Tag: Gen Z Finance
Gen Z, Investing, and Purpose with Margaret Easterling (Ep. 45)

Gen Z, Investing, and Purpose with Margaret Easterling (Ep. 45)

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What shapes the financial mindset of the next generation? 

How do young professionals balance money, work, faith, and purpose as they begin their careers?

In this episode, Jim Sumpter, CFP®, sits down with Margaret Easterling, Finance student at Samford University and intern at CMC Financial, to explore how young adults think about money and career choices today. Margaret shares her path from South Carolina to Samford, her experience helping manage the student-run Bulldog Investment Fund, and what she learned analyzing stocks and presenting investment ideas. She also talks about working during college, studying abroad in London, and how her generation connects money with purpose, experiences, and helping others.

Key takeaways:

  • Choosing a small Christian university in a new state and building community through faith and campus life
  • Managing real investment decisions through Samford’s student-run Bulldog Investment Fund portfolio
  • Applying classroom finance concepts to real investment analysis and portfolio allocation
  • How working during college shaped her view of spending, saving, and financial independence
  • Why many Gen Z adults value experiences, purpose, and charitable giving in their financial choices
  • And more!

Connect with Jim Sumpter: 

Connect with Margaret Easterling: 

About Our Guest:

Margaret Easterling is a senior at Samford University, where she studies finance and data analytics. Originally from Greenville, South Carolina, she has developed practical experience through her internship with CMC Financial, her work with Samford’s student-managed Bulldog Investment Fund, and prior experience at a CPA firm. Margaret also studied abroad in London through Samford’s business school and is active in campus organizations and faith-based communities.

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What Gen Z Gets Right (and Wrong) About Money – Part 1 (Ep. 33)

What Gen Z Gets Right (and Wrong) About Money – Part 1 (Ep. 33)

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When Vivi Spotswood arrived at Ole Miss, she didn’t know many people, but what she did know was that she wanted to carve her own path. 

Now a rising junior studying finance, entrepreneurship, and marketing, Vivi joins host Jim Sumpter for a two-part conversation about cash flow, confidence, and the mindset shifts that come with growing up financially independent.

From budgeting as a college student to understanding how her parents’ work ethic shaped her own, Vivi brings sharp insight, relatable humor, and inspiring self-awareness to this episode. She also shares what she wishes she’d known as a freshman and how her generation is learning to balance self-care with financial responsibility.

What to expect:

  • Budgeting basics that actually work for Gen Z
  • How to navigate money differences in friendships
  • Why mindset is the real financial differentiator
  • Lessons from working retail, teaching Pilates, and learning by example
  • And more!

Connect with Jim Sumpter: 

Connect with Vivi Spotswood:

About Our Guest: 

Vivi is a driven student currently double-majoring in Entrepreneurship and Finance. As a Finance major, she is seeking to develop a deeper understanding of financial analysis, investment strategies, and market trends. She plans to do this through becoming active in the University of Mississippi Finance Club as well as starting her internship at RFG Advisory. As an Entrepreneurial major, she hopes to be able to combine her developing business expertise with her interests in fitness and health to create a successful future endeavor.

In addition to her academic background, she brings hands-on experience from the retail industry, where she’s honed her skills in customer service, team leadership, and sales strategy through working at Alo Yoga in Aspen, Colorado. She thrives in fast-paced environments and is able to manage day-to-day operations while focusing on the company’s long-term goals.

She is also a certified Pilates Instructor at Bash Studio, where she combines her love for wellness with her teaching skills. Teaching Pilates has not only helped her connect with others but has also enhanced her ability to communicate complex concepts clearly and motivate others to achieve their goals.

She is always looking to connect with like-minded individuals and explore opportunities in business, finance, and wellness.

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