Jimmy Foley, '26SPS, Wealth Management

What's one piece of advice you'd give to prospective students?

This program is worth every minute of your time. What sets it apart is a curriculum that is genuinely ahead of the curve. The conversations happening in this program are ones you simply won't find in any other academic or professional forum, yet they are exactly the conversations we as professionals, as well as our clients and prospective clients are already having. Topics like the implications of artificial intelligence on our profession, the structural shifts the industry has undergone over the past two decades and what they mean for the next generation of advisors, modern investment planning, and most importantly, how to translate all of this to improve our practice. These are not theoretical discussions or exercises, but rather, the focus behind everything is how this applies to clients and prospective clients. I credit this to the faculty, who bring a rare combination of academic rigor and real-world experience, which reflects in the structure of the curriculum. 

What are the benefits of this asynchronous program from a learning and networking perspective?

Starting out, I shared a concern that many prospective students likely have in that an asynchronous format would limit my ability to truly connect with my classmates. To put it simply, I was wrong. I walked away from this program with lifelong friendships and professional relationships that I genuinely consider among the most valuable of my career. The quality of my peers, their experience, their perspectives, their intellectual curiosity, is something I did not anticipate and cannot overstate. Equally important is what Columbia offers beyond the virtual classroom. This is not an online correspondence degree. You walk away as a full member of the Columbia alumni network, with a real connection to the institution and everything it represents. At the same time, the asynchronous structure is very accommodating for working professionals. Balancing the demands of a client-facing career, personal responsibilities, and academic rigor is no small feat. This program is designed with that reality in mind, and it delivers.

How did your career change during and/or after earning an M.P.S. in Wealth Management?

I came into this program at a relatively early stage of my advisory career, having transitioned out of the military just a few years prior. What I experienced over the course of the program was a steady and compounding growth in confidence from genuine mastery and learning of the different topics. All of the curriculum was immediately applicable, and I was getting feedback in real time on how valuable it was. I became more deliberate in how I communicated, more holistic in how I approached planning, and more thoughtful in how I engaged with clients on the issues that mattered most to them. The program made me a fundamentally better advisor. 

Why did you choose the Master of Professional Studies in Wealth Management at the Columbia School of Professional Studies?

Starting out in this industry, I knew I needed to build my credentials and deepen my education, but I wanted more than a credential for its own sake. I wanted something that would genuinely challenge me both professionally and personally. What drew me to Columbia’s program was that it felt different. The questions being asked, the way the curriculum connected wealth management to the broader forces shaping the world, and the caliber of the faculty all pointed in the same direction. It delivered on all fronts, and completing this program and is one of my proudest professional accomplishments.