Spring 2025

Undergraduate

It’s been an exciting and energizing spring in the PFP suite! From students winning national competitions to deepening their understanding of the profession through weekly firm visits, it’s clear our program continues to thrive.

Graduation

This spring, we’re celebrating a major milestone: 30 students, across both our Manhattan campus and online program, are graduating with their degrees in Personal Financial Planning. We’re incredibly proud of all they have accomplished and can’t wait to watch their careers unfold.

Competitions

Our students made headlines in two national competitions this spring:

Four students (Gage Burdiek, Noah Oakes, Zoey Stec, and Eli Wilson) competed in a stock-picking and portfolio management challenge. Eli took home 1st place nationally, and Noah placed 6th nationally — an outstanding showing!

We were also honored to be invited to the inaugural “Wealth Cup” Challenge at the University of Texas at Austin. Competing against powerhouse programs like Texas Tech, Texas A&M, and the University of Florida, among others, our team of three (Nathan Haney, Terin Rundus, and Katelyn Silcox) brought home 1st place and a $4,000 scholarship prize to split among them.

Conferences & Industry Engagement

Professor Levitt led a group of students to the AssetMark Gold Forum Conference in Phoenix this February; the first time K-State PFP has been invited. The students made the most of the opportunity, building their networks and representing the program with professionalism and enthusiasm.

Back on campus, we’ve continued to host firm visits nearly every week, many thanks to the work being done in our Practice Management course. Industry guests shared their firm models, personal career stories, and hiring insights, giving students an inside look into the profession and helping them better prepare for internships and full-time roles. These weekly engagements are making a real impact on post-graduate success and industry retention, and Professor Levitt has been instrumental in leading this charge.

PFP tabled in the college lounge again this semester promoting A PFP Minor is the Cherry on Top to Any Degree! as we continue to market and promote our program and its many opportunities to the other students in our college and on campus. Three of our students served up sundae toppings and expertise as how best to work in a minor in PFP or Financial Counseling in alignment with their personal programs and goals.

The Annual K-State Open House was this Spring. This all day event got many of our students and our program connected with community members, alumni, and prospective students as they challenged them in a spun off version of Plinko from THE PRICE IS RIGHT television show. Custom coloring books, handouts, and lots of swag was distributed. As you walk around Manhattan this fall make sure to keep a look out for PFP tote bags, cups, and koozies.

A Personal Note from Dr. Derek Lawson, Undergraduate Program Director
This spring also marks a bittersweet moment for me personally, as I transition out of my full-time faculty role and relocate with my family to the Des Moines, IA area. It has been an incredible honor to teach, mentor, and support our PFP students over the years. I’m especially grateful to Dr. Martin Seay for the opportunity to serve as Undergraduate Program Director for the past 2.5 years, a role that has brought immense joy and purpose. I’ll remain a proud supporter of this program and look forward to cheering on its continued success from afar.

Olathe

With everyone admitted for summer and fall, we are on track to have 35 students in the program to start the Fall 2025 semester. This number still has plenty of time to change, but we are looking pretty good for the Fall and on track for the best incoming class to date.

We have a great group of active industry partners and will work to continue that growth and those partnerships while continuing to prioritize the other program activities. One of those other activities includes our relationship with JCCC, which, with its strong connection, engagement, and growing faculty relationships, provides us with a larger platform to speak to prospective students about our program.

The team is looking forward to the summer and reenergizing for this coming Fall.

Graduates

Masters

The Masters of Science in Personal Financial Planning program continues to thrive, celebrating significant milestones this past quarter. We are proud to announce that 24 students have graduated from the master’s program, 9 from the certificate programs, and 3 PhD candidates have successfully completed their doctoral studies. These graduates are now equipped with cutting-edge skills and knowledge, ready to make meaningful contributions to the financial planning industry. The Financial Therapy Certificate remains a flagship offering, attracting professionals eager to blend behavioral finance with practical client engagement strategies.

Harnessing the power of innovation, our program is revolutionizing the advanced planning curriculum by amplifying its focus on the dynamic shifts in the tax and estate planning landscape. We are ensuring our students are not just prepared but poised to lead in an ever-changing financial ecosystem. This transformative approach empowers our diverse cohorts—enriched by career changers from military, education, and beyond—to pioneer new standards of excellence. As we propel forward, our vision is to sculpt visionary leaders equipped to navigate and shape the future of financial planning with unparalleled expertise and foresight.

Doctoral

Spring is a time when the first-year students are starting to feel as if they understand the program, second-year students are fully into their courses and are asked to complete their programs of study, third-year students are wrapping up their preliminary exams and are focusing on their dissertation proposals. Several students from earlier cohorts are finishing up their dissertation work. Three will be graduating with their doctoral degrees this spring. And, the academic wheels keep turning even in the summer! We look forward to welcoming a new first-year cohort during our Ph.D. summer session in early August.

Tell us about yourself.

I graduated in the Fall of 2018 with a degree in Personal Financial Planning, a minor in business, and my Strategic Sales certificate.

I have been with Reliant Financial Services in Kansas City, MO for seven years. I have the wonderful pleasure of working with school district employees and non-profits mostly in Kansas and Missouri. I've lived in Kansas City for past 7 years post-graduation and just recently celebrated the purchase of my first house!

I was born and raised in the Kansas City area and have so much love for the city. Throughout the city, I love going out to all the different bars/restaurants in the downtown area, participating in the various run clubs as I'm an avid runner, and giving back my time through volunteering to a metro that's already given me so much.

What professional achievements are you most proud of?

It is being able to serve the NexGen community as this years 2025 NexGen Chair of FPA.

What kind of community-driven activities are you involved in?

I am involved in the K-Sate Olathe PFP Advisory Board and Blue Springs District Business Advisory Board, as well as the President-Elect of the Financial Planning Association of the Greater Kansas City, and I present at various high schools about financial literacy.

When choosing your school/major, why did you choose K-State PFP?

I had a large amount of my family that went to K-State previously and have always been a K-State sports fan. Looking at attending K-State was always on my radar. My father is also a financial planner so growing up I was naturally surrounded by the industry and because of this I always had a natural interest. Going into college, I knew exactly what I wanted to do since I was passionate about helping people and working with money!

How do you feel your education in PFP and experience at K-State influenced your career?

The education I received through the financial planning program at K-State provided me all the tools and resources that I needed to excel as a financial planner! The education was extremely comprehensive and the network of friends that I created along the way is something truly special to me.

What recommendations/advice to you have for our students or future financial planners?

Don't discount yourself! The education that you're receiving sets you up to be miles ahead of most financial planners. Be confident in what you know, and do not be afraid to speak up when you start your first role in the industry. Imposter syndrome is completely normal when you're first starting out. Embrace it! You will find who you are as a financial planner naturally over time so don't worry about feeling like you're falling into the shadows of someone else. We have such a giving industry internally, and most ways financial planners do business is already a culmination of other people's ideas within the industry, and that is perfectly fine.

How do you think the career of Financial Planning/Wealth Management will change in the next 5-10 years?

I think there's going to be a large opportunity for advisors looking to be firm owners to step into this role within 3-5 years out of the industry if you pick the right firm. There's such a large turnover of advisors starting to retire with no succession plan. This positions young financial planners perfectly to set into an already successful business without having to go through a lot of the pain of building a business from the ground up. I also think there's a lot of framework being built currently to have better processes to train young advisors to give them the crucial training they need, that really isn't in place for smaller firms. I expect this to continue to grow.

How have you stayed involved with your Alma Mater?

As much as I can, I try to come back to the present to students when asked! Most recently, I made the trip back to Manhattan to present to Powercat Financial on student loan planning, as this is a topic I know very well. I also serve on the K-State PFP Advisory Board.

What moment(s) stuck out to you as a student?

Some of my most memorable experiences from K-State included traveling to Chicago to compete in the FPA Financial Planning challenge, going to the Berkshire Hathaway conference in Omaha, and of course...the PFP end-of-year pub crawl!

Connect with Landon through LinkedIn.

Bridging the Gap between Advisors and Academics

Practitioners and academics often form separate communities that speak seemingly different languages. The two communities' theory explains where each has different jargon, incentives, and metrics for success. To align the two communities, this survey identified the topics financial planners identified needing more research. Planners identified the most critical as client psychology, client crisis events, communication, investment & retirement, and other demographic/niche topics.

The project highlighted the strong ties between planners and academics but warned that academics can become insular and pursue research that does not connect to practice. Staying connected with advisors and the challenges that they face is crucial. Planners can also connect with academics to provide feedback, partner with them to test new interventions and practices, and update academics on current trends.

Financial Planners' Pain Points and Crisis Events

Financial planners are well-trained and versed in a wide range of technical skills, but in recent years have looked to broaden the profession to consider the behavioral, emotional, and therapeutic challenges that often stand between clients and their goals. This study identified that planners need additional skills beyond estate planning, taxes, and retirement to serve clients in crisis. The most frequent crises include dealing with death and loss, divorce, job loss, life-altering diagnosis, and supporting financially adult children.

The most difficult pain points for planners to deal with were abuse, financial conflict, mental health, transparency, and dealing with biases. Interestingly, potential solutions to these problems (listening, trust, empathy, and communication) were rated as the easiest and least painful parts of financial planning. These findings align with previous research where planners rate themselves higher in certain areas than clients rate them. In the paper, planners were given recommendations on how to deal with these pain points and crisis events.

Making Financial Planning Research Accessible and Actionable

Financial planning academics produce research in hopes of improving planners' work and ultimately their clients' lives. At the same time, financial planners consume a lot of information to learn new techniques, understand trends, and implement best practices. However, barriers exist that keep the two from communicating. We identified that the use of academic language, paywalls, and accessibility limits how much planners use research published in journals. Planners highlighted the need for research to be disseminated via podcast, short videos, and summaries. Planners already consume much information from other sources using these formats and would benefit from the added research-based best practices.

The three publications highlight the need for financial planning as an industry to get the most out of both academics and practitioners. Kansas State University's Department of Personal Financial Planning remains a premier program grounded in practical application while reaching the outer bounds of exploration and providing research ranging from the here and now to the future.

If interested in learning more, you are welcome to email Dr. Blake Gray, Assistant Professor.

Hello, I’m Zoey Stec, a senior majoring in Personal Financial Planning. I grew up in Atchison, KS, a town of around 10,000. My small-town background taught me the value of hard work and dedication, two qualities that aren’t always learned in a classroom but come from personal drive and determination. Those qualities paired with my strengths of activation, competition, inclusion, and positivity truly reflect who I am.

Family and faith have always been central parts of my life and have helped shape my values and connection to K-State. Multiple generations of my family have attended K-State. The university is built on a strong foundation of FAMILY, which is at the heart of our sports teams and traditions. I have been traveling to Manhattan, KS, from a young age, attending football games surrounded by multiple generations of Wildcat family members who are proud alumni.

When I first came to K-State, I knew I wanted to serve the community and pursue something business-related and people-focused. I started my first few semesters with that in mind and eventually landed on the Personal Financial Planning Program. My decision became clear once I explored my options and talked with my sister Emily Surritt. She was a former PFP student, graduated in 2017, and currently is a Financial Advisor at Edward Jones. She said the program was incredible and that the industry could be extremely fulfilling, especially through helping everyday people reach their financial goals. She couldn’t have been more right, because I have loved the experience and the journey toward graduating from this program and starting a career in financial planning.

During my time at K-State, I have had the opportunity to be involved in various career development experiences. Within the Personal Financial Planning department and the College of Business, I have heard from over 50 guest speakers. These professionals have shared real-world insight that has helped me stay in tune with what’s happening in the financial services industry today. Learning from their stories and advice has only increased my excitement to begin my career.

I’ve also had the chance to serve the Manhattan community through Habitat for Humanity, an organization that provides mortgage-free homes to families in need. I worked on building debt repayment strategies for new homeowners. This was coordinated by Professor Blake Gray, who connected me with the opportunity.

I competed in the T.E.A.M. Challenge Competition, which involved building a mutual fund portfolio. It was judged on performance and other investment criteria over several months. I placed in the top 30 out of nearly 400 students across the U.S.. Steve Levitt, a program instructor, led this competition and encouraged students like me to get involved.

I also competed in and won the Edward Jones Sales Competition this spring. In this event, students were given a role-play scenario with a mock client where the goal was to build trust and earn their business. Preparation and confidence were key to success. This experience helped me get ready for real-world scenarios, including anticipating and overcoming objections. There are so many biases that clients face in the financial industry, and with the mitigation strategies I have learned in the PFP program, I was able to effectively address concerns and help clients feel confident in reaching their goals. Professor Mindy Joseph played a huge role in teaching me how to apply these skills in real-world situations.

I have had the opportunity to intern with Edward Jones in the summer of 2024 in my hometown. I got hands-on experience attending client meetings, making outbound calls, sitting in on annual reviews, and creating mock portfolio proposals that were reviewed by financial advisors. Working with Aldie Ensminger (K-State Alumni) and Janie Pickman helped me soak up practical knowledge from two amazing veteran advisors. It was also impactful to bring fresh energy and a new perspective from the classroom into their office.

Additionally, I shadowed several other Edward Jones advisors. It was eye-opening to see both subtle and significant differences in how each advisor serves their clients. That exposure helped me understand that every client is different, and it is important to tailor service to what is best for them.

During the school year, I’ve worked in various offices in the Manhattan area as an On-Call Branch Office Administrator. This role has helped me better understand the daily operations and big-picture strategies of the business. It also taught me the importance of being a lifelong learner in this field. Edward Jones is truly a special company to my family making it an easy decision to continue working there. My sister, Emily Surritt and two uncles, Joe and Eric Mueting, are all Financial Advisors with Edward Jones and all graduates of Kansas State.

After I graduate in December 2025, I plan to stay on this path. I’ll take my licensing exams and begin serving clients in Atchison, KS. I’m beyond excited to give back to the hometown community that raised me.

I would like to sincerely thank the families who have supported my education through scholarships and awards, including The Vanier Family, Joseph P. Miller and Louise Burke, Patricia Farrow Raskob, and Douglas E. Hill. Thank you again for your generous support of not only me, but my classmates as well.

This journey at Kansas State University and through the Personal Financial Planning program has helped me grow in ways I never expected. Being in a people-focused career is such a gift, and I feel lucky to be heading into a profession where I get to help others every day. I’m so ready to take the next step and serve my community with everything I have learned.

Connect with her on LinkedIn!

It is LinkedIn Official, so it must be true. As many of you may have seen, Dr. Derek Lawson and Dr. Congrong Ouyang have announced their exits from K-State. Both of these individuals have been offered opportunities that will allow them to continue to better the world of Personal Financial Planning in new and exciting ways.

Lawson is moving away from academia to dedicate more time to his firm and his clients and reconnect with his family back in Iowa. He has spent several years connecting, growing, and supporting the next generations of financial planners, and as his own business continues to grow and expand, back in Des Moines, where his and his wife’s families reside, so does the draw to put his full consideration and thought into it. His love for teaching and K-State is still apparent as he keeps a toe dipped in the pool by continuing his online presence as an adjunct faculty member starting next semester. His expertise and interaction in the PFP suite will be greatly missed, but we all know he is just a Zoom call away.

Ouyang will be continuing her professional journey in academia, but with her husband still employed and working in Texas these last several years, and her job stationed in Manhattan, it was only natural to make this change as an opportunity that closed the distance between them presented itself. She has been offered a faculty position at Texas A&M, which she has taken. She has a fantastic future, and we cannot wait to follow her journey.

The PFP suite will be a bit quieter and just a little less as we work to fill these vacancies, but we have been so lucky to have Derek and Congrong as colleagues, resources, and friends, and we wish only the absolute best for them and their futures.

This summer, the reorganization will be fully implemented, resulting in three schools under the college banner. Personal financial planning will be in the School of Consumer Sciences, along with the other programs that target consumers and focus on business-minded methods, including fashion studies, hospitality management, and sensory science. Our synergies align most with our focus on business practices, a consumer-driven philosophy, extensive industry and professional partnerships, and continued expansion into the Olathe/KC metro campus.

What does this mean for PFP?

This means that our administration processes and procedures, reporting hierarchy, committee structures, and college-level resources are more effectively and efficiently distributed and processed.

On a program level, we will continue to transform our students into top financial planners, provide industry opportunities, and engage with our advisory board, partners, and alumni.

This change will allow for open opportunities and more time for our faculty to do what they do best: teach and research, removing much of the additional bureaucracy that happens with academia.

We have gained colleagues who will push us and provide potential alignments and synergies. The possibilities are endless, and as this transition happens this summer and fall, we will remain true to our vision and trajectory as a top nationally ranked Financial Planning program.

If you want to learn more about the reorganization, please visit the College Reorg site.

We are hosting the Financial Planning Summer Institute July 2025...

If you have a high schooler or know of one interested in learning about personal financial planning or an adjacent field, we are hosting the Financial Planning Summer Institute (formerly the Financial Planning Academy) this summer. They will join 50 other campers for a week of immersive campus and program fun, and learn and expand teambuilding, leadership, and critical thinking skills while dipping their toe into financial planning, sales, marketing, etc...

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.

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

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

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 website, or you can reach out to Dana Parker, Career Development Coordinator.