We explore the benefits of virtual financial planning, such as increased geographical reach and efficiency, while also addressing the challenges in licensing, compliance, and privacy. Sensenig emphasizes the importance of finding the right fit between advisor and client, leveraging technology effectively, and continuously learning and adapting to stay ahead in the field.

From best virtual practices to prospecting strategies and niche development, Sensenig offers advice for financial planners looking to use their tele-financial planning capabilities. As the financial advisory landscape continues to evolve, Sensenig’s wisdom reminds us of the importance of embracing change and continuously striving for improvement in serving clients in a virtual world.

How Can Advisors Improve Tele-Financial Planning? Part 1

How Can Advisors Improve Tele-Financial Planning? Part 2

The American Dream created a perception that ownership equals wealth and fulfillment of that dream; however, that is not the case. Owning a home isn’t always a better option than renting. Before you consider renting or purchasing a property, consider the pros and cons of renting versus buying a home. After reviewing the pros and cons, you can decide which option fits your financial situation.

Renting 

Renting a home is an agreement between a landlord or property manager and a tenant, where the tenant agrees to pay a monthly payment in exchange for living in the property. Renting has always been seen as a waste of money; however, everyone needs somewhere to live. When a person rents, you know the monthly fixed cost of living in this property. However, if you are buying a home, the cost can be considered a variable cost because in one month, you may only be paying the mortgage, and the following month can be the mortgage and costs to repair something in your home. Furthermore, renters must deal with unexpected rent increases every year because that is the time when the lease agreement is up for renewal. However, buying a home will never increase your mortgage payments except for property taxes and insurance since those will increase. Finally, renting a house means landlords will care for repairs and maintenance.

Expenses to consider that will come with renting a home: 

• Monthly rent
• Parking fees
• Renter’s insurance
• Laundry
• Pet fees

Owning 

Owning a home is a milestone everyone wants to achieve before their early 30s or sooner. Although making this big purchase has benefits, there are heavy costs associated with the home you decide to purchase. Unlike renters, homeowners can make long-term investments in their property, which appreciates the home value over time. Also, homeowners can have tax benefits, including deductions on mortgage interest payments and other homeowner expenses. Finally, homeowners can create passive income on their homes by renting them out to tenants. Buying a home will allow the homeowner to build wealth by purchasing future homes and increasing net worth. Finally, being mortgage-free can lower your overall living expenses since you will be the proud owner of your home.

Expenses to consider that will come with homeownership: 

• Mortgage (Principal plus interest)
• Property Taxes
• Repairs
• Insurance (Home, earthquake, or flood).
• Tree trimming

After reading these considerations, many of you will still want to buy a home. However, an individual should consider whether their financial situation would allow them to afford a home and cover the costs associated with homeownership. Although renting a home isn’t permanent, you should consider renting a short-term option. Still not convinced about the costs? Consider visiting the calculator NerdWallet has created for anyone to calculate the tradeoff between buying and renting a home.

The first issue with Cryptocurrency is what rules and regulations are there to protect the investor. There isn’t much government regulation to protect the investor when owning Cryptocurrency, which becomes a risky investment. Second, there are several security concerns when holding these digital coins because exchanges and wallets can be targets for hackers and scammers. Finally, Cryptocurrency payments are not reversible; once the payment is completed and sent, the funds are untraceable.

Despite the risks, Cryptocurrencies can potentially impact the financial services industry. Financial planners should not ignore these new emerging assets because clients will soon be curious about owning or already owning them. Therefore, it is important to understand better how these digital coins work and the tax implications involved when selling or exchanging them. Although Cryptocurrencies are relatively new, it is important to understand the risks and be up to date with any new regulations passed to inform clients about the risks better.

Financial planners need to stay up-to-date and learn more about these digital coins because clients are starting to grow interest, which means they want to diversify their money into as many different assets as possible. Therefore, financial planners must have conversations with their clients about the risks and whether these coins should be part of their financial plan. Having Cryptocurrency can create more diversification, but clients need to understand better the potential benefits and risks of allocating funds to these coins.

Although Cryptocurrency is not for everyone, learning about it is important to be aware of the risks associated with owning it. The market for these coins is highly volatile and complex and can raise possible scams. Therefore, it is important to read about these coins and the projects they aim to change to determine their legitimacy.

How to Leverage COIs and Referrals to Growth Your Business Part 2

Jennifer Bacarella’s journey in the financial planning industry is a testament to the power of building strong relationships and leveraging Centers of Influence (COIs). Her approach to building rapport with clients and positioning herself as a trusted advisor has not only helped her establish a thriving business but has also instilled in her a deep appreciation for the human connection that lies at the heart of financial planning.

Bacarella’s emphasis on authenticity and adaptability is particularly noteworthy. She recognizes that every client interaction is an opportunity to showcase her genuine care and expertise, ensuring that her interactions remain meaningful and impactful. This authenticity extends to her virtual meetings, where she has embraced the tools of Zoom to maintain that sense of personal connection despite the physical distance.

The concept of COIs, as Bacarella eloquently explains, extends beyond traditional networking strategies. It encompasses the everyday interactions we have, from PTA meetings to soccer practices. Every encounter is an opportunity to leave a positive impression and potentially expand your network of potential referrals. This understanding underscores the importance of cultivating a polished elevator pitch that is easy to comprehend and invites further conversation.

Bacarella’s advice to be a “sponge” and seek guidance from multiple mentors highlights the value of continuous learning and growth. By actively absorbing knowledge and perspectives from various sources, financial advisors can refine their approach, adapt to evolving market conditions, and ultimately provide the best possible service to their clients.

In essence, Bacarella’s story encapsulates the essence of successful financial planning: building trust, fostering relationships, and providing personalized guidance that empowers individuals to achieve their financial goals. Her unwavering commitment to these principles has not only propelled her own success but has also set the stage for countless others to embark on their own journeys of financial well-being.

While attending California Lutheran University, he was on active duty in the Marine Corps until 2020. After he retired from the Marine Corps, he interviewed with large brokerages. However, he decided to start his own practice. He has done “no advertisement,” and his goal for the business was “to take care of each individual client the way I want to be taken care of.”

Some of the challenges Kopke had when starting his practice was being independent because “I did not have a firm or staff to learn things, and everything was figuring out yourself.” The hardest part of running your independent RIA was “running the day-to-day business and integrating software.” The benefits of going independent allowed Kopke to network with other CFPs where he has “weekly meetups and share ideas.”

He advises, “Go work for another firm first, then go independent. I was in a different stage in life, and my niche was to serve military clients.” He was familiar with the pay system and benefits and provided the services they needed since he served in the Marine Corps for over 30 years.

His experience at California Lutheran University was phenomenal because the last half curriculum was CFP ® specific. The faculty was always available to answer his questions, the online work, the grading structure, and the interaction online proved to be a first-class experience, and “I had no doubt I had the knowledge sought out to achieve in the first place.” The capstone course was one of Kopke’s favorite courses because “it was putting it all together and creating an actual financial plan.” He uses the financial plan he created from the capstone course as a template when creating financial plans for his clients.

One of the leading industry trends in financial planning today is “from a technology standpoint, it is becoming more simplistic. You can develop a 100-page financial plan, but nobody wants those. When I started, most of my financial plans were on a Word document, where I would analyze, calculate, and take web captures of the charts. Make everything easy to read, and I have gotten more clients that want something visual and simple.” In the next 5-10 years, Kopke wants to continue working at his financial planning practice to work with 30 clients to ”dedicate my time once per month followed by a phone call with them. I talk to every one of my clients every month, and they’re surprised by that. I make sure they have 24-hour access to me.”

Kopke advises students pursuing their degree in financial planning “If this is what you enjoy, stick with it and do not treat it like school. Treat it as preparation for the next step because it is easy to go through the motions of school, but did you grasp the knowledge you need to do your job? That is what I liked about the MBA at CLU because you had business classes for the MBA, and the last half of the curriculum focused on the financial planning courses. That was valuable to ensure you had the knowledge and the skills to do the job.”

After serving his country, Scott was unsure which career path to pursue. Although he studied biology, he knew that this career path was not his calling. While Scott was paying down debt, he participated in a financial course for families that he discovered that financial planning was his true calling. However, he was unsure how to begin his journey, so he decided to talk to a financial advisor who worked in the Marine Corp. The financial advisor provided industry knowledge, the career aspect, and which paths were available to pursue financial planning. Therefore, he decided to research which programs were accredited and counted as the education portion for the CFP requirement. Scott shared that “California Lutheran University was one of the best programs out there because CLU was the only program that had the CFP courses embedded into the MBA.” 

While studying for this MBA, Brian mentioned that the behavioral finance course was the most impactful for his career. Although Brian did not appreciate that relationships came first before math and planning, this course was eye-opening to change his perspective. He realized that “building a relationship with a client is important because it helps construct trust and discuss the biases that influence human emotion, leading to financial decision-making.” When taking behavioral finance or any course from the Financial Planning Program, Scott’s advice is to “make sure to engage with the faculty since they are a wonderful resource.”

Although the MBA Financial Planning Program was challenging at times, Scott learned immensely from each course. The real value was seeing every puzzle piece come together for each class. Scott shares that “the pace was very tough especially when balancing work and family. There were times I spent the weekends studying and completing coursework. Also, I spoke with my administration person to schedule my meetings Monday – Thursday to give myself more time to study.”

While serving in the Marine Corps, there were many skills any recruit could learn while serving their country. Some of the skills he learned from the Marine Corp that will help him with his career in financial planning are planning and building flexibility. Scott shares that “the Marine Corp gave me several assignments that involved writing detailed plans that my team and I would share with our general.” Writing detailed plans for clients will come in handy because financial advisors must prepare clear deliverables when presenting to clients. Creating flexibility was another skill he learned in the Marine Corp that came in handy when balancing his life between school, work, and his family. 

The final piece of advice Scott offers to students is “to network and ask lots of questions about financial planning, and specifically ask questions about the difference between RIA, Broker-Dealer, and Independent Firms.” 

About Brian Scott: 

Brian Scott is a student who will soon graduate from California Lutheran University with his MBA in Financial Planning. He plans to start his independent firm or partner with an RIA after graduation. Before deciding his career path, he served as a pilot for the Marine Corps and studied biology.

About the Author: 

Rafael Nieves Rios is a graduate student at California Lutheran University, graduating in 2024. He is studying for an MBA in Financial Planning. 

Professor William (Bill) Klepper started his career in teaching by “picking up the phone.” His employer, Bill Mason, asked him one day if he would be interested in teaching. Having thought about the idea of it previously, Klepper enthusiastically replied with a yes. When interviewing for the job, one of the questions they asked was if he had his CFP ®, which he did, however unknowingly to the employer he only had it for a mere two weeks! “I was in the classroom within three weeks. I absolutely loved it and I never looked back,” Klepper said.  

Klepper’s passion in financial planning is money management and his specialty is retirement planning. “I like getting people set up properly so they don’t have those devastating down periods. I want to see people protect their assets,” he said.

Teaching At California Lutheran University

At California Lutheran University, Klepper currently teaches the undergraduate wealth management class, a class where many of the students become financial planners, “there’s a great need for financial planners and there’s not many going into it. It’s a great career,” he said. Klepper also teaches the financial literacy class, a recent course worth one credit that teaches the topics of insurance, investment, car loans, and credit reports to undergraduates to a variety of majors. “You’re telling them topics that nobody ever teaches that they’re dying to know,” he said. 

During his classes, Klepper enjoys bringing real-life examples to help communicate the material.

“I teach ‘war stories’. My students love the war stories of hearing what is happening in real life. The biggest thing with teaching is people remember stories. If you tell a story they will remember but not a data dump,” he explained. His aim in the classroom is to create a relaxed, no fear, no-pressure environment so students feel comfortable to ask any questions.  “Cal Lutheran is a great school and the students are great! Since I teach both graduate and undergraduate I thought there would be a big difference, but there is no difference,” he said.

Making the Classroom a Fun Environment 

Teaching isn’t just a job to Professor Klepper, but an enjoyment. “The interaction with students is a lot of fun. It’s not working. I enjoy the students and I want to make sure that they learn,” he said. His priorities in the classroom are to make sure the student has an understanding of the material while creating a good learning environment.

“I think the best professors are the ones that interact with the students and they’re not just speaking on the topic. It’s the ones that actually make sure the students learn, that is a good teacher,” he said. On the other hand, Klepper believes that a good student is one with a sense of humor and intrigue to ask questions, “that makes the class fun,” he said. 

The Long-Term Connections as a Professor

One of the most rewarding parts of teaching for Klepper is hearing from his students after class has finished. He enjoys hearing the “thank you’s” and receiving messages, but “I’m shocked how many students become friends. I always tell them just because the class ends you can still ask me anything,” Klepper said. Further, Klepper’s favorite part of teaching is watching the “lightbulb go off” after explaining the various concepts to the students. 

Good Times and Cooking!

In his free time, he enjoys hosting dinners for his friends from ten various barbecues he owns in his backyard. “I’m a smoker! I smoke meat and I have ten barbecues!” he said. Every Sunday night for the last 25 years, Klepper has had between 6 and 16 people over for dinner. Community and friends are very important to him, as well as cooking and entertaining.  

About William Klepper: 

William F. Klepper has served over 30 years in the financial industry. He is currently employed by RNC Genter Capital Management as Senior Vice-President Regional Director. He has worked for Union Bank of California, Wilshire Associates, Imperial Trust Company and Wm. Mason & Company, Inc.. He has worked in all aspects of the financial field (Marketing, Management, Administration and Trading). William is President of the Rotary Club of Simi Sunrise 2020-21, Past President of the Simi Valley Police Foundation and current board member, and is on the Ventura County Fire Protection Board.

About the Author:

Rosie Baker graduated Magna Cum Laude from California Lutheran University in May 2021 with honors and departmental distinction. Her bachelor’s degree is in Communication emphasizing in PR and Advertising, minoring in Creative Writing. In July 2020, she published her first book, Mirrors & Windows: Unlocking a New Framework to Envision Your Success, with New Degree Press.

Returning to His MBA

Fast forward to the present and Padilla has now had his CFP® for about seven years but he did not finish his MBA. After COVID-19 began, Padilla decided it was time to return to California Lutheran University to finish the program. “I’m so glad I did return. I’ve seen a difference in the program on what I had to learn the hard way with clients and employees. There’s a lot of soft skills, selling skills, and empowering associates and employees skills to help you with what to do. It made me really want to finish my MBA!” he said. 

Padilla’s Key Values of the Program

Working in the financial service industry for over 20 years, he sold his practice and naturally found himself going down the route of entertainment and sport through his young children and their activities. Previously he earned an undergraduate degree in business administration, marketing at California State University, Northridge. “I went back to start my MBA as I only had a few classes left. I see the value in the program. If I was just starting out or starting another financial service practice, I would definitely want to do this program. It provides value and it’s really practical. I highly recommend anyone in the financial services to go through this program,” he said. 

One of the key values that Padilla found in the program was the topic of financial counseling. “As an advisor and business owner, I never thought about financial counseling. I didn’t know you could earn a certification in it,” he said. Padilla also mentioned that he recently started thinking about succession planning due to a class and wished he had known more about it to use in his previous financial services business. 

Padilla also found value in the practical learning and skills that he developed from the program. “Before I was going through the motions to get the piece of paper, but now I’m really finding a use for it and I’m learning from it. I wanted to go back and get my MBA to also show my kids there is value in education,” he said. 

Earning an MBA and CFP ® 

California Lutheran University meets the CFP ® education requirements and students can earn an MBA at the same time. This was the main reason why Padilla chose the program, what’s more, the classes were convenient for his schedule and also local to where he is based. To Padilla, it was important for him to earn the CFP® to help clients and be respected in the financial services industry. 

To the Future

In five to ten years time, Padilla sees his company, MVP Sports & Entertainment Management, as one of the biggest firms that provide a variety of services for athletes and entertainers. “I feel the program is very revolutionary and it provides a lot of value to relay the direction that financial planning services are going. This program gives people the tools to go in the direction of an ensemble practice,” he explained. An ensemble practice is a type of practice where multiple partners come together to provide more values to the clients instead of the traditional idea of just one advisor in a practice acting as a lone ranger. 

Advice to Others

Padilla’s advice to someone who is starting a career in financial planning is to find someone who is successful and to learn about what they do. “Continue to educate yourself, whether that is a program at California Lutheran University, getting coached, going to conventions to learn more and make connections. Model from those who know what they are doing,” he said. He also mentioned the importance of finding mentors that you can model.

Making Time for Sport

In his free time, Padilla enjoys coaching volleyball and being active in his children’s sports. He also enjoys traveling, particularly to cold, snowy places where he can snowboard. 

About Don Padilla: 

Don Padilla is CEO of MVP Sports & Entertainment Management, a Talent Manager, Certified Financial Planner™, public speaker, and published author of “Not Another Broke Athlete.” He was former National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) Registered Player Financial Advisor. Don has taught and lectured retirement and life planning courses at various universities and colleges. He has been in the financial services industry for over 20 years and has managed over a quarter of a billion dollars. He has two children, Naiya (10) and Elijah (8), and enjoys coaching volleyball and snowboarding during his free time. 

About the Author:

Rosie Baker graduated Magna Cum Laude from California Lutheran University in May 2021 with honors and departmental distinction. Her bachelor’s degree is in Communication emphasizing in PR and Advertising, minoring in Creative Writing. In July 2020, she published her first book, Mirrors & Windows: Unlocking a New Framework to Envision Your Success, with New Degree Press.

When Anne Wittig was in second grade, her father taught her sister and herself how to budget. This is a skill that Wittig used as an undergraduate at college and the jobs that followed. “I learned how much of a privilege it was. I saw friends and co-workers struggling to try to learn how to budget when they were in the midst of a financial crisis,” she said. Since then, Wittig has found a passion for helping others understand budgeting better and even came second place in the California Lutheran University PRiME competition for her submission on it.

Wittig discovered her passion for helping others with finances after volunteering for a year with LEVN (Lutheran Episcopal Volunteer Network).  “My experiences during my year of service led me to begin budget coaching, which is like life coaching for budgets,” she explained. Realizing she wanted to gain more knowledge and more experience with finances, Wittig looked for a financial planning program. With family connections to PLTS (Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary), California Lutheran University was an “obvious choice” for Wittig to further her education in a Master of Science degree, saying she “didn’t even look anywhere else.”

Following Her Financial Planning Passion

Currently studying at California Lutheran University for her M.S. in Financial Planning, Wittig is planning to take the CFP ® exam in November 2021. She wants to earn her CFP ® designation to help others better their financial management and change it from being a roadblock to being a tool to achieve their goals. During her time as an undergraduate, Wittig studied Ethnic Studies, Economics, and Philosophy at Mills College, Oakland, CA. A fun fact about her time as an undergrad is that Wittig was president and co-founder of Insani-Tea, a tea club where students could study and have tea together. 

Wittig currently works at Abacus Planning Group due to help from faculty member, Dr. Chia-Li Chien. After Wittig spoke with Dr. Chien about seeking part-time work to begin gaining the necessary experience for the CFP ® certification, Dr. Chien helped her make an introduction to Abacus Planning Group. “I want to be like her in the industry, she’s awesome. She wants what is best for the students to help them achieve their highest potential. I would not have applied to the PRiME competition if I had not been encouraged,” Wittig said. 

PRiME Competition

Wittig won second place in the third annual PRiME competition held by California Lutheran University. According to the California Lutheran University website, the PRiME competition is described as, “bringing the vision and spirit of the global Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME) into our local school-wide initiative aiming to build awareness of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through our School of Management PRiME Competition! We are proud to say we significantly increased our worldwide exposure by more than doubling our voters who participated in the People’s Choice Award virtual voting!”  

Originally her submission started as a research proposal from her behavioral finance class. She began designing a financial product to help train and motivate beginning savers who are starting their journey. Her submission to the PRiME competition explored the reasons why individuals don’t always use rationality to make financial decisions and why changing financial behavior involves more than increasing financial literacy. “I want to continue the research. I actually have an outline for the rest of the paper up until the point at which I will need to be gathering data,” she said excitedly.  

Advice to Others

Her advice to others thinking about taking the financial planning program at California Lutheran University is to “take the opportunity to network at CLU. My experience of the program is that people are interested in helping one another succeed. I’ve made a lot of connections that I will stay in touch with, they are really fantastic people,” she said. 

“Overall, it’s been such a fascinating and empowering process to be able to be a part of; I’ve enjoyed working with people from all over the country and world who come together for this common purpose,” she said. 

About Anne Wittig: 

Anne Wittig graduated from Mills College with majors in Ethnic Studies and Economics. Since then, she has worked in various roles but most recently she works at Abacus Planning Group. She is currently studying for her M.S. in Financial Planning and plans to sit for the CFP ® exam in November 2021.

About the Author:

Rosie Baker graduated Magna Cum Laude from California Lutheran University in May 2021 with honors and departmental distinction. Her bachelor’s degree is in Communication emphasizing in PR and Advertising, minoring in Creative Writing. In July 2020, she published her first book, Mirrors & Windows: Unlocking a New Framework to Envision Your Success, with New Degree Press.

In June 2021 the California Lutheran University Financial Planning scholarship was awarded to Laura Lee. This scholarship was jointly established with the CFP Board Center for Financial Planning. Scholarships aim to help increase the number of CFP® professionals from populations currently underrepresented in the financial planning profession regarding gender, race, and ethnicity.

Meet the Awardee, Laura Lee

Lee started her career at the Specialty Coffee Association in 2007 and for 13 years she traveled to over 25 countries. She served on the International Women’s Coffee Alliance (IWCA) board of directors, a registered non-profit, building community among female coffee producers around the world. She served as a Membership Committee chairperson responsible for organizing communication between current chapters and recruiting new countries to come on board. This grew her passion for supporting female professionals to achieve their financial goals. Now looking to transition into financial planning, Lee looks forward to using her education to support professional women and diverse communities. 

Why Lee Choose California Lutheran University 

“Going to grad school has been a dream of mine,” Lee said. She worked while her husband went to grad school and raised a family. “We saved and planned, the scholarship is part of making that plan come to fruition so that I could go back to grad school. It’s a joy and I can’t wait to tell my kids why I did it and they should do the same one day to pursue education,” she said. 

When searching for an MBA program with a focus on financial planning, Lee found California Lutheran University (CLU) to be “unique with the curriculum they had for their MBA in Financial Planning and that it was specifically tailored to that profession,” Lee said. Intending to finish both her MBA and pass the CFP ® exam in the next two years, Lee said CLU has everything you need to know in preparation for the CFP ® exam. “It was really the only institution that I could find like that,” she said. Other parts of the program that influenced her choice were the convenience of the classes being online and manageable as a working mom with four small children.  

Lee’s Plans for After California Lutheran University 

After Lee has finished her MBA and earned her CFP ® certification, she wants to follow in the footsteps of her father. Living in the Inland Empire area of Southern California, her father is a Registered Investment Adviser (RIA) with a focus on succession planning, however, his demographic is primarily retired. “The future will be acquiring some of these firms, like my dad, being a planner. Then beyond a business plan, I want to focus on diverse communities specifically in the Inland Empire i.e. the town Loma Linda and the University of California, Riverside. I’ll be working with future plans, current plans, and specifically women business owners,” Lee said. 

What Lee is Most Excited About the Program

After stepping away from education for fifteen years to pursue her career following her undergraduate studies, Lee is excited to be in an academic setting again. “I’m coming into CLU with a very specific focus and determined goals. I want to retain the information in each class because it’s going to be so applied,” she said. 

Lee is also excited to be on a leadership team with “really strong females with great credentials and strong leadership skills from what I’ve seen from my brief experience so far,” she said. Along with having other interactions with fellow students and colleagues from across the U.S. 

From her job in the coffee industry, Lee has built a wide network of contacts and colleagues from around the world. “One question for me that I want to discover in this program is that financial planning, from my experience of it, has been a domestic service. I don’t know, but I’m sure small-to-mid-sized firms manage internationally or for those with dual-citizenship. That’s an area for me that would bridge my last career with this one and a topic that I’m really interested in exploring,” Lee said. 

The Importance of Building Relationships  

“I’ve always thought of financial planning as a more holistic relationship and not purely transactional. I’ve really adopted that from my career in coffee,” Lee said. Over the years, Lee built relationships with the people she worked with learning about their families and goals to build marketing plans. The holistic aspect of relationships and the transfer of wealth from one generation to another is something that Lee looks forward to learning more about in the topic of financial planning. 

About the Interviewee:

Laura Lee started her career at the Specialty Coffee Association in 2007 and for 13 years she traveled to over 25 countries. She served on the International Women’s Coffee Alliance (IWCA) board of directors. It is a registered non-profit, building community among female coffee producers around the world. She served as a Membership Committee chairperson responsible for organizing communication between current chapters and recruiting new countries to come on board. This grew her passion for supporting female professionals to achieve their financial goals. Now looking to transition into financial planning, Lee looks forward to using her education to support professional women and diverse communities. She plans to use the scholarship funds towards the MBA in Financial Planning from California Lutheran University and to sit the CFP® exam in  March 2023.

About the Author:

Rosie Baker graduated Magna Cum Laude from California Lutheran University in May 2021 with honors and departmental distinction. Her bachelor’s degree is in Communication emphasizing in PR and Advertising, minoring in Creative Writing. In July 2020, she published her first book, Mirrors & Windows: Unlocking a New Framework to Envision Your Success, with New Degree Press.