The Master of Finance program at Emory University’s Goizueta Business School offers technical skills and strategic insights for finance professionals. Wealth Planning Analyst Colton Myers shares how the program shaped his career and emphasizes Goizueta’s strong reputation and industry ties.
Goizueta Business School is a part of Emory University, one of the top research universities in the U.S. Known for its excellence in finance, strategy, and leadership, Goizueta offers a global reputation and close industry connections, helping students master success in their careers after graduation.
In a recent interview, Colton Myers, a 2024 graduate of Emory’s Master of Finance program who accepted a position as a Wealth Planning Analyst at Rockefeller Capital Management, reflected on how his journey at Goizueta Business School has truly lived up to the institution’s strong reputation.
“I mean, I can’t say it enough: Goizueta is a top business school, and it shows on paper and also in person,” Colton says. (03:14)
U.S. News ranked Goizueta 18th in the U.S. for Best Business Schools, which ranks full-time MBA programs. QS ranks Goizueta’s Master of Finance #12 in the U.S. for employability of graduates. Colton says that Goizueta’s prestige significantly influenced his university selection.
“Emory University is recognized worldwide, so having that prestige come with my resume spoke wonders,” he highlights. (01:33)
Additionally, students benefit from being in Atlanta, ranked #1 by The Economist as the “Most Livable City” in the U.S. WalletHub also ranked Atlanta as the fourth most fun city in the U.S.
Atlanta is known for its vibrant arts and culture scene, colorful street art and hip-hop music, extensive shopping options, rich history, diverse population, renowned culinary hotspots, and bustling sports community. It is also known as the birthplace of Coca-Cola. Despite its big city appeal, it also has plenty of nature. Additionally, there are 18 Fortune 500 companies located in the Atlanta region, offering strong career and networking opportunities. It is a known tech hub and FinTech capital and home to a dynamic startup ecosystem, providing plenty of career opportunities to young graduates.
Let’s further explore Colton’s journey as he pursued success in the Master of Finance program.
In spring 2023, Colton faced a common dilemma for recent college graduates: deciding whether to enter the workforce or pursue further education.
He reflects, “I was faced with entering the workforce or going back and getting a master’s [degree] that would allow me to grow my technical abilities, as well as my understanding of the finance industry. At the time, I didn’t quite know what I wanted to do post-graduation. I didn’t know if I wanted to go into investment banking versus wealth management versus a wider range of fields.” (00:54)
He decided that pursuing further education was the right choice for him. Colton researched Goizueta’s specialized master’s programs. Feeling that an MBA was perhaps outside his reach without prior work experience, he explored other master’s programs, and the master’s in finance program stood out to him.
“The master’s of finance popped out to me because of the balance between broad-based finance, technical ability, and programming. I didn’t have a history in that, but they mentioned that you didn’t need any past experience in that,” Colton says. (02:30)
The Master of Finance program offers a data-driven, industry-relevant, STEM-designated curriculum that helps students gain the analytical tools they need to succeed in finance. Students also acquire essential technical skills, such as using R Studio, Python, and Power BI. The program includes an internship-style experience in the Finance Lab, where students experience the daily routines and trading practices of global markets. Through a hands-on approach, students develop the market knowledge required to analyze complex business problems.
Colton also notes that besides the program, the professors and environment made his experience particularly memorable. He emphasizes, “There’s much more to Goizueta than just the prestige. There’s also the relationship opportunity with your professors as well as the Career Management Center.” (03:00)
The professors’ practical insights, the supportive environment, and the career team enrich students’ experiences inside and outside the classroom.
At Goizueta, students can join various groups and clubs, which offer numerous opportunities for personal growth and making new connections.
Colton highlights that combining academics with sports and extracurriculars helped him make the most of his study experience. He notes, “I am a big believer in getting the most out of experiences. Within the program, I knew that I could balance both academics as well as extracurriculars.” (06:17)
Colton served as the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Blue Eagle Capital Investment Fund, one of Goizueta’s student-managed investment funds. This fund provides Master of Finance students the opportunity to learn about the institutional investment management process. Under faculty supervision, the students take on the responsibility of managing the fund’s performance. This role was paid, making it a valuable work experience.
Colton was also a Graduate Admissions Fellow, engaging with prospective students about his student experience and offering firsthand insights.
Colton was also the class representative of his cohort, a role he says allowed him to understand his classmates’ needs and preferences regarding the program. This position enabled him to hone his communication skills and make a positive impact. He advocated for his cohort’s ideas with program directors, helping drive changes for current and future students.
In addition to his extracurricular activities, Colton was part of Emory’s Varsity Men’s Soccer team. The attributes he gained from sports, such as discipline, commitment, and teamwork, were directly applicable to his studies and career.
Goizueta Business School graduates are well-prepared for achieving success in their careers after graduation. Goizueta’s Master of Finance program Class of 2023 had 97% accepted job offers within six months of graduation. Graduates have worked at Bank of America, Capital One, Deloitte, J.P. Morgan, Kraft Heinz, and many other well-known organizations.
The Career Engagement Center at Goizueta also facilitates direct recruitment, helping companies connect effectively with students. Goizueta Business School’s corporate partners include notable names such as Amazon, Coca-Cola, Delta, Deloitte, FedEx, and PwC.
Reflecting on his new role, Colton shares, “My role within Rockefeller… it revolves more around holistic wealth planning outside of just investments, so we’re looking at estate planning, income tax planning, and also philanthropy, and other regards around ultra-high net worth and high net worth individuals.” (08:41)
Using the skills he gained during his studies, such as using Excel and other software programs, has helped Colton carve out a unique role for himself on his team. He notes, “My technical ability within Excel and other software actually allowed me to be designated as the Excel expert within my team, even though I have only been a part of it for three months.” (09:12)
Graduates of the Master of Finance program find diverse career opportunities, including roles as financial analysts, credit risk analysts, data scientists, and public equity analysts, with a median base salary of $74,000 for the class of 2023. For those who came into the program with at least one year of work experience, the median base salary was $82,500.
Regardless of which career path Goizueta graduates choose, they have the skills, network, and career know-how to master success one step at a time.
Explore the Goizueta Business School profile page or contact one of their student ambassadors to learn more.
