From Father to Son: A Passion to Keep Learning

Alex Palles logged into his computer at his home in Orlando, Florida in January 2023. He was ready to attend the first course of his graduate degree in financial technology. 

Roughly two hours away in Jupiter, his father Aldo sat down to do the same. 

Months earlier, when Aldo found the Master of Financial Technology program at Wake Forest’s School of Professional Studies, he first thought it would be an opportunity for his son. 

“I forwarded it to him and said, ‘hey, maybe you should take a look at this,’” Aldo recalls.

Alex, a former Army Ranger with a background in working with artificial intelligence, had previously shared with his father that he hoped to go back to school and obtain a graduate degree in the growing field of fintech.

“Throughout my undergraduate studies and working at an AI company, I saw how important programming has become in the finance industry,” Alex says. “That’s why I leaned toward this fintech degree as a better way to understand these new concepts.”

With this in mind, Aldo wanted to pass along a potential opportunity for Alex to further his education; he ended up finding an opportunity for himself, too.

“We had really good conversations about the program and the more we talked about it, the more I realized it would be a good fit for me as well,” Aldo says. 

As an investment portfolio manager, Aldo saw more and more clients investing in these areas and wanted to better advise them in these emerging technologies. 

In January 2023, father and son started the Master of Fintech program together.

It might seem unique to an outsider for a parent and child to attend the same graduate program, but to anyone who knows the Palles family, it isn’t surprising.

“Education is very valuable within our family. It always has been,” said Alex. 

The mindset to “always keep learning” was instilled in Aldo when he trained extensively in martial arts as a young adult. 

“There was a particular instructor, who at 70 and 80 years old still has instructors teach him certain things,” Aldo recalls. “That passion to relentlessly pursue new skills stood out to me.”

Aldo has modeled this “relentless pursuit” for his children over the years. In addition to a B.S. in Finance, he holds Master’s degrees in Accountancy and Finance. Aldo also spent time in higher education as an assistant professor at Palm Beach Atlantic University. 

At home, Aldo encouraged his son to never stop learning and supported him in any way he could. Alex remembers as he was pursuing his undergraduate degree there were times he turned to his father for help: “We’d have tutoring sessions, and he’d not only explain things but explain it in detail and then provide a real life example.” 

Today, after years of watching his father pursue degrees and certifications and seeking his academic guidance, Alex is now able to walk alongside him as they pursue a Master in Fintech together.

“When I was younger, my father would come home from work, eat dinner, and study,” Alex remembers. “He’s definitely shown me how valuable it is to better yourself and continue to learn.” 

Learn more about our online Master of Fintech program today.