by Ella Smith
Cedarville University approved a new financial planning minor that will allow students to specialize and develop both competency and a character of integrity in their field. The new minor is available to any student.
“We want to prepare students to not only think biblically but develop core competencies in the financial planning field. We want to prepare students who possess the character and professional aptitude to fulfill this need in society,” said Dr. John Tarwater, associate professor of finance.
The minor was approved by the Certified Financial Planner Board (CFP) and will allow Cedarville students to sit for the CFP certification — the highest designation in the field — and the Kingdom Advisors certification, which gives students biblical insight into how we view money.
Prior to this new minor, students interested in pursuing a career in financial planning might take up to an additional two years of course work priority to being able to sit for the CFP examination. Both certifications will set Cedarville students apart and allow them to excel in the workforce.
Designing and approving the financial planning minor was a two-year process, as faculty members carefully selected courses that reflected the goals of the minor and of Cedarville University. Some of the courses cover taxes, investments and retirement planning. 
“Financial planning is an extremely broad profession with many opportunities to influence society and help individuals," said Tarwater.
The minor will also enable students at a pivotal moment in the financial planning industry where the number of available jobs is increasing rapidly.
“The minor has occurred at an important time in the industry,” said Tarwater. “The need right now in the industry is to add about 10,000 planners a year for the next five or six years.”