Financial Educators

  Olamide Olajide, MS, AFC^® - Level Lead

    Classification: Ph.D. Candidate
    Expected Graduation: August 2021
    Hometown: Lagos, Nigeria

 

 

Why did you join Red to Black? I am passionate about spreading awareness on personal finance topics, using lessons learned from my personal experiences with personal finances to help encourage other people. I this this program will also be a valuable experience, as I would like to develop something similar in the university I become a professor at, in the future.

Career Goals: Become a professor at a university. I want to teach and do research in personal financial planning and personal finance.

Interests: I enjoy watching movies, cooking and hanging out with loved ones.

 

  Renee Alphonso

    Classification: Master's Student 
    Expected Graduation: May 2021
    Hometown: Houston, Texas

 

 

Why did you join Red to Black? I wanted to join Red to Black in order to help the students of Texas Tech with any financial questions, financial challenges, or topics they wish to discuss and work through with the Red to Black members. Coming from a medical background in my undergraduate degree, I had a major lack of knowledge surrounding financial topics and working with someone who had the adequate understanding about credit card debt, budgeting, or student loans would have been something incredibly beneficial. Therefore, I find this program to be fulfilling by helping other students while also giving me the opportunity to learn more about the topics discussed through financial planning, becoming more confident in delivering financial advice, and becoming more involved with the PFP program.

Career Goals: Long term I would like to work in a Financial Planning firm that is fee-based only. I want to explore how other firms operate whether that is a big firm or a small firm, but either way, I want to step out of my comfort zone so that I can grow in this career field on my own before jumping straight into a firm I have been accustomed with. 

Interests: I am very interested in all things dealing with music, and in my free time on the weekends I like to spend my time either going to local concerts or traveling to music festivals with friends. I play the piano, and during quarantine I have picked up playing the ukulele.

 
  Ansleigh Brister

    Classification: Undergraduate
    Expected Graduation: December 2021
    Hometown: Livingston, Texas

 

 

Why did you join Red to Black? I joined Red to Black to help my peers get a jump-start on their personal financial lives.

Career Goals: I plan to become a Certified Financial Planner in order to help individuals live a financially healthy life.

Interests: Outdoor activities and sports, good food, reading, and learning

 

  Valerie Carpenter - Marketing Team Lead

    Classification: Undergraduate
    Expected Graduation: May 2022
    Hometown: Richmond, Virginia

 

 

Why did you join Red to Black? I joined Red to Black because I want to help other students become more financially literate. Though high schools are trying to educate students on personal finance, it is clear that they are falling short, and we are the ones suffering for it. Through Red to Black, I hope to help my fellow classmates understand what's required of them to ensure their financial safety and guide them accordingly.

Career Goals: I'm still really young, so my specific career goals aren't set in stone yet. Ultimately, through my job, I hope to guide individuals and families to making the best financial choices for them in order to enrich their lives.

Interests: I'm involved in Miller Girls as well as the Honors College here on campus. Outside of school, I enjoy watching game shows, going on walks, trying new foods, and napping.

 

  Tanaka Chimbane - FC Performance & Evaluation Lead

    Classification: Ph.D. Student 
    Expected Graduation: August 2022 
    Hometown: Harare, Zimbabwe

 

 

Why did you join Red to Black? I am very passionate about personal financial planning and have been in the financial planning track for more than four years. It will be selfish of me to keep the skills I have acquired to myself. My natural talents and accrued abilities should be dedicated to a life of service; and no other possible choice.

Career Goals: To teach Personal Finance at the University level and also open my own International Financial Planning practice.

Interests: Yoga, Photography, Hiking and Hanging out with friends.

 

  Drake Driver - America Saves Week Chair

    Classification: Undergraduate
    Expected Graduation: December 2021
    Hometown: Corsicana, Texas

 

 

Why did you join Red to Black? To begin learning how to conduct myself as a professional in the personal financial planning field.

Career Goals: I want to be able to look back at my career and know that I helped everyone I could, within reason, with their financial goals, while also ensuring any descendent I may have receives a better life than I did.

Interests: Gaming, Stocks, and Driving

 

  Caitlin Innes - Technology Team Lead

    Classification: Undergraduate
    Expected Graduation: May 2022
    Hometown: Seguin, Texas

 

 

Why did you join Red to Black? I joined Red to Black because it's an organization that sets students in the PFP program above the rest, and it is a great environment with other students that make you feel like family.

Career Goals: I want to earn my CFP and work in a good environment focused on giving their clients the best care possible.

Interests: I love playing tennis, spending time with my friends, and watching the Big Bang Theory.

 

  Bullett Manale

    Classification: Undergraduate
    Expected Graduation: Fall 2021
    Hometown: Lubbock, Texas

 

 

 

Why did you join Red to Black? I joined Red to Black because I wanted to be apart of an organization that allows students to grow in the financial planning profession. I also want to work with other students who are striving to make a difference in the lives of others, and I believe Red to Black is the perfect opportunity for me to build a strong foundation in the career and life.

Career Goals: I am working towards taking my CFP to become a financial planner. I am not 100 percent sure what type of firm I would like to work at, but I do know I have great interest in one day owning or having ownership wherever I end up working. I also plan on teaching at a later point in my career, I would love to teach an economics or finance course for high school aged kids.

Interests: Growing up in West Texas has given me great opportunities to participate in many things. Amongst finance, I enjoy playing and listening to music. I started learning guitar when I was 15 years old and I haven't stopped playing since. One of my favorite past times is getting together with a group of friends and having a fire and cookout. I love getting together with others to break bread and share stories. I am also an animal lover; I have had many different types of pets growing up. But at the moment, I have two amazing dogs and one wonderful cat that always find a way to keep me entertained. During a normal week you can often find me riding my bike, studying/ reading, playing video games, or spending time with my friends and family.

 

  Dilruba Sharmin Moutusi

    Classification: Ph.D. Student 
    Expected Graduation: August 2022
    Hometown: Dhaka, Bangladesh

 

 

Why did you join Red to Black? Before starting my professional career, I want to get the flavor of financial counseling, managing students' money and help them to improve the quality of their financial decisions. I think planning for the future is crucial and students need to have plans so they can see how they are doing in the short-term and long-term. I want to help others and also learn new things while doing so.

Career Goals: Teaching

Interests: Travelling, hanging out with friends, and music 

 

  Sabina Pandey - FE Performance & Evaluation Team Lead

    Classification: Ph.D. Student
    Expected Graduation: August 2022 
    Hometown: Rupandehi, Nepal

 

 

Why did you join Red to Black? I enjoy helping people with their finances. By providing practical life experiences I want to help students to be financially literate and best manage their funds.

Career Goals: I want to be a professor at a university. I also want to get my CFP^® and practice in the industry.

Interests: Traveling and hanging out with friends

 

  Taufiq H Quadria - Research Team Lead

    Classification: Ph.D. Student 
    Expected Graduation: August 2022 
    Hometown: Dhaka, Bangladesh

 

 

Why did you join Red to Black? To take the opportunity to help others, and to get practical experience of the client-advisor dynamics. 

Career Goals: Researcher and Academician 

Interests: Puzzles and Poetry 

 

  Gavin Ricks 

    Classification: Undergraduate
    Expected Graduation: May 2021
    Hometown: Kansas City, Kansas

 

 

Why did you join Red to Black? I want to gain experience in the financial planning industry. 

Career Goals: To become an owner of a financial planning firm.

Interests: NFL, college basketball, college football, and video games

 

  Rob Tuckfield

    Classification: Undergraduate
    Expected Graduation: May 2021
    Hometown: Bee Cave, Texas

 

 

Why did you join Red to Black? I joined Red to Black in order to make a positive impact here at Tech. It's the only program I know of that allows me to apply something I am knowledgeable in to directly help other students.

Career Goals: When I graduate, I hope to work at a financial advisory firm that really has an impact, on the world and individuals. I would especially like to be doing pro-bono work. 

Interests: Music (I play Baritone and Trombone), camping, ham radio, and cosplay