Denton, TX — The University of North Texas (UNT) is now offering the only in-person Bachelor of Business Administration in financial planning available in Texas. The program is registered with the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, providing students with a distinctive and valuable career path in the financial industry.
Courses from the Department of Finance, Insurance, Real Estate, and Law are designed to help both finance and non-finance majors effectively manage personal finances and assist future clients with their financial needs.
“There are many financial planning and services companies in the DFW metroplex that need students to work for them. The industry has a significant demand for talent, and we aim to be the first university these companies turn to for their needs,” said Mark Evers, clinical assistant professor and director of the Financial Planning Program. “My goal is to become the number one program in the country in terms of quality and the number of graduates.”
Evers’ introductory course, “Show Me the Money,” covers essential financial topics such as money management, tax filing, insurance protection, credit score evaluation, intelligent investing, retirement savings, and homeownership. This class is available to all undergraduates and serves as the starting point for the financial planning program. A key project in the course involves students creating a personal budget, which they can use throughout their lives.
“It’s a project that students can truly use every month for the rest of their life,” Evers noted.
UNT senior Nia Gilmore exemplifies the program’s hands-on approach. She has already gained professional experience working part-time at Fidelity Investments, where she assisted clients with retirement and brokerage accounts. Gilmore has also interned at Thomas Reuters and Ally Financial and is involved on campus as the treasurer of the Professional Accounting Student Society and a mentor at UNT’s Student Money Management Center.
“These classes are very relevant during college, when I’m learning to manage my own finances and starting to handle paying my own bills,” Gilmore said. “It’s becoming even more significant now that I’m about to start a full-time job.”
The Dallas Business Journal recently highlighted the Dallas-Fort Worth area as the second-largest hub for financial workers in the U.S., with approximately 384,500 financial activities jobs as of November 2023, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Major companies in North Texas have invested in UNT’s Ryan College of Business and the Student Money Management Center.
“Our partnerships with organizations like the Charles Schwab Foundation, AssetMark, Finserv Foundation, Fidelity Investments, Grunden Financial Advisory Inc., Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America, and Wells Fargo provide professional engagement opportunities that elevate our financial planning program,” said Ryan College of Business Dean Marilyn Wiley. “Their support funds student attendance at industry conferences and provides software and training, making our graduates some of the best prepared to enter the financial planning profession.”
These partnerships have also supported various personal finance classes and events at UNT, including the Spring 2024 Invest Fest. The event featured panels, a luncheon, and networking opportunities with financial planning organizations. Keynote speaker and UNT alumnus David Wachira, co-founder and CEO of financial tech company Waya, shared insights from his journey to digitize banking for underserved populations worldwide.
“My experience at UNT was not only impactful but insightful, broadening my horizons,” Wachira said. “I owe much of my current position to that experience, which encouraged me to take calculated risks, gain practical knowledge, and engage with diverse perspectives.”
With this program, UNT aims to meet the growing demand for financial planning professionals while providing students with valuable, real-world experience and education.