Texas Tech, which was among the first universities to have a personal financial planning program, has an internship program for undergraduates to connect them with practicing financial planners. There are currently 111 colleges with undergraduate programs, a 20% increase over two years ago. There are another 15 or 20 colleges with programs being developed, says Kevin Keller, CEO of the CFP Board.
Few freshmen enter the program at Texas Tech, Hampton says, adding that most of its students transfer from one of the business majors and are attracted to the profession because they enjoy working with people and like problem solving.
The CFP Board has a public awareness campaign on financial planning as a career, and U.S. News & World Report recently named financial planning as a top job opportunity for the future, Keller says.
--Karen DeMasters