TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) – Minority groups and women in Shawnee Co. can now apply for a $5,000 scholarship to pursue a degree in financial planning at K-State.

Advisors Excel says it recently created three $5,000 scholarships to encourage minorities and women to pursue education in Kansas State University‘s personal financial planning program. Each scholarship can be renewed each year.

“In my 20 years of working in the financial services industry, there has been a lot of discussion about the lack of minorities and women in the profession,” said Advisors Excel co-founder Cody Foster. “We want to start taking action and changing that, and education seems like a great place to start. We are fortunate to have one of the most recognized and respected personal financial planning departments in the nation right next to Kansas State University, and we are thrilled to partner with them in this initiative.

K-State’s PFP program is nationally ranked and prepares students for careers in the financial services industry. With on-campus and online degree programs, Excel advisers said the courses provide students with expertise in areas such as investing, tax, insurance and retirement planning, as well as interpersonal communication skills needed to help residents pursue their financial and life goals.

Excel Advisors noted that undergraduate, masters, graduate and doctoral certificates. programs are registered with the CFP Board, allowing students to take the certification exam when they graduate.

“Advisors Excel has been a strong partner in the personal financial planning department,” said Dr. Martin Seay, department head and associate professor of personal financial planning at K-State. “They are keenly interested in broadening awareness of financial planning as a career and supporting the professional development of students”

“This new scholarship initiative encapsulates that goal, providing the critical support needed to increase the diversity of the financial planning workforce, with a focus on reinvesting in their hometown of Topeka,” Seay concluded. .

Excel advisors have indicated that the scholarships are open to students who are minority or PFP program students who live within Shawnee Co. Recipients will also have the opportunity to gain real-world experiences through an internship within organisation.

“In light of everything we’ve seen over the past few weeks, we need to start investing in solutions,” Foster said. “We believe one of the greatest opportunities to create lasting change is through financial empowerment and we hope this is the start of something that will create long-term impact in our community.”

For more information on the scholarship, click HERE.

Copyright 2022 WIBW. All rights reserved.