Alex Maas, The Droster Team, RBC Wealth Management

IB’s Professional of the Week is the premier way to meet Dane County’s professionals. This week features Alex Maas, client associate, The Droster Team, RBC Wealth Management.

What are the most challenging and rewarding aspects of your job and why?

The finance industry is constantly changing, making it a necessity to always be adapting and learning new things, no matter how long you have been in the business. Although this may be seen as a challenge, I love being in a profession that keeps you on your toes and is always presenting something new. I often work with clients as part of the Droster Team at RBC Wealth Management to create retirement projections that are specifically tailored to their needs and goals. Helping our clients reach their goals, while making a potentially overwhelming situation more manageable, is the most rewarding aspect of my job.

Who do you look up to or admire in business and why?

Most recently, I looked up to my college professors who dedicated their time to helping us realize our potential in the career of financial planning. In particular, Professor Clifford Robb, in the School of Human Ecology at UW–Madison, was someone who I looked up to and learned a lot from in college. He made sure to keep classes fun and lighthearted, while assigning some of the most applicable projects of my college career. For example, we worked for months to create an estate and comprehensive financial plan for fictional clients, which demonstrated some of the elements we may come across as a financial planner. Professor Robb taught most of the classes that solidified my decision to choose financial planning as a career.

What has been the high point of your career so far?

As a May 2017 graduate of UW–Madison, I am very new to my career! Although I am sure in the years to come I will have many more high points to be proud of, so far the high point of my career has been passing two finance industry exams­: the Series 7 and Series 66. Acquiring these securities licenses took months of studying and was an important step toward becoming a financial advisor. Next I will be taking the board exam to become a certified financial planner.

Thinking back on your career, what advice would you give your 21-year-old self?

That was just three years ago, but my advice is don’t stress out too much if something doesn’t turn out as planned. Instead, take that experience and learn from your mistakes so that you are better prepared for other opportunities in the future.

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What would you say are the best things about living and working in Dane County?

I live and work in downtown Madison and love being surrounded by the constant activity. No matter the day or time, you can always find something to do. We have so many amazing events and unique restaurants in Madison that I love taking the time to discover. Of course, spending time at the Memorial Union, walking around the farmers market on Saturday mornings, and attending any Badger sporting event also make the top of the list!

Do you have any secret talents or abilities that people would be surprised to discover?

Since I work with numbers and finances, people may be surprised by the fact that I am a very creative and artsy person. A lot of my free time is spent working on new pieces of art. I have always loved many different kinds of art, but my favorite materials to work with are metal and glass. I took my first art metal and glass class freshman year of high school and I was hooked!

What are your guilty pleasures?

Watching Friends, which is my favorite TV show of all time. Even though I have seen the entire series countless times, it never fails to make me laugh. The Thanksgiving episodes are some of my family’s favorites, so it’s a tradition to watch them every year when the holiday comes around!

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