Minnesota State Mankato College of Business to Launch Charles Schwab Foundation Center for Financial Wellness
Mankato, Minn. – The Minnesota State University, Mankato Foundation has entered into a three-year charitable pledge agreement with Schwab Advisor Services, in partnership with the Charles Schwab Foundation, to establish the Charles Schwab Foundation Center for Financial Wellness in Minnesota State Mankato’s College of Business.
The new Center will open this fall in the College of Business before moving late in spring 2025 to the new Maverick Innovation Gateway, which will be housed in a new location currently under construction near the main campus.
According to College of Business Dean Seung Bach, the Center’s key initiatives are to create a university-wide, peer-to-peer financial counseling and education program, create financial education programs for the greater Mankato community, provide financial literacy education for K-12 teachers and students and financial literacy research.
“The financial services industry has a great demand for new talent over the next decade,” said Bach. “The most in-demand among them will be addressed by our new program, which this partnership will provide.”
The Center will be facilitated by the CFP Board Registered Personal Financial Planning Program.
The faculty co-directors of the Charles Schwab Foundation Center for Financial Wellness at Minnesota State Mankato are Daniel Hiebert, director of the University’s CFP Financial Planning Program and an associate professor of financial planning, and Ishuan Li Simonson, professor of finance.
Hiebert said the vision for the Center is to be a focal point for building community among students, faculty, alumni and community partners.
“This generous gift will be a huge benefit for our students,” said Hiebert. “It will help build a talent pipeline by increasing awareness of the entrepreneurial career opportunities that exist within the registered independent advisory industry.”
For more information, please contact Hiebert by phone at 507-389-5406 or by email at daniel.hiebert@mnsu.edu.
According to Hiebert, the Charles Schwab Foundation has supported similar projects at colleges and universities in other states, but the pledge to Minnesota State Mankato is the first of its kind to a university or college in Minnesota.
“We are honored to partner with Minnesota State Mankato to create opportunities that strengthens students, the community, and the future of the financial services profession,” said Jon Beatty, head of Schwab Advisor Services. “We deeply appreciate their shared support in the mission to develop the next generation of leaders who will play a pivotal role in influencing the direction of the industry.”
The Minnesota State University, Mankato Foundation recently named the Charles Schwab Foundation as its Corporate Philanthropic Partner of the Year.
Minnesota State Mankato, a comprehensive university with 15,251 students, is part of the Minnesota State system, which includes 26 colleges and seven universities.
