Alumni Spotlight

Alumni Spotlight

Name: Brandon Marlow

Degree/Degrees: Finance

Year of Graduation: 2008

 

Tell us a little about you.

Born and raised in Texas, married, and have a 2-year-old son who I get to play trucks and trains with every day before and after work and all day on the weekends!

What did you do right after graduating? 

The financial world was falling apart in the global financial crisis and I was fortunate to already have a job working directly under the chief investment officer of an independent RIA in Tyler where I performed investment research and executed portfolio management strategies for individuals.

Tell us about your current job and what you do. 

I am now the chief financial officer for a real estate development company where I oversee our budgets, cash flow projections, investor distributions, economic research, capital markets modeling, and internal company level valuation.

How did your Soules College of Business degree help you with your current position? 

In earning a degree at UT Tyler I gained a proficiency in principals of accounting and financial analysis which greatly assisted me over the years in solving financial problems for the companies and clients I’ve worked with in the past and currently for preparing financial statements for our partner level reviews.

What was your favorite Soules College of Business class and why? 

I took a derivatives class that was helpful for understanding the financial theory which translates into the mathematical models used for thinking about financial assets.

Any Soules College of Business/ UT Tyler memories you would like to share? 

Dr. Pandey encouraged me to undertake the CFA program when I became eligible. This and many hours at the library and asking him technical questions was a catalyst in developing skills and confidence I needed for a career in finance.

Were you involved in any student organizations while a student here?

I was involved in Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the unofficial library club if there was one.

What advice would you give current Soules College of Business students? 

Get at least two different internships. I interned with a large financial company in the DC area where I focused on corporate finance/operations and also a smaller local investment focused financial services company. Some people like the corporate finance route and others will prefer the investment route, but you will likely need to choose a path.

What insight do you have for Soules College of Business students that are about to graduate on how to land their first job?

Position yourself as someone who is organized and has demonstrated a strong ability to learn. Do certifications, advanced prep courses in the type of role you want to land, and be ready to earn the right greater responsibilities over time. The best training you will receive will be on the job training and employers expect to have to train you in the skills needed for the job.