I am a fourth-year student at UBC Sauder School of Business, and over the past four months, I have had the incredible opportunity to intern with The Pamela Yoon team at RBC Dominion Securities. Working alongside such a knowledgeable and supportive team - Pam, Liam, Lillian, and Cherrie, has taught me so much, not only about wealth management but also about the value of mentorship, collaboration, and continuous learning. This experience has truly allowed me to see the bigger picture of wealth management and has helped me grow into a more well-rounded student and aspiring professional.
Over the summer, I gained exposure to a wide range of wealth management areas, including fundamental analysis, equities research, market research, and producing educational content for clients. Beyond analysis and presentations, producing educational blogs and videos for clients was a valuable learning opportunity. It reinforced the importance of wealth management in guiding clients through financial planning and generational wealth transfer. Creating this content highlighted the importance of educating not only clients, but also their children and grandchildren, on financial literacy and long-term wealth management strategies. I also had the chance to engage in non-profit work and attend private banking, arts, and commodities events, which helped me understand the breadth of wealth management and how different pieces fit together.
One project I particularly enjoyed was the Global Beauty Market Project, where Brett and I evaluated companies and analyzed trends in the global beauty industry. We studied companies such as L’Oréal, Estée Lauder, ELF, and LVMH, examining how they generate revenue, their competitive advantages, and the quality of their management and corporate governance. Performing fundamental analysis to evaluate business models, financial stability, and relative valuation helped me understand how market prices relate to intrinsic value and where opportunities can arise. We presented our findings to the team along with how consumer behavior trends directly influence investment decisions.
Another highlight was delivering a technical analysis presentation with Brett on industrial companies like Regal Rexnord, Interfor, and Stella Jones. I learned to study candlestick and chart patterns to evaluate stock price movements independently of company fundamentals. By analyzing moving averages, relative strength index, and volume trends, I could translate raw price data into actionable insights, confirming the strength and conviction behind market movements.
Outside of work, I enjoyed participating in our end-of-summer team golfing event. It was a wonderful way to unwind and connect with the team in a relaxed setting. Throughout my internship, every team member fostered an environment where I felt comfortable asking questions, sharing ideas, and learning new skills. Their mentorship and guidance have provided me with transferable skills that I will carry forward in both my academic and professional journey.
The most important takeaway from this internship is that wealth management is far from a one-size-fits-all approach; it requires tailoring solutions to each client’s unique needs, from investment management to estate planning, tax efficiency, philanthropy, cross-border wealth planning, and business succession. For high-net-worth clients, this means building portfolios that support family financial goals, while for institutional clients, it involves meeting fiduciary requirements. I also gained insight into how RBC leverages global specialists to diversify portfolios and how family enterprise advising helps sustain legacies and ensure effective generational wealth transfer. Ultimately, this experience has allowed me to grow as a more well-rounded student, providing me with skills I will apply for future endeavours.
