The flip of a coin

Some college students discover their majors as they go. Others have their majors decided for them, years before stepping onto campus. A serendipitous flip of a coin.

Finance and RMI double major Max Aulwes is definitely the latter, coin and all.

“Ever since I was a little kid,” Max says, “I've always liked money. My aunt was a banker, and she would give me Canadian currency that didn't fit through the bank’s coin machine. I was obsessed with currency values and with collecting those coins. That early fascination with money was where my finance major came from.”

Deep Hawkeye roots

Max was also obsessed with becoming a Hawkeye. Now a junior at Tippie, he’s a generational student whose grandfathers and mother are Iowa alumni.

“I've always been deeply rooted in the Hawkeye tradition, always been a fan of the sports, and always understood what being a Hawkeye brings and provides–the return on investment from putting a lot into this university. I looked into Tippie before enrolling and I just knew it was the right place for me to achieve my goals and aspirations.”

Growing up in a small town, it was sometimes hard for Max to find people with similar interests. While he was thinking big picture, 10 years down the road, his classmates were thinking weeks ahead.

Max is interested in stocks and the stock market. He’s also interested in handling individual clients and helping them increase their individual wealth.

“I consider finance closely related to helping people grow their wealth,” he says. “Coming from a small community where people don't always have financial resources inspired me to go into that field to help people.”

Helping out is a consistent theme for Max. Outside the classroom, he can be found giving back through his role as a manager with the Iowa men’s basketball team.

Long hours on and off the court

“The main reason I joined the team was that I've always been deeply interested in the tradition of sports and what that tradition brings to people. Couple that with my career interest in finance, particularly sports finance, and that’s my motivation.” 

When asked how he was able to join the team, he credits Tippie and his business fraternity. “I tried out, got an interview, and if it weren't for Delta Sigma Pi, I wouldn't have had the interview skills to get the job.” 

At the time Max joined the team, he was also committee chair for the Tippie Business Honor Society. He realized sacrifices had to be made.

How does he manage it all?

“Extreme organization,” he says. “Time management. Making every minute count. That's where sacrifice comes in, and balance. Using Sundays wisely. Saturday nights wisely. I still have my social life, and I have my network of people I lean on, but sacrificing some of that time is necessary.”

He notes that it’s a fine balance between his education, his role on the team, and what he wants to do in the future as a professional sports agent rooted in the Iowa tradition. 

“It was so cool watching games growing up. Those were the athletes I looked up to as a kid, and now, being in the same room with the team every day is such a privilege. It's hard to not have that child come out. I’m representing the school and in such a positive way.”

A Hawkeye supporting Hawkeyes, making connections with students, athletes, professors, and coaches…a bright future in finance, no matter which side of the coin his career lands on.