For David Savir, the Element Pointe Excellence in Finance Scholarship is both an investment in future financial professionals and an expression of gratitude to the University of Miami.
Savir, CEO and co-founder of Element Pointe, a Miami-based wealth management firm, came to the University to pursue a law degree after completing his undergraduate education at the University of Florida. A South Florida native, he wanted to build his career in the region and viewed the University of Miami School of Law as a strong pathway into Miami’s professional community.
His long-standing interest in business and finance soon inspired another step. Recognizing that his future would likely be at the intersection of the two fields, Savir entered the joint J.D./M.B.A. program.
A foundation for success
A dean’s merit scholarship from the School of Law and a graduate assistantship from the University of Miami Business School helped make that decision possible. The assistantship also allowed Savir to work closely with faculty members on research involving securities regulation, corporate governance and business ethics. He graduated in 2009 with both degrees.
“The University of Miami, particularly the business school, was really the launchpad for my career in finance,” Savir said.
That launch began with an opportunity that nearly passed him by.
When Goldman Sachs recruited from the M.B.A. program, Savir was not initially selected for an interview because of the perception that students simultaneously pursuing law degrees were unlikely to be committed to careers in finance. He appealed to Linda Rump, then-director of graduate career services at Miami Business School, and asked for the chance to make his case.
She helped secure him an interview. Savir received a summer associate position that led to a full-time role after graduation. He later worked at J.P. Morgan before co-founding Element Pointe in 2016.
“Quite literally, the University of Miami gave me that opportunity,” Savir said. “I don’t know that I ever would have had the opportunity to join a financial institution like that and build my career from there.”
Turning gratitude into opportunity
Savir’s experience as a scholarship recipient remained with him as his career progressed.
“I always wanted to pay it forward,” he said. “I’ve always believed in the importance of mentorship and investing in the young, next generation of professionals.”
That philosophy is reflected in Savir’s service as co-chair of the board of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Miami—a nonprofit youth mentoring organization in South Florida—and as a member of the advisory board for the Department of Finance at the Business School. It also helped inspire the scholarship, which will support rising juniors and seniors who demonstrate academic excellence and a commitment to a career in finance.
For Savir, educational institutions and their surrounding business communities share a mutually beneficial relationship. Element Pointe has hired graduates of the University’s undergraduate business and master’s in finance programs, giving the firm firsthand experience with the caliber of their preparation.
“We’ve been beneficiaries of the quality education that these students are receiving at the University of Miami,” Savir said. “We want to give back, create opportunities for students and create opportunities for their learning and mentorship.”
The scholarship also reflects the commitment of Savir’s colleagues, including Kristopher Martin. A Ronald A. Hammond scholar, Martin received a full-tuition scholarship to attend the University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in finance in 2012. He later joined Element Pointe as an associate and rose to partner during his 10 years with the firm.
“The decision to fund the scholarship was equally a credit to him as to me,” Savir said.
Pursuing excellence
Savir hopes the scholarship encourages recipients to view graduation not as the conclusion of their education but as the beginning of a lifetime of learning.
“Whatever career path you pursue, pursue it with gusto,” he said. “Don’t think of it as a job out of school. Think of it as a career that you’re building.”
After a decade of building Element Pointe, Savir finds it gratifying to reflect on the jobs the firm has created, the careers it has helped launch and the families it serves. Supporting University students adds another chapter to that journey.
“This is a way for us to thank the University community for the opportunities that it has given not just me, but our firm,” Savir said. “We’re incredibly proud and grateful that we’re able to do it.”
