As the business world continues to grow and change, the demand for economics professionals to research, analyze data, and predict trends has never been higher. According to the Bureau Labor Statistics, “employment of economists is projected to grow six percent” over the next few years.

Professor Randy Kemnitz, PhD, is no stranger to finances and fiscal planning.

As a child, Kemnitz remembers his mother, a bookkeeper, telling him how important it was that people learn to manage their own finances. As an adult, Kemnitz went on to earn his master’s degree from the College for Financial Planning and became a Certified Financial Planner (CFP). Currently, he is pursuing his doctorate in personal financial planning through Kansas State University.

When she wasn’t working her corporate job, Samantha Kim ’11 ’16 was working part-time in retail, renovating her first home, and training for MMA in her local gym. She knew that her busy schedule would demand a flexible approach to getting her MBA – Finance, and she decided JWU Online was the best choice based on her availability. What she didn’t know, she said, was that she’d make lasting relationships in the online classroom.

Professor Randy Kemnitz is well-versed in the world of finance.

Born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, his earliest money memories stem from stories his mother, a bookkeeper, told him about people who did not manage their money well. "I learned early on that you have to manage your finances and not let your finances manage you," he said. 

Are you interested in pursuing a graduate degree in finance?

Do professional credentials really make a difference, any difference? Those who read my last blog on credentials already know my story of becoming a certified financial planner™ professional and my journey since. For me, this credential has made a significant difference. I’ll suggest it may do so for others, as well. The differences fall into two general categories: impact on self and impact on others.

“All men by nature desire knowledge.” — Aristotle

If you are reading this, you are most likely a student seeking knowledge. Aristotle would suggest this seeking of knowledge is innate. Modern social scientists have developed several theories as to why we make the time and financial investments to improve. Their theories may help us understand why we make the investment in knowledge.
 

What’s the difference between a degree in accounting and a degree in finance? If you can’t answer this question, you’re not alone. The reason why differentiating the two can be tricky is because they are, in fact, so similar.

I’ve spent time in prior blog posts writing about the value of a degree in finance. Understanding how money works is essential for so many careers today. It is also essential for us individually.

As the year nears its end and some of us think about resolutions, here are some steps we all can take to help understand, manage, and enjoy our financial futures.