Conestoga’s Financial Planning students kept a winning streak alive when they brought home the gold and bronze medals from the Canadian Institute of Financial Planning’s 2016 Case Challenge. Conestoga first participated in the competition in 2013 and has placed in the top three every year since.
Two Conestoga teams participated in the 2016 CIFP Case Challenge on March 5. Financial Planning students Stefan Brisevac, Adeeba Shaikh and Aman Raheja won gold (pictured), while Kaitlyn Dorosz, Jason Charrette and Jason Primmer won the bronze medal.
The competition, held March 5 at Fanshawe College, provided students with an opportunity to demonstrate their financial planning skills. Each team was given a six-page case study and two hours to analyze it, develop a financial plan, prepare a PowerPoint presentation and present to a panel of three judges drawn from the financial services industry. The competition is open to universities and colleges in Ontario, Quebec and the Maritimes.
“Having both our teams win medals is just incredible,” said faculty member Dave Kohler. “All our students peaked on competition day; they delivered their personal best and nailed it. Heading into the competition the students were a little nervous, but controlled, and their energy was high. They remained personable and professional throughout the challenge.” Kohler coached the teams with faculty member Tanya Staples.
Stefan Brisevac, a third-year student in the Business Administration - Financial Planning advanced diploma program, placed first with teammates Adeeba Shaikh and Aman Raheja. They have been training weekly since January and Brisevac said his team was well-prepared, had a game plan heading into the competition and stuck with it. The team was required to develop a comprehensive financial plan for a young, high-earning Canadian couple that indulged in brand-name luxuries, but had no retirement savings in place.
“We worked right down to the wire,” said Brisevac. “Developing a financial plan, a written analysis and a PowerPoint presentation in two hours is a lot of work. We all had the same goal and willingness to succeed though. Our comradery has been our biggest asset; we don’t judge and we don’t put down each other’s ideas.”
As part of its first place win, the team received $1,000 towards the students’ Certified Financial Planner designations, a trip to Financial Planning week in Toronto in November, a Samsung tablet and recognition in the Investment Executive Magazine.
Conestoga’s bronze team included Kaitlyn Dorosz, Jason Charrette and Jason Primmer. Sandra Tiffin served as team manager and alternate.
Conestoga offers a 3-year financial planning diploma program as well as a graduate certificate in financial planning services.