Jake Williams Alumni Profile

 

Personal Financial Planning (PFP) alumnus and former Personal Finance (PFI) Instructor Jacob "Jake" Williams believes everyone should live a full life. He makes it his job to help people reach their potential by solving their complex financial situations. More specifically, he serves as the Director of Planning and Research at The Helmstar Group, a Financial Planning and Wealth Management Firm based in Boise, Idaho.

Within his position, Jake is responsible to ensure the firm implements the best financial planning and wealth management practices. This includes bridging academic research and planning practices into their recommendations and strategies. He also works directly with the firm's high net worth clients on their planning needs.

"I love how financial planning encompasses both the qualtitative and quantitative aspects of a person's life. People benefit when financial planning is done right, and I love making people excited and hopeful about living the life they want."

Jake got his start at Brigham Young University – Idaho where he earned his Bachelor's in Finance and later went on to work for The Boeing Company in project and supplier management roles. He was drawn to projects that were quantitative, yet involved working with people. This led him to the College of Human Sciences (COHS) for his master's degree and eventually the Ph.D. program, from which he graduated last August.

"As an Instructor, it was awesome being able to interact with the students, having some of them join the PFP program and seeing them through until graduation. It means I spent a long time at school, but it was all worth it."

Since Jake started at The Helmstar Group, he has remained close with a few members of the faculty. He continued his research with them and visited with them at the Financial Planning Association Conference last October.

"They really helped me through some tough decisions and I will be forever grateful for the impact they've had on my life. COHS really has a family feel to it and it's a testament to those who care and work hard to build the brand."