities

  • Undergraduate Representative on the Love School of Business Board of Advisors
  • Beta Gamma Sigma, Vice President
  • Phi Kappa Phi
  • Omicron Delta Epsilon
  • Phi Eta Sigma
  • Elon Women’s Lacrosse

Internships

  • Sales and Marketing Intern at W Magazine
  • Philanthropic Services Intern at Save the Children
  • Retail Finance Intern at Nestle Waters
  • Financial Intern at UBS