Launched in 2020, the Investors With Purpose (IWP) program provided 112 high-achieving University of Nebraska–Lincoln students with wealth management acumen and a vast professional investment network. This fall, the college celebrated the fifth IWP class by inviting alumni, current students and industry leaders of the program to a reception at Howard L. Hawks Hall.

"I talked to Dean Kathy Farrell about this idea to help students break into the investment industry, and she said yes to making the Investors With Purpose program happen," said Doug Waggoner, '75 & '77, who funded the program through the Douglas and Karin Waggoner Family Foundation. "I wanted to connect students to industry mentors because I didn’t really have that growing up. I made it by working hard and not being afraid of taking a risk. This program and its mentors help build students' confidence in taking risks and putting themselves out there."

Waggoner, who worked for Ford Motor Co., Rockwell International and BlackRock, serves on the University of Nebraska Foundation Board of Directors. He partnered with Richard DeFusco, department chair and professor of finance, to develop the IWP program, create a course syllabus and navigate the program inside the College of Business.

"Financial investment is more than just classroom theories, it’s the day-to-day connections you make working with others in the profession. That’s an enormous game changer for our students," said Defusco. "To keep this group connected, we also started an Investors With Purpose LinkedIn group and an alumni directory and invited all alumni of the program to join. We also have a newsletter to keep you up-to-date and further build this community."

IWP alumni shared how the program and its many benefits helped with their careers.

"The program broadened my understanding of the financial industry as a whole. I thought there weren't many apparent routes into the finance industry, but this course helped us understand the different paths I could take now and in the future," said Tyler Royal, '22, who was selected to be part of the program in 2021 and works as an analyst at Spectrum Financial in Omaha, Nebraska.

The program currently offers internship placements at the Nebraska Investment Council and University of Nebraska Foundation. Students also get to network with speakers over food in a more casual setting after class.

"The time with speakers after class provided a less stressful environment to discuss and ask questions. Dr. DeFusco is very good about bringing our backgrounds and majors into the conversation to help us make those valuable in-person connections," said Luke Buettner, '24, who was selected to be part of the program in 2021 and works as an actuarial associate at Ameritas in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Joe Lionberger, '00 & '09, vice president and managing director of strategic investments and surplus at Ameritas, spoke to the class in November about investments, mergers and acquisitions. He also attended the five-year reception after class.

"This was my first experience with the Investors With Purpose program and the program is very well built. I wish the college offered something like this when I attended Nebraska as it provides a great opportunity to learn how to network," Lionberger said.

Megan Whittaker, '22 & '23, a member of the inaugural IWP class, found learning about the day-to-day work in the various careers beneficial.

"Instead of just learning financial principles, the speakers also shared the different ways you can use them in your career. I work as a data analyst at Lutz with a lot of financial clients, so it's been very helpful to have a strong background and experiences like the Investors With Purpose program from Nebraska," said Whittaker, who graduated with an undergraduate degree in finance and earned her Master of Science in Business Analytics degree. "I'm thankful to Dr. DeFusco and Doug Waggoner because it was such an enjoyable class, and we learned so much."

At the five-year reception, Waggoner also added another benefit for students in the IWP program. He presented DeFusco, who plans to retire in May after 42 years at Nebraska, with a $1,000 scholarship to award to an outstanding student at the end of the course in December.

"Students take note, you have about a month-and-a-half left to really make it matter," Waggoner said.