Casey Beierle is bullish on the market and a bear for details-both great qualities in a financial advisor.

"I love following the market on a daily basis--it's fascinating following everything that goes on and how everything fits together," says the 22-year-old from Coquitlam.

"It's complex. It's how things affect each other. I want to know how it all works."

Beierle was fast-tracked into a career in business after becoming one of the first to graduate from the new Financial Management Services Program at Douglas College. He's training at Royal Bank Financial Group's Coquitlam Town Centre Branch to become a personal banker.

The Financial Services Management Program trains students for careers in the financial services industry, one of the fastest growing employment markets in Canada. It teaches students to meet the needs of the "Baby Boomer" Generation, who are reaching retirement age.

The diploma program immediately appealed to Beierle, who had always been interested in stocks and the market and was trying to find a route into it.

"The program helped prepare me for the job because we practiced scenarios we'll experience in the workplace, like dealing clients, meeting their needs and explaining the products. It introduced us to a variety of things I'll be doing on the job on a daily basis," says Beierle, who went to Pinetree Secondary in Coquitlam.

"I saw this program as a step into the financial industry and it was quite a good step. Here I am."

Business Management Program Chair George Stroppa says Beierle's hard work and dedication helped kick-start his career.

"Casey is bright, eager and has market savvy," says Stroppa, who was one of Beierle's instructors. "I think it says a lot that he landed a job before he even graduated. That's the kind of student he is and the kind of program we offer."

Even though he's started his career, Beierle hasn't finished his education. He wants to get a degree and work his way up to the position of Wealth Manager. And he knows that post-secondary education will help get him there.

"I want to get a degree and continually upgrade my knowledge of the financial industry, so education will be an on-going thing for the rest of my life," says Beierle.

"It's a lot of work, but I enjoy it. Knowledge is power and the more I get, the better equipped I'll be to do what I want to do."

For more information on the Financial Services Management Diploma, please call George Stroppa at 604-527-5768.