Catherine Cooper

Responsibilities

I was responsible for conducting Private Loan Counseling appointments for first-time borrowers, as well as preparing graduating students for their loan repayment by walking them through Exit Counseling. Additionally, I assisted in teaching Cyclone CashCourse for ISU freshmen.

Accomplishments

My greatest accomplishment was gaining confidence in my ability to interact one-on-one with clients and help them find solutions for their various financial issues.

Learning experience

The greatest lesson I learned was that a person's finances tell a story, so it is critically important to handle discussing a client's finances with sensitivity and compassion.

What advice would you give?

Students in my major should understand that this field is incredibly person-centered, so it cannot be overemphasized how important it is to learn strong communication skills and "soft skills," since those will be just as important as the technical knowledge that allows us to provide sound financial advice.