Calvin News

When Gavin Anderson started his junior year at Calvin University’s School of Business, he had questions. Big ones. Was financial planning really the right career? What would it look like day-to-day? And most importantly—could he build a career that honored both his professional ambitions and his faith?

The answers came through an unexpected source: a virtual externship with two financial planners. 

The School of Business financial planning externship connects students with practicing advisors for low-barrier, high-impact mentorship.  The seven-session format requires just hours of commitment and is accessible even for busy students balancing coursework, jobs, and other commitments. Through conversations, students gain honest insights into what it really means to work in the field. For Gavin, the sessions became a turning point.

"Every advisor has a different path," said Gavin. "I want to learn from as many as possible."

So, he participated twice. First, he worked with  Jason Topp of MidCoast Wealth Advisors. Then came Matt Boersen from Straight Path Wealth Management.

Learning from Different Perspectives

Each advisor brought something different to the table. Topp shared personal stories about navigating industry challenges, engaging clients, and building trust through communication and listening. Boersen, a Certified Financial Planning board member, offered technical expertise and brought recent Calvin graduates onto calls to share their experiences. 

Both modeled what it looks like to build a faith-centered practice.

"I'm prioritizing firms that align with my faith and values as I start my job search," added Gavin. "That clarity came through these experiences."

Gavin’s realization didn't emerge in isolation. As a Nexus peer financial coach, he had already discovered the power of integrating faith and finance while helping fellow students with biblically-based financial planning education. The externships reinforced what he'd learned: he wanted to work somewhere he could open client meetings with prayer, reference Scripture when discussing stewardship, and build genuine relationships rather than push products.

From Mentorship to Mission: Shaping Financial Planning's Future

For Jason Topp, creating the externship was personal. "I wanted to create something I wish I had when I was first starting out," he said. “It's about shaping the next generation of advisors who will approach financial advising as a way to truly serve people.”

That mission aligns perfectly with Calvin's approach to business education. Through experiences like the externship, combined with programs like Nexus and opportunities to earn professional certifications while still in school, students develop both technical excellence and ethical frameworks. They're not just prepared for jobs—they're prepared for vocations.