Ava Purcell
I’m happy you’re here. Please take a moment to explore my site, where you’ll find details on my background, experience, skills and more. To learn more or connect on an opportunity, don’t hesitate to reach out.
About Me
I have a passion to help individuals and families experience greater financial security and freedom. This personal mission is one that has led me to several opportunities, including an internship with Holistic Financial Planning™, my role as Financial Planning Intern at Crown Wealth Management, and my job as Financial Controller and Vice President of the Student Missionary Union at Biola University. During the summer of 2022, I also had the opportunity to work as a Financial Planning Intern in Ronald Blue Trust’s Everyday Steward division, where I fell in love with a biblical approach to financial planning and a commitment to serving clients. I returned to Georgia in the summer of 2023 to work as a temp Financial Planning Associate. I hope to further my knowledge of financial planning through my education, so that I am better equipped to enter the financial world with integrity, wisdom, and a responsibility to serve my company and clients.
Outside of schoolwork, I love spending time with my family and working on my hobbies, which include cooking and baking, reading, and learning new things. I look forward to connecting with you!
Professional Experience
Summer 2023 - Present
Interim Financial Planning Associate
Blue Trust
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Review and model client data in eMoney and write recommendations for financial plans for clients.
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Write and design newsletters for internal use and for clients using graphic design tools.
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Work with advisors to develop client-friendly ways to deliver financial data.
April 2021 - May 2023
Vice President, Financial Controller
Student Missionary Union
Create and manage budget of over $200k allocated to organization. Successfully reduced budget spending by $35k as a result of income cuts by determining essential operations and staff restructuring.
Synthesize and report financial events for 501(c)(3) as arbiter between SMU and Biola’s finance department.
Oversee internal controls for cash received and develop methods for financial sustainability within SMU.
Collaborate with other Board of Directors members to oversee the fundraising and legal processes of missions trips and annual Missions Conference.
Manage employee payroll and hiring, and track and review biweekly timecard submissions.
Summer 2022
Financial Planning Intern
Ronald Blue Trust
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Input and analyzed client data in eMoney and delivered recommendations to advisors.
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Created various graphic designs and visuals for advisors to show to clients.
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Worked on assigned projects from advisors, including updating a client questionnaire based on input, providing client deliverables on Company principles, and contacting clients to gather information for financial plan creation.
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Organized and led monthly all-division staff meeting.
January 2022 - Present
Peer Financial Wellness Coach
Biola Peer Financial Wellness Program
Teach Biola students about financial wellness through one-on-one meetings to answer questions, engage in discussion, and aid them in personal financial management, including debt, budgeting, and credit cards.
Research relevant and helpful content to provide to students and assist them in the execution of action steps.
Summer 2021
Financial Planning Intern
Crown Wealth Management
• Transferred and integrated over 100 clients to a new asset management software, eMoney.
• Designed marketing materials for Crown Wealth, including flyers for large-scale events and job postings.
• Analyzed and refined company vision and values, and rewrote company history and website “about” sections.
• Organized and scanned files to transition to an online database of client documents.
Education
B.S. In Business Administration
Concentration: Financial Planning
CFP Courses Completed: Fundamentals of Financial Planning, Estate Planning, Retirement Planning, Investments, Insurance & Tax Planning
Expected Graduation: May 2024
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Torrey Honors Institute
The Torrey Honors Institute is a great books program in which students engage in a Socratic-style classroom experience. Focuses on critical thinking and communication skills through discussion-based learning.
Leadership, Activities, and Community Service
January 2021 - Spring 2023
Vice President
Biola Financial Planning Association
Organize weekly meetings to engage club members, including guest speaker events or presentations.
Promote Biola FPA through creating posters and flyers, and hosting involvement events.
Executed first Financial Literacy Week on campus with events and promotional activities, successfully engaging with over fifty students and hosting eight financial education events.
August 2020 - Present
President
Love the Least ProLife Group
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Planned and executed Biola’s first two annual ProLife Conferences in January 2023 and 2024 to educate Christians on the topic of personhood. Successfully hosted over 300 guests, 6 speakers, and 6 local life-supporting organizations.
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Manage daily club operations of checking email, overseeing club funding and budget, and promoting club.
September 2005 - August 2020
Girl Scouts Member, Gold Award Recipient
Girl Scouts of the USA
• Earned the highest honor in Girl Scout awards, by designing and implementing weekly lesson plans for kindergarten students at a local elementary school, in order to teach them about the importance of kindness in an 80 hour project.
• Budgeted, organized, and managed a district-wide event for young Girl Scouts, to teach them about different cultures.
October 2022 - Present
Nursery Volunteer
Grace Evangelical Free Church
Care for children ages newborn to one year during Sunday church service twice a month.