Nathan Feyrer
Bucknell University, Freeman College of Management
“Pretty loud, severely colorblind, horrible short-term memory, but an all-right dude overall.”
Fun fact about yourself: I sang all throughout high school in a chorus that my grandfather directed.
Hometown: Breinigsville, Pa.
High School: Parkland High School, Allentown, Pa.
Major: Finance and Political Science
Minor: NA
Favorite Business Course: Student Managed Investment Fund (SMIF)
Extracurricular Activities, Community Work and Leadership Roles During College: Division I wrestler, tour guide, Bison Finance Society President, Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity Academic Chair, Orientation Ambassador, Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society member, Student Athletic Advisory Committee Community Service Chair, Mortar Board Honor Society member, and recipient of the McGee Investment Studies Endowment
Where have you interned during your college career?
- Wealth Management Intern, Morgan Stanley, New York City
- Consumer and Investment Management Summer Analyst, Goldman Sachs, Philadelphia
Where will you be working after graduation? Consumer and Investment Management Financial Analyst, Goldman Sachs
What company do you admire most? I admire my grandfather’s property management business. I held my first business-related position at the firm the summer before my senior year, and I learned the ins-and-outs of financial statements for a small to mid-sized company. The environment felt like a true family, putting stakeholder needs above everything else. As one of my idols, my grandfather’s life work impressed me immensely, and the business he created will always hold a special charm in my eyes.
Who is your favorite professor? Curtis Nichols. Although I have only had him for a semester-long course, he has supported me both in the classroom and outside (specifically as the adviser for Bison Finance Society). He also descriptively explained a multitude of deeper financial topics in our SMIF course, which helped me develop a more real-world view of financial methods. By pushing our class with questions and scenarios, he supports an exceptionally impressive classroom experience that I will remember for years to come.
What did you enjoy most about your business school? It was the ability to connect and debate with my professors. As I reached my junior and senior year, I began to develop deeper relationships with many of my professors. This allowed me to go to them and ask real questions about both the subject material and life after college. Without their guidance and expertise, I would have fallen flat in the face of the many challenges of the financial interview process. I will strive to maintain and improve these relationships in the years after I graduate.
What is the biggest lesson you gained from studying business? I believe Bucknell did a wonderful job of pressing us to create working relationships with our peers. Many of my classes utilized group work and in-class presentations to assist students in our ability to interact effectively with those whom we like and, more importantly, dislike. For me, developing the patience and aptitude to push through all group issues was priceless experience for the field I am entering.
What advice would you give to a student looking to major in a business-related field? Read everything. Classes can teach you the basics. If you are truly interested in creating a career in business, become an expert in your desired field by studying everything you can get your hands on. That being said, read what you like too! Every word read increases your knowledge, no matter what the topic is.
What has surprised you most about majoring in business? It was how integrated the topics from different classes can be. From Accounting 1 onward, I continuously built on my base knowledge while exploring increasingly complex topics from my finance and accounting courses. Although this may sound obvious, I was not sure how quickly I would pick up on the intricacies of the finance world. I found that repetition is king.
Which academic, extracurricular or personal achievement are you most proud of? Wrestling in a Division I program for four years. There is nothing that will compare in my life to the struggle and pain I experienced on the mat throughout my four-year collegiate career. While I will certainly miss it, I believe it will be one of my greatest achievements to complete it in one, slightly beat up, piece.
Which classmate do you most admire? This is undoubtedly Helen Fish ’21. I have had many classes with her, and she works directly with me as the Vice President of the Bison Finance Society. She is one of the most intelligent and hard-working individuals I have ever met. She also has had a very similar experience to mine, as she came into college knowing no one and next to nothing about the field of finance. Outside of her personal successes, she has helped numerous young students (particularly women, in her role in Women in Finance) begin their journey into the trenches of the financial field.
Who would you most want to thank for your success? My grandfather, Ron. Ron was born into a dirt-poor Pennsylvania Dutch family. He did not go to college but sold his stake in his first construction company at 40 and retired. The man loves to work and started another property real estate company in Hilton Head, S.C., which has now become a multinational company. He inspired me to explore the business and finance world further during my first internship at his company. One of his favorite sayings, which I attempt fervently to live by, is this: “If it is to be, it is up to me.”
What are the top two items on your professional bucket list?
- Serving in a position within a presidential administration
- Work abroad for at least a year
What are your hobbies? Reading, (my favorite books include Advice and Dissent by Alan Blinder, the Lord of the Rings trilogy and anything by Stephen King), roller skating, relaxing with my cat Goat, and taking long bike rides.
What made Nathan Feyrer such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2021?
“Nate is an incredible student and individual. His contributions to Bucknell’s Freeman College of Management and the Bucknell Class of 2021 are many, the greatest of which is an active, functioning Finance Society. Prior to Nate’s intervention, Bucknell’s ‘finance club’ environment was fractured, with three independent clubs working to support student interests. The fractured state of finance clubs built over the past few decades, so change was an uphill battle. Nate, together with fellow Class of 2021 student Helen Fish, worked tirelessly to merge the independent clubs into a unified Finance Society that is better able to serve current and future students. Nate’s efforts in creating the Finance Society were not only a boon to his class, but effectively served all current Bucknell students, and will benefit future Bucknell students in perpetuity. Furthermore, Nate has worked to insure the future of the Finance Society by working on developing long-term programming and relationships for the society.
On a personal note, I’ve had a front row to Nate’s good nature: He provides significant lift to his classmates. He is thoughtful, empathetic, gracious, driven, giving, and engaged. I’ve watched him challenge fellow students without belittling. He is supportive of classmates and works to emphasize their efforts.
My favorite memory with Nate in the classroom involved a presentation he made to the class covering a topic for which he was passionate. I questioned him aggressively and provided somewhat sharp criticism on some components of his presentation (only because I knew he is adept at receiving feedback). The grace of his responses created a wonderful learning opportunity for his classmates. As expected, his next presentation was even better, incorporating feedback and suggestions; a true example of education at work! Everyone in the classroom learned from our exchange and Nate’s subsequent, improved presentations.”
Curtis Nicholls
Associate Professor of Accounting; Co-Director
Bucknell’s Student Managed Investment Fund
Freeman College of Management, Bucknell University
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