Fall 2025

Undergraduate

We are fortunate to have Professors Blake Gray and Steve Levitt providing incredible leadership to our undergraduate committee. They are working diligently with Armahn Hadjian at Olathe to ensure that our students benefit from the most meaningful and well-designed experiences during their time at Kansas State. We reached 172 undergraduate students enrolled this semester, an all-time high for the program!

Graduation

We are celebrating 20 exceptional undergraduate students as they completed their degrees this fall. Two of our graduates earned special recognition with the Extraordinary Student Award in April 2025 - Blake Wilcox, one of our online students, and Zach Hurla from our Olathe campus both excelled in the classroom despite obstacles. We were also proud to nominate Nathan Haney as our program’s outstanding senior in recognition of his strong classroom performance, leadership, and commitment to advancing our program’s values.

Left to right: Tyler Jouret, Zachary Hurla, Andrew Nonnast, Sydney Chyba, Adam Hayse, Zoey Stec, Avery Jones, Nathan Hanes, Easton Roberts, Dr. Derek Lawson, Devan McEwen, Christopher (Kit) Knauth, Drake Thatcher, Dr. Blake Gray, and Perry Dufresne

Watching our students walk across the stage each semester is one of the most joyful parts of our job. Their dedication, resilience, and accomplishments are inspiring. This year, we have been more intentional about showcasing our students’ internships and job placements. It has been exciting to spotlight the wonderful organizations where they are launching their careers, including Mariner Wealth Advisors, The Trust Company, Creative Planning, Edward Jones, Banker’s Life, Stoutheart Wealth, American Century Investments, Jones Advisory Group, Cetera Financial Group, Equitable Advisors (all the way in Hawaii!), IMA Private Wealth, Dogwood Wealth Management, Prosperity Planning, Prairie Hills Financial Group, and Aspyre Wealth Partners, and Keen Wealth. These milestones remind us how bright the future of our field is and how lucky we are to play a role in their journeys.

PCE

This year, we proudly hosted our 10th annual and largest Professional Connections Event, and it was an incredible success. Thirty-five firms joined us, and more than 90 students engaged in meaningful, face-to-face conversations designed to help them secure summer internships or post-graduation positions. We continued the format introduced last year, offering separate rooms for internship seekers and job seekers, which created a vibrant atmosphere and allowed for highly focused, productive interactions.

The energy throughout the event was outstanding, and the feedback from both firms and students was extremely positive. Our faculty team, academic advisor, and dedicated student volunteers helped orchestrate a seamless experience that truly showcased the strength of our program. Thank you to everyone who contributed to making this milestone event so memorable!

Conferences/Competitions

Steve Levitt and Blake Gray have been busy attending conferences with students. They attended the Insider’s Forum, Schwab IMPACT 2025, and AFCPE conferences. In addition, two students attended the CFP Board’s Connections Conference in 2025. Conference attendance affords our students the opportunity to make connections, build their network, learn more about the profession, and proudly represent the program, college, and university professionally and enthusiastically!

AFCPE

HUGE moment for K-State! Leah Meek, Alivia Kaiser, Katelyn Wilson, and Katie Dinkel are AFCPE Knowledge Bowl National Champions! 🏆In the tightest final anyone can remember, the Wildcats edged out Utah Valley 44–43 and Texas Tech 41, surviving a controversial challenge that almost forced overtime. One single point decided it all. With about 100 people packed in to watch, our team stole the show—not just with the win, but with how composed, classy, and downright brilliant they were the entire time. So proud of these four! They brought the natty home and made K-State history. EPAW forever! 💜 #WildcatPride. Brynna Wilson also earned a scholarship and attended the conference.

Career Exploration Competition

Leah Meek and Katie Dinkel are cruise-bound after becoming one of the five finalist teams chosen in the Career Exploration Competition. This competition involved identifying two careers in financial services, interviewing at least eight professionals in the careers selected, and writing a 16-page paper that compared these careers and addressed the various requirements of the competition. Steve is already envisioning drinks with tiny umbrellas as he gets ready to accompany them on this exciting adventure!

IARFC National Plan Challenge

Nathan Haney, Cole Useldinger, Abby Woods, and Josh Hilfiker are participating in the IARFC National Plan Challenge. This challenge, developed and supervised by the International Association of Registered Financial Consultants, has student teams creating a comprehensive financial plan based on a fictitious set of facts.

FPA National Plan Challenge

Devan McEwan, Shayna Vlock, and Dione Ramos competed in the FPA National Plan Challenge this past summer. Although not ultimately selected as one of the eight finalist teams, these students gained valuable insight and earned work experience credits towards their respective CFP® designations.

2025 T.E.A.M. University Challenge

This year, we had 13 students participate in the 2025 T.E.A.M. University Challenge. This Challenge was created for universities with a financial planning curriculum to facilitate the education and inspiration of students interested in a financial planning career, and required students to construct a buy-and-hold portfolio for a fictitious client. Congratulations to Rayce Vega, who placed first amongst the 13 K-State students who participated and 7th nationally! Fourteen universities and over 600 students participated in this year’s challenge.

Engagement

This year has been packed with real-world exposure for our students! We were honored to host several outstanding industry professionals who delivered guest lectures and spent time with our student organizations, giving everyone invaluable insights and networking opportunities. Students also traveled to KC and visited Aspyre Wealth Partners, FAS Wealth Partners, Mariner Wealth Advisors, Creative Planning, and Legacy Financial Strategies.

FPA

The Financial Planning Association (FPA) at K-State is actively rebuilding its chapter with exciting momentum. A massive thank-you to Landon Menees for his exceptional leadership these past years. His passion and dedication have left a lasting mark on our program, and he will be missed! Students enjoyed firm visits and in-class guest appearances from top practices across the region, bridging classroom concepts with day-to-day professional life. Hot-topic discussions on AI in financial planning, faith and finances, and other timely issues kept energy high all semester. We enjoyed an epic Pickleball Tournament on December 2nd! Looking ahead, we’re thrilled to announce the new leadership team, led by incoming President Brynna Wilson and her officer crew. The future is bright—EMAW! 💜

Peer Mentors

This semester, Peer Mentors have built strong connections with their mentees through consistent check-ins about classes and campus life, attending FPA meetings together, and even meeting up for coffee dates off campus. They have also played a key role in helping mentees prepare for our annual Professional Connections Event, offering guidance and support along the way. Looking ahead, we’re excited to welcome new incoming students in the spring and continue creating meaningful experiences and community-building opportunities.

Student Connection Events

With the change from department to program under the School of Consumer Science banner, we have leaned on our school to connect with students in the other programs and colleges as we begin to build a collaborative and cohesive culture. They have hosted several events this semester, one at the end of October, welcoming all program students, faculty, and staff to a school open house. Students could participate in raffles and grab some candy corn trail mix and apple cider while connecting with other programs' cohorts and personnel. For World Kindness Day in November, the School called upon the group by asking for Cats Cupboard donations, offering fun activities during the day and providing a chance to spread a little kindness. Lastly, to celebrate the end of the year, wish luck on finals, and give a gentle nod to the season, a festive Candy Canes, Clementine, and Cookie Holiday reception was offered during the week before finals. Students ventured in from all three programs under the school, as well as those passing by from a landscape of other K-State programs. They could collect program and school swag, enjoy a treat and relax in the school’s main suite.

Olathe

This fall, we welcomed our largest incoming group of new students to Olathe, with 15 total students joining the program. We continue to be encouraged by the growth at Olathe. The value proposition is clearly strong, and with robust industry demand, it would seem more likely than not that enrollment will remain strong throughout the 2025-2026 academic calendar year.

Though it is bittersweet, we are also very excited to see our first set of students graduate from the program this fall, followed by another group in the spring. We started the Olathe program in fall of 2023, so while we always knew this day would come, and are excited for our graduates, we will miss having them in class. Our goal is to offer opportunities for our graduates to continue to engage with the program after graduation, using the success Manhattan has historically had with this as a model.

We are excited this year to introduce two new adjunct faculty this year. Jack Giardino earned his B.S. In PFP from K-State and is a practicing CFP and owner of Inflection Point Wealth. Blaise Heckman earned his M.S. in PFP from K-State and is a CFP and practicing financial advisor with CAPTRUST. They are both passionate about the field and have a strong desire to invest their time and energy in bringing others into the profession. We are lucky to have them both.

Graduate

Masters

The Master of Science in Personal Financial Planning program continues to uphold its reputation for exceptional growth, impressive retention rates, and a strong influence within the financial planning industry. This year, we proudly celebrate matching last year's enrollment high of 112 students in the master's degree program. Additionally, we are thrilled to welcome 19 students pursuing our graduate certificates exclusively, reflecting the growing demand for specialized financial planning education. And this fall, 16 students graduated with their master's degrees, and an additional 5 received a graduate certificate.

Our flagship offering, the Financial Therapy Certificate, remains a standout among our programs. Designed to equip financial professionals with the tools to incorporate behavioral finance seamlessly into their client engagements, this certificate program exemplifies our innovative approach to financial education.

We remain deeply committed to enhancing our curriculum to address the evolving needs of the financial planning profession. Our courses continue to fulfill the educational prerequisites for several prestigious professional designations, including the Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®), Certified Financial Therapist™ (CFT™), Accredited Financial Counselor® (AFC®), and Certified Financial Behavioral Specialist® (FBS®). This comprehensive approach ensures that our graduates are well-positioned for success in diverse career paths and certifications.

Doctoral

2025 marks the 16th year of the doctoral program. As always, we were excited to welcome students in their first three years of the program to campus and Justin Hall during August for the summer intensive.

The program awarded its first doctoral degree in August 2012. Since then, the department has awarded nearly 70 doctoral degrees. We are pleased to recognize the following Ph.D. students who graduated in December 2025: Dr. Tanya Staples and Dr. Nathan Collier. Dr. Tanya Staples will be the first Canadian to receive a doctorate in financial planning.

We also want to show our appreciation to Professor Yulia Zhang, who will be stepping into a leadership role within the PhD program!

Faculty Updates

This semester, our faculty have been actively sharing their scholarship and engaging with colleagues across the country, often bringing students with them to learn, connect, and represent our program with pride. One highlight was the Montgomery Warschauer Award from the Journal of Financial Planning, earned by Dr. Megan McCoy and alumnus Shon Eckert for research that strengthens the profession and deepens our understanding of client well-being. Their work exemplifies the thoughtful, innovative scholarship that defines Personal Financial Planning.

Dr. Mindy Joseph also showcased important collaborative research on social media and FinTech engagement, presenting at the 2025 AFS and CFP Board Connections Conference and delivering an invited talk at the AFS Australia New Zealand Chapter Personal Finance and Investment Symposium. Her contributions reflect the growing global interest in how technology shapes consumer financial behavior.

In addition, Dr. Martin Seay was elected the 2026 Board Chair Elect for the CFP Board and is leading the development of the Institute for Financial Education and Prosperity at K-State. This institute is an ambitious and forward-thinking effort designed to equip educators across Kansas with the tools and training needed to teach high school students critical financial literacy skills as they prepare for adulthood.

My name is Tanya M. Staples — a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional, professor, and very recent Ph.D. who arrived at personal financial planning through a mix of curiosity, practical experience, and a desire to better understand quality academic research in the profession of financial planning. I am very passionate about ensuring that financial planning is founded in evidence-based research, facts and figures to support clients in their endeavours to create the financial lives they want.

My life outside class — late-night research sessions, weekend colleague collaboration meetings and the occasional Stata troubleshooting marathon — shapes how I show up in the classroom and with clients: questioning, dedicated to understanding and deeply committed to clear, valuable advice.

I chose K‑State PFP because it balances academic research with a focus on applied practice. I wanted a program that would push my thinking, teach me to question, and connect me to a community that actually cares about improving financial outcomes for families.

While at Kansas State University I had the opportunity to be actively in professional organizations, attend and present research at national and international academic conferences, and travel to association events to discuss my research with fellow practitioners. Working with highly respected faculty and colleagues strengthened my skillset in many ways that I will carry forward in my career.

Faculty guidance helped me refine dissertation questions, interpret results in complex models, and translate statistical findings into recommendations that matter to practitioners. Equally important has been my cohort and members from other cohorts that have become my friends who have helped me to challenge assumptions, test ideas, and celebrate milestones. Their feedback and accountability were/are invaluable.

Beyond technical skills, the program taught me how to turn my research into a story that people care about. It’s one thing to run statistical models; it’s another to help a client feel seen, understood, and capable of taking the next step.

A final highlight of my time at K-state were the on campus intensive learning session each summer. It was an opportunity to connect with faculty and my program colleagues. That time allowed me to develop friendships and find amazing research partners that I am confident I will have for life.

That combination — technical excellence plus human-centered advice — is what I’ll carry forward into my research, teaching, and practice.

I could not have done this without the incredible support of my husband Trevor who played mum and dad for the better part of the last three years, my children - Jaelyn, Julian and Marlaena for being my forever cheerleaders and my lovable and huge furry canine pal Archie who made sure I got outside everyday to see the sunshine.

Connect with Tanya through LinkedIn.

From Likes to Wallets: Exploring the Relationship Between Social Media and Fintech Usage

In this collaborative study, Dr. Joseph examined how social media as a source for investment information shaped the way individuals engaged with Fintech tools and platforms. Findings revealed that there is a higher likelihood of using some forms of Fintech tools when individuals turn to social media. Interestingly, not all social media platforms are created equally, and users of those platforms are not monolithic. Social media platforms, like Reddit, are conducive to forming communities whose users may be averse to riskier FinTech offerings like digital currencies. Whereas users of platforms that cater to ‘followers’ or are structured to allow users to track postings (e.g., Twitter/X or Instagram) may be less inclined toward do-it-yourself FinTech options such as mobile trading apps—perhaps highlighting a preference for more guidance, and less self-directed platforms.

Key Takeaways

Our findings showed that social media platforms enable peer influence and recommendations through social networks that shape financial decisions and behaviors. This dynamic positions FinTech firms to leverage social ties and information flow inherent in social networks and expand the financial services landscape to include a broader economic demographic.

However, it is important for financial professionals and policymakers to recognize demographic differences in FinTech adoption as well. This will ensure that these tools are aligned with users’ needs and protections are in place for those who are vulnerable to mismatches. For example, this study found that women were less likely to invest in digital currencies, potentially due to factors such as higher risk aversion or lower financial literacy levels. As digital assets become more mainstream, this gap could widen the digital wealth divide and position this group to be more susceptible to fraud and misinformation. The findings emphasize the need for policymakers to be proactive with protections for users of social media platforms who may transact outside of regulated environments and consume unregulated financial information.

Dr. Joseph’s research brings a fresh perspective to the rapidly evolving digital financial landscape, highlighting how information access can shape financial behaviors, decision-making, and opportunity.

If interested in learning more, you are welcome to email Dr. Mindy Joseph, Assistant Professor.

We will provide more details about this event in the new year. If you would like to stay updated and access event resources as they become available, please visit our Meet the Future website.

Hello everyone, my name is David Kimberling, and I am so grateful and proud to be a Graduate Certificate student in the K-State Department of Financial Planning. I’m also very excited to share my background and the amazing experience I’ve had as a student at K-State.

I am originally from a small town called Dubois, PA, where I enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps after graduating high school in 2005. Aside from a three-year career break to pursue education, I’ve served in the U.S. Marine Corps ever since. I accepted a commission in 2016 to become an officer, and my current role is the head of the Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay Air Traffic Control Facility in Hawaii. My team of about 50 Marines is responsible for controlling the airspace surrounding the military airfield that is delegated to us from the Federal Aviation Administration Honolulu Control Facility.

My wife and I have been married for 15 years, and she homeschools our three children, who are ages 11, 8, and 1. My daughter is the oldest and takes after me in attention to detail and financial planning. My middle son is our free spirit, who aspires to be a pastor, live in a van, and rock climb. My youngest son is just starting to toddle around and is such a joy. We enjoy bouldering, surfing, and just being outside as a family.

The 17 years I’ve been in the military have provided me with wonderful opportunities to lead Marines and travel the world, but my passion has long been personal finance. That passion began shortly after buying a home as a 21-year-old in 2008, which, as you might have learned, was not the best time to invest in real estate. That is a story for another time, but recovering from lessons like this in my personal life led me to realize that I am gifted in coaching others in personal finance.

As I began my search for education, it was obvious to me that the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) designation was the top choice to demonstrate competency in the financial planning profession, so I began my search for a quality CFP board-registered program. K-State was consistently mentioned as one of the top programs available. Additionally, in my search for alumni on LinkedIn, every K-State Department of Financial Planning graduate I found was employed with reputable financial planning firms. So, the choice for me was clear, and I’ve been nothing but impressed by the program.

So far, I’ve had classes with Dr. Henegar and Dr. Sensenig, who are both educators who also work in the profession. I love that my fellow students and I get to learn from the book while also getting practical application feedback from instructors who work in the profession. During my insurance class, I was attending a military-related conference when a speaker, who was an insurance salesman, began to go into a sales pitch on whole life insurance policies to the audience. The quality instruction and study I experienced in the program gave me the confidence to raise my hand and ask questions about term life insurance policies that may have prevented the crowd from thinking there was only one very expensive whole life insurance option. Helping and guiding people like this who may be unaware of all the options available is just one reason I’m excited to begin a career in financial planning with the help of K-State.

If you’ve made it this far, I really appreciate your interest in my story, and I hope you feel as proud as I am to be a part of the K-State Personal Financial Planning program. Coincidentally, my family and I are moving to Fort Leavenworth, KS, in the summer of 2026, and I look forward to visiting the K-State campus in Manhattan, KS! I look forward to the possibility of running into you in person at K-State events or other financial planning events in the future!

Feel free to connect with me via LinkedIn.

It was an incredible honor to represent Kansas State University’s Personal Financial Planning program on Alive with Steve Burns, an exciting new podcast from the original host of Blue’s Clues! The show explores “what it means to stay human in a complicated world.” Through thoughtful, heartfelt conversations, Steve continues the legacy of curiosity, empathy, and listening that made him a beloved figure for an entire generation. The fact that I appeared as a guest on the podcast right after Jamie Lee Curtis and a United States Congressman made the experience even more surreal. For one brief, shining moment, I felt like a celebrity by proxy.

My conversation with Steve focused on a universal challenge: why money causes so much stress. This topic provided a meaningful opportunity to highlight the innovative approach that Kansas State’s Personal Financial Planning program takes in preparing future financial planners. The program is nationally recognized for integrating financial therapy and client psychology into every level of training. Students gain not only the technical skills of financial planning but also the interpersonal and reflective abilities needed to understand the emotions, relationships, and experiences that shape financial decision-making.

Talking with Steve about these ideas was both inspiring and affirming. His thoughtful questions reflected the same empathy and curiosity that we strive to instill in our students. Together, we explored how self-awareness, communication, and reflection can lead to healthier financial behaviors and more meaningful client relationships.

Conversations like this one reinforce our program’s guiding principle: cultivating “a head for business and a heart for people.”

You can listen to or watch the full episode.

Is your high schooler starting to explore colleges? Schedule a Campus Visit TODAY...

Prospective students have several opportunities to visit the campus and meet with program representatives. Explore K-State and the Personal Financial Planning program by scheduling a Campus Visit!

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Support student success by giving to our Personal Financial Planning Excellence accounts through the K-State Foundation. Your gift enhances student events, engagement, and facilities at both Manhattan and Olathe campuses. Donate today and make an impact!

Interested in joining the College Professional Mentor program?

Are you interested in mentoring our students? The College of Health and Human Sciences provides a Professional Mentor Program for the students, pairing firm and industry individuals with students wanting a more in-depth understanding of the profession or area they seek to work in. If interested in learning more about being a mentor, please visit the mentor webpage or reach out to Dana Parker, Career Development Coordinator.

Do you have a job or internship you want us to share with our students?

If you want to promote an opportunity to our Personal Financial Planning students for an upcoming summer internship or post-graduation job, please let us know.

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