Financial Planning Program
The Financial Planning Program at Shepherd University serves a dual mission:
(1) promoting financial literacy and well-being across the entire campus community, and
(2) preparing students for professional careers in financial planning and wealth management.
Financial Literacy & Financial Well-being
Financial literacy is a foundational life skill. The program supports Shepherd University’s broader educational mission by offering financial well-being courses within the core curriculum and by offering elective coursework accessible to students across all majors. These courses equip students with practical knowledge and decision-making skills in budgeting, credit management, investing, risk protection, retirement planning, and long-term financial goal-setting.
By integrating personal finance education into the general curriculum, the program helps students develop the confidence and competence to make informed financial decisions throughout their lives. This campus-wide approach reflects the program’s commitment to improving financial capability not only among business majors, but across the entire university community.
Professional Preparation in Financial Planning
In addition to promoting financial literacy, the program provides a rigorous academic pathway for students seeking to become professional financial planners. The curriculum is structured to align with the educational requirements of the Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®) certification and covers all major domains of comprehensive financial planning, including:
- General principles of financial planning
- Insurance and risk management
- Investment planning
- Tax planning
- Retirement planning
- Estate planning
- Financial plan development and client communication
Students engage in case-based instruction, applied financial analysis, and capstone financial plan construction. The program emphasizes ethical responsibility, fiduciary standards, analytical rigor, and client-centered problem solving.
Graduates are prepared to pursue careers in financial planning, wealth management, investment advisory services, retirement planning, insurance consulting, and related financial services fields. The program also provides the academic foundation required to sit for the CFP® Certification Examination upon completion of the degree and experiential requirements.
Contact Information
Dr. Yuying (Joey) Xie
Financial Planning Program Coordinator
Department of Business and Sports Administration
Shepherd University
P.O. Box 5000
Shepherdstown, WV 25443
Email: yxie@shepherd.edu
Dr. Ben Martz, Dean
Contact for the CFP Board of Standards:
Ben Martz, Ph.D. bmartz@shepherd.edu
Department of Business Administration
Shepherd University
P.O. Box 5000
Shepherdstown, WV 25443
Rural Financial Planning Project Advisory Council
Rob Hoxton, President
304-876-2619
RHoxton@hoxtonfinancial.com
Student Experiences
Financial Planning Club meetings are held in White Hall and online.
Accreditations
Shepherd University is Regionally Accredited by the Higher learning Commission (HLC).
The School of Business, Department of Business Administration, is accredited by the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education (IACBE).
The Financial Planning Program at Shepherd University is an officially registered program with the CFP® Board.