During my time with RBC Royal Bank on the Personal Financial Planning project in Winter 2025, I gained hands-on experience that really enhanced my understanding of financial planning. It was an incredible opportunity to apply what I’d learned in school to real-world situations and see the financial services industry up close. The team at RBC was welcoming and supportive from the start. They made sure I had everything I needed—software, reports, and internal data—to succeed. I also got the chance to work with professionals from various departments, which helped me understand how different areas of the bank work together and gave me a more well-rounded view of financial planning. One of the best parts of this experience was getting involved in actual financial planning tasks, like analyzing client data and creating recommendations. The feedback I received from my supervisors was super helpful, and it pushed me to refine my skills, especially in budgeting, investment planning, and tax strategies. Of course, there were challenges, especially when it came to making sense of large amounts of data and turning that into clear advice for clients. But with the support from my team, I was able to improve my methods and tackle these challenges head-on. In the end, this project was a fantastic learning experience. It gave me a strong foundation in personal finance and prepared me for future roles in the industry. I’m grateful to have worked with such a professional and supportive team, and I’m excited to apply everything I’ve learned in the next steps of my career.