A Career Built on Trust: How One Intern Became a Partner

“I’m very proud to be the first to go from intern to partner,” shares Nicholas Jackson, a 2019 Freed-Hardeman University graduate and a senior partner at Vector Wealth Strategies in Huntsville, Alabama. Nick’s journey began in 2018 as one of the firm’s first interns, an experience that gave him a “front-row seat to how the firm operated” and “lit a fire” in him to grow.

Hired by VWS co-founder Jay Dryden, an FHU alumnus and Board of Trustees member, Nick’s potential was clear to Dryden. “From the onset, Nick had the tenacity and drive to be a financial planner. He connected with clients, and he was an excellent listener — those things are key to being successful,” Dryden said.

He came on full-time just before the COVID-19 pandemic, an unexpected event that “forced me to grow up fast as an advisor.” In those early, uncertain days, he learned that being an advisor meant more than just managing accounts — it meant “walking alongside people during the highs and lows of life.”

Vector Wealth Strategies team is passionate about developing the next generation of advisors and expanding Vector’s reach while staying true to its core values of generosity, fun and excellence.

Growth Forged in Service

The pandemic taught him a crucial lesson: He didn’t need to have all the answers. Instead, he learned to help clients feel confident in their financial plans, no matter what came their way. This growth, he says, is a credit to the people who mentored him and taught him that “stewardship isn’t just about money — it’s about relationships, influence and using your gifts for the benefit of others.”

As a senior partner, Nick is focused on paying that forward by clearing obstacles for his team and developing the next generation of leaders. This now includes mentoring interns through the firm’s formal program.

"We’re grateful for deep relationships with several CFP® (CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER®) Board–registered programs across the Southeast, including Freed-Hardeman University,” Jackson explains.

He points out that the industry is facing a significant challenge: Over the next decade, an estimated 105,000 advisors are expected to retire, representing roughly 41% of managed assets. At the same time, the Great Wealth Transfer will see an estimated $84–124 trillion move from Baby Boomers to the next generation, with only 19% of heirs staying with their parents’ advisor, according to Cerulli, a financial services firm that provides in-depth analysis and strategic recommendations. (https://www.cerulli.com/arc-newsletter-q1-2025)