Fidelity Investments first established its presence in Utah in 1986, when it began operations with 100 brokerage associates. Fidelity’s regional presence has grown significantly since then, with the company now employing more than 3,400 associates across major business units such as brokerage, wealth, enterprise technology, and workplace investing. Fidelity is the largest private employer in downtown Salt Lake City and also has two investor centers in Salt Lake City and Orem. And, in November 2025, the company expanded its Invest in My Education initiative to Utah.

We spoke with Alex Janak, director of government relations and public affairs at Fidelity Investments, about Fidelity’s commitment to community engagement, education, and financial literacy programs. ‍

Alex, you’re fairly new to Fidelity. Tell us about your background and what you’re excited about in this new role.

I am originally from Idaho but moved to Salt Lake City over 20 years ago to attend the University of Utah for my undergraduate and graduate degrees. I began my career at the Utah Educational Savings Plan as a research analyst and then a financial analyst. I then spent nearly 10 years working for the Utah Legislature at the Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel, where I managed a team of policy analysts specializing in topics spanning transportation, taxation, public and higher education, public sector retirement and more. I had the opportunity to work on some really interesting projects, including the state’s efforts to host the 2034 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games, collaborating with both the bid committee and then the organizing committee. I also worked on creating the public-private coordination for the Capital City Revitalization Zone project to revitalize the Delta Center, convention center, and surrounding area.

After more than a dozen years in the public sector, I wanted the opportunity to approach similar work from a new perspective. I joined Fidelity in August 2025 as director of government relations and public affairs. In this role, I represent Fidelity in several external facets, including through our community relations and philanthropic efforts; state and local legislative work; and building our relationships with local chambers of commerce and across the state’s business community.

While I have only been here a few short months, I have been blown away by the amount of goodwill at Fidelity and its emphasis on good corporate citizenship. I am looking forward to supporting and extending this work in partnership with my internal partners at Fidelity and external collaborators across Utah. ‍

Fidelity recently announced some exciting news in Utah related to its Invest in My Education college success initiative. What can you tell us about it?

To extend our longstanding support of financial education and empowerment to the next generation, we launched Invest in My Education(ME)^SM in 2023 to enrich the lives of under-resourced students and help them achieve better post-secondary outcomes, increased graduation rates, greater financial literacy, and access to stronger professional networks. Through its Fidelity Scholars Program, Invest in My Education combines student scholarships with comprehensive ongoing support, including college success coaches, mental health and wellness resources, Fidelity mentors, financial education, and career readiness resources and support. This fall, we expanded the program to Utah students, who can apply for our next application cycle now through January 29, 2026.

Unlike many other grant programs, Invest in My Education focuses on the “mighty middle” student – that is, students with GPAs of 2.5-3.59. Of our current student participants, 63% are the first in their families to attend college and 94% report the program is increasing or maintaining their motivation to earn a degree. By combining higher education accessibility and affordability with wraparound support, Invest in My Education is helping empower students to achieve greater economic mobility and pursue pathways to generational wealth, which can in turn can support better long-term outcomes for students and their communities.

Beyond student support, the initiative will also bring its Ecosystem-Building Grants and Completion Grants to Utah. Ecosystem-Building Grants improve pathways for thousands of under-resourced students, and Retention and Completion Grants help local higher education institutions keep at-risk students in school. ‍

What is the significance of this program for other EDCUtah investors or for out-of-state companies that might be considering an expansion in Utah?

Increasing interest in and access to higher education to grow the regional workforce is one of Utah’s top priorities. A 2024 study commissioned by the Utah System of Higher Education found Utah employers crave increased communication skills and work ethic among recent graduates, deeper technical skills, stronger industry collaboration, and expanded work-based learning opportunities.

The state has taken steps to overhaul its higher education system, with greater emphasis on “career-ready” fields and enabling reinvestment in new programs and offerings, but financial barriers still hold too many people back from their dreams of attending college and completing their degrees. Invest in My Education and the Fidelity Scholars Program help bridge that gap, providing not only financial support but also mentorship and career development to help bolster students’ futures and, in turn, support industries and economies. The initiative is a great example of how K-12 education, higher education, nonprofit community partners, and the private sector can work together to ensure more students have the resources they need to succeed. ‍

>> Read: Fidelity Chooses to Invest in Salt Lake City

Fidelity supports Utah communities in many other ways, too. Could you share more about the company’s philanthropic efforts?

Since our founding, Fidelity’s goal has been to strengthen the financial well-being of our customers. Our community relations work supports this mission by collaborating with organizations that address a broad spectrum of community needs, investing in under-resourced individuals and families, and harnessing our associates’ broad talents to help drive change.

We value deep, long-term relationships with nonprofit organizations across Utah. Utah is the top-ranked U.S. state for financial literacy education, which we proudly support through our work with Junior Achievement and the Utah Council for Economic Education. Our associates visit classrooms to reinforce curriculum and help students build essential money management skills; we host Family Savings Events that create welcoming spaces for parents and students to discuss budgeting and savings strategies together; and our work with Junior Achievement includes job shadowing experiences for high school students and participation in JA Finance Park. These programs empower students to understand how decisions today impact tomorrow, equipping them to navigate an increasingly complex economic environment with confidence.

We have also been an important partner of the Utah Food Bank for more than 30 years, conducting food and fund drives that have provided the equivalent of over 30 million meals to Utahns facing hunger and volunteering thousands of hours at the Utah Food Bank’s warehouse. In 2025, our Utah associates donated 1,412,840 meals – enough to feed 323 families of four for a year. Separately, we’ve also sponsored a school through the Mobile School Pantry program for a decade.

We also work with organizations like the Boys & Girls Clubs and the Salt Lake Education Foundation to provide meaningful support for youth and their families. We invest in academic success by supporting after-school tutoring and homework help programs and, beyond academics, we host events that bring families together, creating a welcoming space where they can enjoy activities and build connections with our Fidelity associates.

Anything else you’d like to add?

I am thrilled to be part of the Fidelity team and look forward to working more closely with our regional partners in this role. Please do not hesitate to reach me directly at alex.janak@fmr.com.  ‍

“The Prosperity Post” highlights examples of the impact of your investment and EDCUtah’s work in communities across the state. Do you have a story you’d like us to share? Email connect@edcutah.org.