Meet the 2025 RIA Talent Advantage Scholarship Winners!

Schwab Advisor Services™ and Charles Schwab Foundation have created the RIA Talent Advantage Student Scholarship to help remove financial barriers, advocate for diversity, and open doors for future talent within the independent RIA industry.

This year, in celebration of our scholarship's fifth anniversary, we have awarded 15 recipients in the amount of $15,000 and a mentorship opportunity with an industry leader for each scholarship winner.

These scholarship winners represent the future of our industry, and we are excited for you to get to know them. Meet our 2025 RIA Talent Advantage Scholarship winners!

Read the press release to learn more about the scholarship.

Adam Campbell, Howard University, Junior

"My commitment to the RIA industry is rooted in the belief that financial advisory should be more inclusive and transparent. Through my career, I aspire to develop wealth management solutions tailored to small business owners, young professionals, and families who may not have traditionally had access to high-quality financial advice."

Ashley Ponto, Temple University, Senior

"As I continue to develop in my career, I plan to use my platform and privilege to educate and uplift others—especially young women and people who were never taught that financial planning was an option for them. I want to be a role model of what is possible and a resource for those who may not yet feel like they belong in this industry."

Brea Eckes, The University of Alabama, Junior

"I want to be part of the growing number of women entering financial services and serve as a resource to all kinds of clients, as well as to other women looking to join the industry. I have been lucky enough to have some amazing female mentors who are advisors and have inspired me to pursue this career."

Brock Niederer, Brigham Young University—Idaho, Senior

"I believe in what this profession stands for—transparency, service, and trust—and I'm committed to being part of the next generation of fee-only advisors who are ready to make a difference."

Emilio Gonzales III, The University of Texas—Austin, Senior

"The RIA industry gives me the platform to create change, both one-on-one and at scale. I'm not entering this field just to manage assets. I'm here to build relationships, break down barriers, and show people that they can take control of their financial future."

Grant Harkness, Western Michigan University, Junior

"My commitment to the RIA industry extends beyond the professional sphere; I want to use my skills to make an impact in my future community and current community."

Ian Mueller, University of Missouri—Columbia, Junior

"I want to use my voice, and my platform, to highlight the good, whether it's student leaders in FPA, advisors doing the right thing for their clients, or people using their firm as a force for good in their communities."

Isabelle Peacock, The Ohio State University, Junior

"Whether I'm helping a first-generation college student invest with confidence or guiding a small business owner through retirement planning, I remain committed to becoming the kind of advisor who not only understands the numbers, but more importantly, puts people before portfolios and purpose before profit."

Jack Edlin, Grand Canyon University, Senior

"I want to be someone people can trust, someone who genuinely cares and is committed to doing what's best for them. There is a huge need in this space, and I feel called to meet it."

Jenna Smith, Utah Valley University, Junior

"Having the ability to nurture relationships with clients and empower them to be successful is incredibly fulfilling. I also value the freedom to tailor advice to the individual rather than to meet a quota, and the RIA industry allows me to do just that."

Jeremy Vanderhoff, Pennsylvania State University, Senior

"The more I learned, the more I realized how attainable financial independence is with the right guiding hand. These conversations and experiences led me to begin looking into careers within the field of wealth management."

Jinnelle Brewster, Florida A&M University, Senior

"My experiences in community initiatives, both in my professional roles and through my active engagement with organizations like NABA and the AltFinance Fellowship, have reinforced my desire to make a tangible impact."

Keira Vu, St. Mary's College of California, Sophomore

"I believe that leadership and financial advising are more than just titles, they are a lifelong commitment to serving others. With financial knowledge and a desire to help, I am ready to use my education to uplift my community."

Mason Dexter, The University of Akron, Senior

"Discovering Caleb Brown's book, Finding Your Path, inspired me to join the RIA industry. The book, which paints a clear picture of the complex financial services landscape, allowed me to think clearly in an industry with many different paths."

Tatum Siebert, Indiana University, Junior

"My superpower of empathy means I see and understand what clients are thinking and feeling, meet them where they are, acknowledge their fears and worries, and explain facts of the market and logic of money growing over time. My commitment to our RIA industry is I have a lifelong love for wealth management, I am developing technical and behavioral skills I need to excel and contribute, and I will do what I love most: using my skills to advance communities I care about."