For professionals in the financial services industry, earning the Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) accreditation is a great way to advance one’s career and open the door to new opportunities. Columbia’s Master of Professional Studies (M.P.S.) in Wealth Management program offers a flexible 16-month curriculum that helps students satisfy the education requirement for CFP® certification while equipping them with the practical skills to tackle real-world problems they may face in the industry.
In a recent interview, we spoke with Madison Georgi, a financial consultant at Fidelity Investments and a 2024 Wealth Management alumna, about her takeaways from the program, becoming a CFP®, and how she balanced work, life, and school.
Can you tell us a bit about your background and career to date?
I actually stumbled into the financial services industry by accident. After college, I moved to Nashville to sing and play guitar and essentially try to become the next Taylor Swift. I took a “day job” as an intern with an insurance company called Jackson National. It wasn’t long before I realized that while music was a hobby I would always enjoy, helping people navigate the complexities of their financial lives was my calling.
I spoke to hundreds of financial advisors during my time at Jackson and decided I would like to try it for myself. I spent about three years learning to be an advisor under a great team at Merrill Lynch, and ultimately landed in my current role leading a wealth management team at Fidelity Investments in December 2021.
What led you to the M.P.S. in Wealth Management program in the first place?
I knew I wanted to get my CFP®, so I started researching the different ways to fulfill the education requirement. I also knew I wanted something more hands-on than just ordering the books and reading them on my own, and I really wanted to make the most out of my studying time. I found out that you could actually get a master’s degree that fulfilled the CFP® education requirement, which felt like a two-for-one special. There are only a handful of schools where you could get your degree virtually and part-time. When you filter that list for Ivy League universities, only one name remains. The more I learned about the Columbia program, the more it felt right, and I was ecstatic when I found out that I got in.
What did you take away from the program, and how did the program support you in your work?
First and foremost, the program helped me achieve my original goal, which was to become a Certified Financial Planner. I finished the program in December 2023, sat for the exam in July 2024, and passed on the first try! That was a big win for me.
In my day-to-day, I think the program has helped me in two major ways:
I no longer shy away from the more in-depth planning conversations. I came into the program feeling like my knowledge was “an inch deep and a mile wide,” but after spending entire semesters studying topics like taxes, investments, and estate planning, I have the confidence and knowledge to tackle the more complex topics and really enjoy those conversations. It has helped me branch into a whole new subset of clients and provide financial advice that truly feels holistic.
Additionally, having the degree and the Columbia name on my profile has helped set me apart from my peers. In my role, prospective clients have the ability to “schedule a meeting with a local advisor online” and browse through the advisors in my branch. They get to see a picture, work experience, certifications, and education. I’ve had several prospective clients tell me they scheduled a meeting with me specifically because they saw the Columbia degree on my profile. Having a Master’s in Wealth Management degree from Columbia alone won’t earn you the business, but it can help you get your foot in the door for that first conversation, which is sometimes the hardest part. That alone has been worth the investment.
To whom would you recommend the program? Do you have any tips for people currently considering applying?
If you’re in the industry or are industry-adjacent and you want to “level up” your financial planning chops, you should absolutely consider this program. It doesn’t matter if you’ve been in the business for two years or two decades—you will benefit by learning from the professors who make our program so great.
The time commitment was more than I expected, but don’t let that scare you away. I actually ended up getting pregnant during the second semester and then giving birth and having a newborn while completing my final semester! In fact, there were three of us who expanded our families during the course of the program, and everyone was so supportive. If you want this, you can absolutely make it happen.
Do you have a favorite story or memory from the program?
My favorite memory was definitely coming together for our final residency at the end of the program. It was such a stark difference from our first residency where everyone was a little nervous, trying to make a good first impression, sizing each other up ... When we came back for the final residency, everyone was so excited to see one another, catching up on work and family, hugging and high-fiving. We really did become so close over those 16 months. We all felt so proud making our final presentations that week and seeing how much everybody had grown. I’ll always remember that.
About the Program
A 16-month online program with asynchronous instruction, specially designed to accommodate working professionals, Columbia University’s Master of Professional Studies in Wealth Management program is taught by distinguished faculty with deep applied experience in their respective fields. Additionally, it is a CFP Board Registered Program designed to help students meet the educational requirements for CFP® certification.
The fall 2025 application priority deadline for the M.P.S. in Wealth Management program is February 15. The final deadline is June 1. Learn more here.
