One year ago, we introduced Taylor Payton as a graduating Bowie State University senior with a promising future in financial services. Today, her journey is a powerful example of what can happen when talent meets opportunity, preparation, and access.
When Taylor’s story was first shared, she secured an opportunity with HomeFree-USA Partner Wells Fargo’s Wealth & Investment Management division. But her success did not begin with that offer. It was built through the experiences, exposure, mentorship, and confidence she gained as a scholar with the HomeFree-USA Center for Financial Advancement® (CFA).
Today, Taylor is turning that foundation into career momentum.
Taylor has continued her professional journey with Wells Fargo and now serves as a Marketing Wealth & Investment Management Analyst. Her progression is more than a career milestone—it is a tangible example of what CFA is designed to make possible.
As a CFA Scholar, Taylor gained hands-on experience through internships with Wells Fargo and HomeFree-USA, mentorship from financial-services professionals, leadership opportunities, and practical knowledge in credit, money management, homeownership, and wealth building.
She also put that knowledge into action. Taylor helped lead Bowie State University’s winning team in the Experian #IYKYK Pitch Competition, earning $40,000 in scholarship funding for an innovative student-debt solution.
These experiences gave Taylor more than a resume. They gave her the knowledge, network, confidence, and competitive advantage to envision herself in financial services—and the preparation to succeed once she got there.
That is the power of CFA.
CFA helps bridge the gap between the classroom and the career by connecting HBCU students to meaningful professional experiences, industry leaders, mentorship, and the financial knowledge needed to build strong futures. It gives students opportunities to explore industries where they may be underrepresented and equips them with the tools to compete, lead, and advance.
CFA is not simply about helping students get their first opportunity. It is about helping them build the foundation for what comes next.
Taylor’s journey demonstrates that impact.
She is no longer simply preparing to enter the financial-services industry. She is building a career within it.
Her story is a reminder that the right exposure can become the right opportunity—and with the right preparation, that opportunity can become lasting career momentum.
Taylor’s journey continues. So does CFA’s commitment to preparing the next generation of HBCU talent to lead, succeed, and build wealth.
