WMU’s personal financial planning program recognized by industry magazine

KALAMAZOO—Western Michigan University’s personal financial planning program has been listed as one of 60 in the country offered by colleges and universities.

The list, intended as a resource for recruiters and those looking to obtain a degree in personal financial planning, was published in the November issue of the Financial Planning magazine.

“The Financial Planning magazine is the leading resource for independent financial advisors,” says Dr. Devrim Yaman, chair of the WMU Department of Finance and Commercial Law. “Our inclusion in this publication attests to the quality of our program and its relevance to the financial services industry.”

The magazine delivers analysis, breaking news, expert advice and business building ideas, all of which are important to financial planning professionals and those with an interest in the field.

WMU’S Personal Financial Planning program

Part of the Department of Finance and Commercial Law within the Haworth College of Business, the program offers courses in valuation of securities, insurance, estate planning, retirement planning and employee benefits. The 13 year-old major is certified by the Certified Financial Planning Board, and students who take the indicated elective courses meet the formal education requirement to sit for the CFP® Certification examination. The CFP examination pass rate for students in WMU’s program is 89%, well above the national average.

Many courses in the program are taught in the Greenleaf Trust Trading Room, a state of the art facility equipped with Bloomberg, Morningstar and RISE electronic resources providing real-time data on market movement. Within the program students have the option to take the student managed investment fund course, where they manage a portfolio of $1 million of real money under the direction of an experienced money manager. Students in the program attended a variety of international, national and local competitions for finance students.

Students in the program also participate in the WMU Financial Services Club. The registered student organization provides dynamic opportunities to explore the field of financial planning. Organization members visit financial institutions and companies, participate in networking events and professional conferences, and engage with speakers from a variety of financial industries.

For more information about the personal financial planning program, visit wmich.edu/finance or email Devrim Yaman.