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Megan Manno had been to New York City before, but she had never seen it like this.
Manno, an LSU student from Houma, went to the city last month with 11 other college students from across the country, all recipients of TD Ameritrade’s NextGen Financial Planning Scholarships. The scholarship winners received an insider tour of the Nasdaq Market Center, which included them ringing the market’s closing bell on July 20.
Manno, who lived in Houma for four years before college, said the experience of closing the bell was a rush she won’t soon forget. According to her, the closing bell brings a sense of relief to a frantic, bustling scene, and if the market did well, people can head home with higher expectations.
“I think there’s just a thrill of being able to close the markets for a hard day, but if it’s on the up, you know that everyone’s excited, they feel like their work has been done well, and people leave on a positive note,” Manno said.
Manno said the $5,000 scholarship, which over 250 people applied for, couldn’t have come at a better time, as the state has reduced TOPS benefits for college students across the state.
“This scholarship will go far; it was perfect timing,” Manno said.
The rising junior in LSU’s financial planning program said her long-term goal would be to someday combine her financial planning and accounting skills she is honing in Baton Rouge to start her own firm. According to Manno, the draw of financial planning was the chance to combine math with the ability to connect with clients on a deeper level.
“Of course I love accounting and finance, but being able to form a personal relationship and to help your clients achieve their financial goals, and kind of go through their ups and downs in life so at the end they can meet their financial dream, that’s really what drew me to it,” Manno said.
While those plans are in the distant future, Manno has a recent memory she can hold onto forever.
“It was phenomenal. Being able to ring the NASDAQ closing bell has always been on my bucket list. So, to be able to have that experience, that opportunity, it’s definitely something I’ll always treasure,” Manno said. •
