The Track to Success

Bauer Personal Financial Planning Track Builds Futures, Alumni Share Success Stories

By Megan McKinley
Published on September 22, 2026

The Personal Financial Planning (PFP) track at the C. T. Bauer College of Business has helped launch hundreds of students into successful careers as Certified Financial Planners (CFPs) since its inception in 2015.

Bauer leadership developed the program in response to the 2008 financial crisis, Department of Finance Chair Praveen Kumar said, aiming to provide resources for the new generation to manage and assess financial risk.

The college started by offering a few basic courses, and those were extremely popular, Kumar said. Classrooms were filled with not only students but members of their family and the community, sitting in on lectures to learn and understand the basics of personal financial planning.

"In terms of fulfilling educational needs, we hit a gold mine," Kumar said. "This was not a matter of teaching one or two courses here and there. We needed to have a more formal program. That's where John Lopez came in."

Senior Professor of Practice John Lopez helped develop the curriculum, as well as get the track approved by the Certified Financial Planner Board to meet the CFP® Exam's educational requirements. Students who are interested in pursuing financial planning as a career would be qualified to take the exam and earn their certification after finishing the PFP Track.

It offers a comprehensive curriculum of personal financial planning that covers both the basics and specialized electives for those who want to strengthen their expertise in a certain field. Students can hone their knowledge in tax advising, retirement planning and more.

"Many students come to college and don't know what they want to do yet," Lopez said. "It's gratifying to be able to help them find their path."

Many students and alumni credit Lopez for building it to what it is now, but he prefers to focus on the students.

Lopez, who recently stepped down from leading the program, said in a message to students: "While I may have contributed in some way to your journey, the credit belongs to you. Your energy, dedication, perseverance and strong work ethics are what have made your achievements possible."

Kathryn Nicholson (BBA '17)

James Taravella (BBA '18)

Hunter Anguiano (BBA '20)

Melody Laser (BBA '24)

"The track introduced me to the industry. When I started taking PFP courses, it all clicked into place. I got a lot of real-world experiences in the classroom that were translated to the workforce right away. It further reassured me that this was the right path for me."

- Kathryn Nicholson (BBA '17), Client Service Associate at Wealth Development Strategies, LLC

"The financial planning track gave me the tools I needed to get in the door, then I was able to use the building blocks the program gave me to get me where I am today."

- James Taravella (BBA '18), Vice President at Goldman Sachs Ayco

"Right out of college, I was qualified to sit for the CFP® Exam and start working toward my certification. All the coursework covered everything I'm now doing in my day-to-day. My education laid an important foundation in being able to apply my experiences early in my career and opened the door to many opportunities I likely wouldn’t have had otherwise."

- Isabella Gomez (BBA '24), Financial Planner at Goodman Financial

“One of the most important things I learned in the financial planning track is the ability to critically think. A lot of people focus on the content, and of course, that’s the main priority. But if you can't learn to work through a challenge, it's harder to rely solely on your technical skills. The program really taught me the value of thinking through the process in its entirety and coming up with the best solution for your client."

- Hunter Anguiano (BBA '20), Client Operations Manager at Willis Johnson Wealth

“After spending 20 years as a stay-at-home mom, I came to Bauer with the ambitious goal of becoming a CFP® professional. John Lopez's encouragement, mentorship and ability to challenge me to think critically played a huge role in helping me achieve that goal. Today, I'm in a career I love, and I'm incredibly grateful for the impact John and the Personal Financial Planning Program had on my life. "

- Melody Laser (BBA '24), Associate Financial Advisor at Financial Synergies Wealth Advisors