Through programming and outreach, the center will help individuals build their understanding of financial skills and serve as a resource for students interested in wealth management and financial planning careers.
This fall the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business launches the Center for Financial Literacy to complement the school’s financial literacy education efforts.
The center aims to provide objective, high-quality resources to assist individuals in making personal financial decisions. It is located in Richard W. Sankey Hall, room 116, formerly known as the Financial Education Center.
Chris Harris, associate professor of finance and chair of the Department of Finance, serves as the center’s director.
“My vision and hope for the center is that we will develop a reputation for financial education that really matters and makes a difference,” Harris said. “One of the problems with financial information and advice that I often see is when people providing the advice are also selling what they believe is the solution to your problems. In some cases the motivations are sincere, but I believe we can build a center that can objectively help people in their current financial situation while they work towards longer-term goals.”
The center will host programming targeting three key audiences: students, faculty and staff, and the local community.
For students, the center will focus on opportunities in the financial planning and wealth management fields through career events, guest speakers and networking events.
For faculty and staff, the center will host personal finance workshops, such as budgeting, strategies for eliminating debt, and preparing for retirement.
The center will also continue Elon’s partnership with Junior Achievement to provide financial literacy education to elementary schools in Alamance County. Last fall, Love School of Business students cumulatively volunteered more than 300 hours teaching lessons to E.M. Holt Elementary School students. This semester the lessons will be delivered virtually.
“Financial literacy is one of today’s critical thinking skills,” said Raghu Tadepalli, dean of the Love School of Business. “While the ability to read, write, talk, and think clearly are important to one’s success and well-being, so is being able to understand the financial implications of financial decisions one makes.
“The Center for Financial Literacy through its activities will spur awareness of financial literacy in the Elon and local communities. At the same time, through its focus on financial planning, the center will help our students find careers in the burgeoning field of wealth management.”
For more information on the Center for Financial Literacy, email Harris at charris24@elon.edu.