The California Lutheran University Financial Planning Program prepares its students for their CFP ® certification while earning an MBA, it is the only business school on the list of the top 10. Its USDLA award-winning program consists of eight courses and a capstone project taking on average 18 months to complete.

The department is thrilled to announce such fantastic news and would like to recognize the faculty, as well as the students’ hard work, who are working professionals located across the United States and world. This fantastic achievement would not have been possible without the faculty’s dedication, expertise, and skills to the students.

If you are interested in earning an MBA or MS in Financial Planning please visit our website to learn more.

Melissa Wasylewski came to California Lutheran University as a business administration major until in her freshman year she took the class Principles of Accounting class as a requirement for her major. This class combined with the influence of her dad who told her to look into accounting as she is good with numbers and likes to work with data was the catalyst that changed her mind to become an accounting major.

After deciding to change majors she was unsure what minor to add. The accounting major is similar to the business administration major, except you must take more courses that have more technical classes focusing on skills, rules, and various laws, said Wasylewski. 

“Accounting is the language of the business world,” Wasylewski said. Choosing the financial planning minor has allowed her to take what she has learned in accounting and focus more on applying the knowledge to help the individual by creating strategies to save them money now and in the future. “I think it’s the perfect combination,” Wasylewski said. Accounting already has the foundation of what she is learning in class so she can spend more time building knowledge and working on the concept. 

Now and the Future

Currently, Wasylewski is interning at Amgen, a biotechnology company.  Her role is to work on the Financial Planning and Analysis team that focuses on operations. She consolidates information from various sites around the world to put the figures into one picture. The information is then presented to the leadership team. “It’s been fun and a lot of learning on the job,” Wasylewski said. She is currently interested in learning more about the corporate, public side of accounting. In the future, she is looking forward to using financial planning either in her job or doing it on the side.

After graduating from California Lutheran University, she wants to take the CPA exam and be certified. Combining her accounting major with the financial planning minor is allowing her to take the Certified Financial Planner and Certified Public Account exam after graduating to become double-certified which is highly sort after from companies Then Wasylewski wants to work at a local company in Ventura County, where she is from, at a small or medium-sized firm. 

Accounting and Financial Planning

The Financial Planning minor is a relatively new minor to California Lutheran University. “You get a lot of one-on-one time with the professor, and you’re able to work on case studies on different scenarios that you might not get the chance to do in a bigger school where there are a lot more students,” Wasylewski said. There are many benefits to having small classes, including the opportunity to ask a lot of questions and receive extra help. The minor has given Wasylewski the opportunity to “Connect financial planning and accounting together… I’m really excited that Cal Lutheran is doing it!” She “one hundred percent” recommends the minor to others!

Not every student who is interested in the minor needs to have a connection to business or accounting, but there are benefits. “I wish every accounting student would take the financial planning minor because it really helps you see different sides and different perspectives of accounting information and you really see how the accounting plays in individual peoples lives, not just when your calculating tax returns, but figuring out how your client can save extra money, how else they could be financially stable. It’s also a very practical class because you learn a lot of things for yourself,” Wasylewski said. 

Accounting majors need 150 credits to graduate, whereas the average number of credits students need to graduate is 124. The Financial Planning minor helps students give extra credits, saving time and money to then do the CPA exam.  Wasylewski recommends students talk to one of the accounting professors to get their opinion and advice if they are interested in taking the minor. Likewise, students can also talk to the financial planning department to learn more.

Think about how the minor can increase your marketability with future employees if you add planning to your degree, said Wasylewski. She also recommends doing your research on statistics, the job market, and talking to other students who have taken the classes. However, taking the minor will help you out in the future regardless if you pursue financial planning in your career. 

Wasylewski describes her experience with the minor as “Really fun, really interactive. It’s great to be able to ask any questions I have any…  I’m more aware of what’s happening in the “adult world.” It’s been really eye-opening to all the opportunities and everything you have to deal with as an older adult. It’s been helpful but also cool to apply it to real life and talk to family about it,” said Wasylewski. 

“Accounting and financial planning really help you realize how important all that you’re learning in accounting really is, how it plays a role in different parts of the world like the business sector and financial sectors. It really helps solidify everything you’ve learned in accounting classes. It’s a good feeling knowing that one day you might be saving people thousands of dollars by explaining to them what they should do and helping them organize their lives,” Wasylewski said. 

California Lutheran University is a small university with a tight-knit community, therefore meaning you know a lot of people on campus, said Wasylewski. In classes in your major, it is more than likely you will have the same people to work with. Close relationships with professors and students naturally develop. 

Accounting professors have been Wasylewski’s biggest influence during her time at university. “They’re the ones who got me to switch my major in the first place (and take the minor), and they make accounting classes fun!”

Wasylewski’s secret talents are sewing and her ability to make her own clothes including her Halloween costume last year as Tinkerbell. She also enjoys dancing for fun and often performs traditional Mexican folklore dancing. 

About the Interviewee:

Melissa Wasylewski is a traditional undergraduate student pursuing a Bachelor’s in Accounting with a minor in Financial Planning. She is an involved student on campus who enjoys making her own clothes and dancing during her free time. 

About the Author:

Rosie Baker is an undergraduate student at California Lutheran University expecting to graduate in May 2021. She is studying Communication with an emphasis in PR and Advertising and has a minor in Creative Writing. She is currently writing a book, Windows and Mirrors, which is due to be published this summer with New Degree Press.

For Zach Bullard, baseball and sport have been an important part of his life since he was four or five years old. Not only does he love playing baseball, but it has influenced his dream job; to be a financial planner for baseball players and run his own financial planning firm.

When Bullard was younger his dad used to work in insurance. He would spend time with him in the office watching everything that he did. He enjoyed it and learned about his dad’s job from a first-hand point of view. Bullard was impressed with the job and his dad’s ability to connect with his clients both inside and out of the office. So much so it inspired him to have a similar job when he grew up. 

Working in Financial Planning 

When Bullard came to California Lutheran University he was an undeclared major. After doing a summer internship he noticed that many of the employees had an economic major paired with a financial planning minor. What’s more, having an economics major and a financial planning minor is an attractive combination credit-wise compared to being a business administration major.  

After Bullard has finished his undergraduate degree he is thinking of participating in the 4+1 Program California Lutheran University offers to its enrolled undergraduate students. This program allows undergraduates to start their master’s degree before they’ve graduated. Currently unsure of the specific MBA he will pursue, Bullard is sure that it will be financial-based. After pursuing his MBA, Bullard wants to move into the workplace and have a full-time job. 

“I feel like I am able to work personally with the faculty, my professors, and even work personally with the small group of students we have. It is really beneficial to get my specific, individual questions answered whenever they come up,” Bullard said when asked about the financial planning minor values.

Bullard is really interested in the connection side of working in financial planning. He wants to work with athletes, in particular baseball athletes, building relationships and helping them. Bullard was not sure of what specific niche to go in until he spoke to Dr. Chia-Li Chien. Often when students speak to program directors they learn more about potential career niches. 

What’s more, often the career a student will have the seed is planted early in someone’s life like with Bullard’s dad. The relationship his dad built with his clients meant that he was someone they could rely on and it inspired him. “It was never an exact moment or people ever really pushing me into financial planning, I felt like a lot of the values fit with what I was looking for in a job and it planned out,” Bullard said. 

Talking to Others About Financial Planning 

Bullard has been recommending the financial planning minor to his fellow baseball team players, “I think if you  have room in your schedule [I think] a lot of the intro-level classes are super beneficial just for your own personal finances and your own personal life.” 

I think it is so important to talk to others about your major and minor, just like Bullard did with his baseball teammates because you never know what you may learn from them and vice versa. When you talk to friends and other students you can learn so much from them and even explore potential career opportunities.

Once people understand what the financial planning minor is Bullard says, they become interested in knowing more about it and the potential of making a career out of it. If you would like to learn more about taking the financial planning minor or the financial planning programs offered at California Lutheran University check out this YouTube video where Dr. Chien along with other professors and students speak about it. 

Financial Planning’s Flexibility as a Career

One aspect of financial planning that attracts a lot of attention is the flexibility of the job. It provides a lifestyle that a standard office job does not have the ability to do so. What’s more, it offers something new and exciting every day. 

“In this profession, it’s really easy for you to have a balance between your personal life and your professional life. It’s up to you how many clients you want to have. If you are really work-active and you want to spend 24/7 with your clients, you can have 100 clients and keep yourself busy.” Dr. Salehi said. But you could also have 25 clients allowing you to work less during the week. Having a career in financial planning allows the person to have control over managing their practice and type of client relationships. 

“So far this has been a great learning experience and I feel like I have actually taken in information… I can really see how I will be putting it to use either in the job market or everything applies to the CFP®  exam and preparing use for that,” Bullard said.

Attending a Conference

Both Dr. Salehi and Bullard attended the National LINC 2020, January 29-31, 2020 at Hytall Regency Orlando, FL. At the conference students had some “training, teaching sessions throughout the weekend learning about the industry and learning how to interact with different advisors we might need and network sessions,” Bullard said. Thousands of advisors gathered and students were able to talk to them and ask about internships and jobs. To learn about opportunities like this that are available talk with your professors and advisors. Students should take advantage of these to broaden their network. 

One of the biggest takeaways Bullard had from the conference was that all of the advisors he met loved their jobs and were thankful to be in the industry. It is something that has stuck with him since that weekend and has left a lasting impact. Bullard is very grateful to Dr. Salehi to have the opportunity to attend the conference. 

One of the most important parts of Bullard’s California Lutheran University experience has been his friends, the baseball team he is part of, and the small class sizes that are offered. His friends and the baseball team have been his influences to work hard. When Bullard isn’t working or playing baseball, he enjoys playing pick up a basketball and likes to be outside at the beach or hiking. 

About the Interviewee:

Zach Bullard is a traditional undergraduate student pursuing a Bachelor’s in Economics with a minor in Financial Planning. He is on the baseball team at the university. 

About Dr. Chia-Li Chien:

Dr. Chia-Li Chien is an Assistant Professor and Director of the Financial Planning Program of California Lutheran University and a Succession Program Director at the Value GrowthInstitute. Dr. Chien is a frequent speaker about succession and retirement planning at national conferences and has published three books, including her most recent publication, “Enhancing Retirement Success Rates in the United States.” She is a national Board of Director of Women in Insurance & Financial Services Association. She can be reached at jolly@chialichien.com.

About Dr. Salehi:

Dr. Houssein Salehi is an assistant professor in Financial Planning. He has a doctorate in personal financial planning and is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®). He also has an M.Sc. in Personal Financial Planning from Texas Tech University, an M.A. in Economics from Texas Tech University, and an M.Sc. in Financial Management from Tehran University. 

About the Author:

Rosie Baker is an undergraduate student at California Lutheran University expecting to graduate in May 2021. She is studying Communication with an emphasis in PR and Advertising and has a minor in Creative Writing. She is currently writing a book, Windows and Mirrors, which is due to be published this summer with New Degree Press.

Jared Martin’s journey at California Lutheran University began as a Computer Science major. Shortly after taking one of Professor Klepper’s classes he soon realized it was not the major for him, nor the career path he wanted to go down. In Professor Klepper’s class, he learned about the FPA Planning competition and met with Dr. Chia-Li Chien. “It really spurred my love for financial planning along with all the knowledge I gained in Prof. Klepper’s class, I felt that it would be a career I was interested in and it would be something I would like to pursue.” Now Martin is a Business Administration major with a minor in Financial Planning.

Looking to the Future

After graduating from California Lutheran University, Jared would like to start working at a smaller financial planning firm to “learn about the profession more and more as I pursue and earn my CFP®. After that, I’m considering graduate school if I continue down the path of financial planning and I’m considering a CFA as well,” said Martin.

After graduating many ask if you should go to a smaller or larger firm. Professor Klepper says it doesn’t matter but don’t go to a firm that is heavy in their sales. Further, he said you should do your research as some firms are better than others. “As you pick whether or not to go to a big or small firm always make sure that you have some sort of mentor because who you pair up with is going to make a huge difference in terms of what your career looks like,” said Dr. Chien.  

In the next 3 to 5 years he would like to pass his Certified Financial Planner exam and have a reasonable job that is steady with the ability to progress. He hopes to be living somewhere in Southern California to Central Coast California. 

“What really drives me in the financial planning field is the interactions with people. I really enjoy the personal aspect of it. I enjoy talking to people making connections and I find that it’s a good way to help people in their lives. It’s also a job with a reasonable amount of flexibility as far as your daily schedule, you don’t necessarily spend all of your time in an office,” said Martin.

Enjoying Financial Planning Classes

The financial Planning courses are interesting to Martin and he thinks they are more applicable than any other courses in his business major. “Financial Planning really bleeds into every other sort of topic I have dealt with,” he said. The information he is learning in classes can also be applied to his personal finances in the future.

Martin has always enjoyed math throughout school, he said that the math in the minor does not feel too intense as it is more formula based. “I think for people who don’t like math it makes it a feasible minor option.” He has also enjoyed the people he has met within the department from professors to professionals along with taking Prof. Klepper’s and Dr. Salehi’s classes. 

Like many practitioners in financial planning, Dr. Salehi took a Bachelor in Science before moving into the financial planning field. This is not an uncommon root for many to originally have a major in a different area and to switch. “Some of the best planners out there came from a background of engineering, pilots, and even scientists,” Dr. Chien said. The difference between the majors is the interaction with people as both fields have a base of algorithms and equations. 

For students who are thinking about taking a minor, there is an intro class that can be taken which will allow a taste of the program and information. “For students thinking about it, the best thing they can do is try it because regardless they’ll get good information for their financial future,” Martin said. 

Two sets of courses are offered if you are looking for a class with an introduction to financial planning. UNIV-102 Intro Personal Finance is a one-credit class that talks about the core of introducing students to financial planning.  BUS 396 Personal Financial Planning & Risk Mgmt is a course that is more specific and encourages students to think about their career path, Professor Klepper said. 

“I’ve had nothing but wonderful professors and nothing but great experiences. I came into it [the major and minor] not necessarily the most involved student in general. The minor drew me in. All the topics and knowledge has really pushed me forward to the point where I am actually the president of the Student Financial Planning Club,” Martin said. 

Financial Planning Association (FPA) Student Club

Martin’s role as president of the Financial Planning Association (FPA) Student Club has various responsibilities from recruiting new members to attending the FPA of Ventura County. The club has around 12 members currently, and their focus is to bring in outside speakers “to engage our Cal Lutheran community and financial planning,” Martin said. It is not necessarily just to those who are financial planning minors or interested in a career, but to share information with the community to learn about it. 

Martin is also involved with the FPA Ventura County. He has attended two quarterly meetings with two guest speakers at each learning about different topics including digital security, investment strategies, and client communication once someone passes away. “Personally I’ve taken quite a lot from the educational talks but I’ve also learned quite a lot from the members. It’s been a great networking experience, there’s been at least 40 to 50 people I’ve spoken to who are in the financial planning field,”  he said. Experience has allowed him to learn a lot about networking but also learn about other’s career experiences. “The time spent is extremely worth it and I’m hoping once we begin meetings in person I can get a number of club members to attend too” Martin said. 

“Jared took the initiative to learn more beyond the classroom, because of that, he has learned leadership and he is now the president of the student club. Because of that then he learned how to do networking with practitioners and on top of it, he also learned how to do communication. He is not just earning a degree with a minor, he is also effectively learning how to be with people, how to network, and like it or not, Jared has already been learning how to do proper sales,” Dr. Chien said. These skills that he has accommodated through these opportunities will lead him to stand out among others when looking for jobs and internships in the future. 

There is a gap of young people coming into the financial planning field right now which is a great employment opportunity as American’s need financial advice. With an aging generation of financial planners, now is a great time to begin a career in it as the demand is so high. 

Martin’s favorite part of California Lutheran University is the professors and the experiences offered by the university. In particular, the ones that are career-related and the resources offered to the students. His greatest influences are Dr. Salehi, Prof, Klepper, and Dr. Chien through his classes and additional opportunities with working with them. 

About the Interviewee:

Jared Martin is a traditional undergraduate student pursuing a Bachelor’s in Business Administration with a minor in Financial Planning. He is president of the Student Financial Planning Club and a part of the FPA Ventura County. 

About Dr. Chia-Li Chien:

Dr. Chia-Li Chien is an Assistant Professor and Director of the Financial Planning Program of California Lutheran University and a Succession Program Director at the Value GrowthInstitute. Dr. Chien is a frequent speaker about succession and retirement planning at national conferences and has published three books, including her most recent publication, “Enhancing Retirement Success Rates in the United States.” She is a national Board of Director of Women in Insurance & Financial Services Association. She can be reached at jolly@chialichien.com.

About Dr. Salehi:

Dr. Houssein Salehi is an assistant professor in Financial Planning. He has a doctorate in personal financial planning and is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®). He also has an M.Sc. in Personal Financial Planning from Texas Tech University, an M.A. in Economics from Texas Tech University, and an M.Sc. in Financial Management from Tehran University. 

About Prof. Klepper:

William F. Klepper is a senior adjunct faculty member and he has served over 30 years in the financial industry. He is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®). 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-Elect of the Rotary Club of Simi Sunrise, Past President of the Simi Valley Police Foundation, Moorpark College Foundation Vice-Chairman, and Ventura Fire Protection Board.

About the Author:

Rosie Baker is an undergraduate student at California Lutheran University expecting to graduate in May 2021. She is studying Communication with an emphasis in PR and Advertising and has a minor in Creative Writing. She is currently writing a book, Windows and Mirrors, which is due to be published this summer with New Degree Press.