Texas State FMA students take on New York

SAN MARCOS, Texas — Twenty-four Texas State University Financial Management Association (FMA) student members recently attended the 2025 FMA Finance Leaders’ Conference in New York City, marking the chapter’s largest group to date.

The week-long trip, which included visits to Morgan Stanley and Bloomberg, provided students with valuable industry insights and allowed them to network with established finance leaders.

The FMA Finance Leaders' Conference, a two-day event held on Feb. 27-Feb. 28 at Baruch College, is a global conference for undergraduate and MBA students interested in finance careers. At the conference, FMA students connected with finance experts, explored different career paths in finance, and learned about evolving industry trends.

Javier Rivas Ghersi, a senior finance student and co-president of Texas State’s FMA chapter, said attending the conference for the second time prepared him for a deeper understanding of the finance sector — particularly in wealth management.

"I think I was able to understand a lot more of what was going on just through my professional development journey throughout the past year," Rivas Ghersi said. "A lot of the actual topics resonate with me a lot more now that I know more about what I actually want to do [wealth management]. I think overall, though, as the industry continues to evolve, especially when we start talking about artificial intelligence and how that's going to come in. I think it's just being able to understand and grasp the message the speakers are trying to give a lot more."

For sophomore finance student Niharika Anand, attending the conference for the first time was an eye-opening experience.

"The one thing that I remember the most was one of the keynote speakers from Blackrock," Anand said. "[Speaker Nogie Udevbulu] told us that she had always kept 2 C's with her, which were curious and consistent. I have been already implementing them, and they've been doing wonders in my life."

Behind the Scenes at Bloomberg and Morgan Stanley

Beyond the conference, FMA students visited two of the largest financial institutions in the world: Bloomberg and Morgan Stanley. The office visits gave students a firsthand look at the global finance sector and a chance to connect with accomplished finance professionals, including Texas State alum Stephen Kreher of Morgan Stanley, who also hosted last year’s group.

Bloomberg's advanced terminal technology, which monitors and analyzes real-time financial market data, drew Rivas Ghersi’s attention.

"At McCoy College, we have the Bloomberg Terminals, which I feel like not a lot of students actually know that we have as a resource," Rivas Ghersi said. "The biggest thing we got from [Bloomberg]... they sat us down, and they started teaching us the different things, at least on a basic level, of how to utilize the Bloomberg Terminal as a resource."

For sophomore finance student and FMA marketing communications officer Pablo Berumen, visiting Morgan Stanley was one of the most impactful experiences of the trip.

"Morgan Stanley was so much more intimate, and Stephen Kreher shared his insights on his journey and the role that he evolved into," Berumen said. "I think that what stood out more than anything to me was his journey. Hearing it from someone who is a Texas State alum and seeing these stepping stones they took was super helpful for me as a student. I see the end goal but don't know the steps to get there."

Expanding Opportunities for Future Finance Leaders

This year's 24-student group, comprised of officers and high-performing members, was the largest group Texas State's FMA chapter has sent to New York. Dr. Matthew Hood, associate professor of finance and economics at Texas State’s McCoy College of Business and FMA's faculty advisor as of January 2025, credits the increased participation to the organization's growth, student leadership, and increased financial support.

"Students have always wanted to go," Hood said. "It's just a matter of getting and having the resources so they can go.”

Thanks to funding from University Federal Credit Union (UFCU) and McCoy College, the trip was fully covered for students, making the experience accessible to those who may not have otherwise been able to attend. For many students, this was their first time in New York.

Hood said the experience was beneficial to students because it immersed them in a professional finance environment.

“I think for the students, they really like having direct feet on the ground… and to feel what it's like to be in that high finance situation,” Hood said. “That’s what they're seeking. It’s not something that you can get within 2 miles of here or 50 miles of their homes, so that's the best advantage they get out of that.”

The experience left a lasting impression on Berumen, who aspires to build his career in New York City.

"I think that the most like eye-opening thing was it was more physical than anything, just like seeing the Stock Exchange and walking down Wall Street with everybody," Berumen said. "It was so surreal because I've always seen it in movies and going to all these different places and meeting people at the conferences… like wow, these are real people, I can do this one day and be here one day."

Anand said the most valuable lesson she learned from the experience was the importance of networking.

"They told me to network, network, and network, and that's how you get into the jobs," Anand said. "Even when you don't feel like going and talking to people, you have to do it if you want to get a dream job, so we have to push ourselves out of our comfort zones."

With 170 paid members — up from 45 last year — FMA continues to expand its reach and provide unique opportunities for Texas State students.

"In terms of the New York trip, I definitely feel very blessed that I was able to be part of providing that opportunity for other students," Rivas Ghersi said."  I've been able to see how that has impacted every single student who went, especially the ones who went for the first time. It's just those moments that become what I call catalysts for your learning and your growing." ✯