Emily Endicott, originally from Newmarket, Ontario, is currently in her third year at Dal in the Commerce Co-op program. After starting her studies at another university, she transferred to Dalhousie specifically for its Commerce Co-op program, which she says offered great hands-on learning opportunities.

For her first co-op in winter 2024, Emily worked as a Financial Planning Administrator at Tatton Financial Planning, a firm based near Manchester, England. Tatton serves high-net-worth clients, including professional athletes and entrepreneurs. Impressed by her efforts and dedication, the company went on to extend her role for her second co-op, which she enthusiastically accepted. “The number one goal at Tatton is to provide the best service possible; we have our clients’ best interest at heart, are completely transparent in our services, and are extremely diligent in every task we complete.”

During her second co-op at Tatton, Emily took on more challenging tasks like conducting portfolio valuations, preparing for client meetings, and helping with big financial planning cases. One standout experience was working on a £10 million protection case that involved life insurance and inheritance tax planning. “It was reassuring and exciting to see how much trust the director had in me!”

Emily’s international co-op experience in the UK has been life changing. While adapting to a new work environment, she faced challenges like learning local financial terminology and figuring out how to drive on the left side of the road. “The roads are unbelievably tiny, and the majority of the cars there are manual,” she says. These experiences taught her adaptability, gave her a deeper understanding of the financial planning process, and offered insights into global business practices.

One of her most memorable co-op moments came during her first week at Tatton when she attended a business lunch with directors from a partner firm called Rockhold Asset Management. “As a 20-year-old girl from some random town in Ontario, sitting in a steakhouse in a town that’s older than Canada with highly educated and successful individuals, I felt unbelievably lucky to be in the position that I am.”

Looking ahead, Emily hopes to secure her third co-op with a large corporation in Toronto, possibly in wealth management or another area of finance. She’s excited to explore different roles in the industry to figure out what suits her best

Emily encourages students considering international co-ops to start the job hunt early, learn local terminology and visa rules, and leverage their networks. She also recommends taking advantage of weekends to travel and explore. Her UK co-ops not only expanded her view of global business, but also gave her an appreciation for British traditions like afternoon tea and biscuits—a little joy she came to love!