Accounting and Finance alumnus Cameron Powell plans to use the skills he is developing on a graduate scheme to help young footballers manage their wealth.
The 24-year-old, who graduated from De Montfort University (DMU) last July, is almost a year into a role he 'loves' with financial services company Succession Wealth.
Having 'landed on his feet' with his career choice, Cameron wants to teach the basic concepts of finance to people he can relate to.
Cameron said: "On completion of my three-year graduate scheme I will be a wealth planner, qualified to advise clients on financial situations such as pensions, stocks and shares.
"My longer-term ambition is to help university students and footballers.
"I played football growing up and I know successful players can earn big money in a short space of time. But they could be out of the game at the age of 24 with nothing to show for it because they don't know about finances.
"I went to Queens Park Rangers to give a presentation, which was based on the importance of footballers understanding finance. They have asked me to come back and talk about tax and mortgages.
"I hope to roll it out to other clubs."
Cameron is so passionate about his role, based in Rugby, that he is liaising with Zul Muhammad, of the #DMUworks placements team, to publicise opportunities to current students. He also hopes to come back to campus and go to other universities for money management presentations.
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It was a DMU tutor who encouraged Cameron to look at careers in finance and a family friend who suggested wealth management.
"The skills that impressed my interviewer and now boss were definitely my confidence, communication skills and knowledge gained on my degree," he said.
"In regards to employability help, I cannot speak highly enough of Zul, he is truly a credit to the university. He was always was willing to help and go that extra step for me and anyone else."
Advice from another family friend led Cameron to embark on an Accounting and Finance degree.
"I looked into accounting and saw it was a well-respected career, plus I like numbers," he said.
Cameron with the QPR under-18s scholarship team
Born and brought up in Leicester, he took time out after A-levels to save up for university and was drawn to the DMU course by the number of exemptions from professional exams.
Among his university highlights are playing in the Men's Football Club first team and a trip to New York to explore sports heritage with the #DMUglobal international experience programme.
"Being a member of a sports club allowed me to socialise with a wider group of people within the university and be part of some great events such as Varsity. I also met friends for life," he said.
Cameron was awarded a DMU Sports Scholarship in his final year to help him further develop his performance.
"This helped me financially, encouraged me to go that extra mile within my sport and I was able to attend events with other sportsmen and woman of a high standard," he added.
Posted on Tuesday 30 July 2019