The credit union’s wintersession program at Harvard College drew over 150 registrants from across the campus to learn money management tips from industry experts.
Now in its 8th year, this multiday financial literacy program was originally founded by HUECU President/CEO Gene Foley and Board Member and HBS Alum Shahar Ziv.
New this year, the program underwent a branding refresh conducted by our undergraduate consultants, the Student Advisory Board. Based on their unique experiences, they recommended small changes to make the event more relevant and enticing for an undergraduate audience. For example, the program was retitled to “From Parents to Penthouse: Why Managing Your Finances Matters.”
Every year, the credit union tailors the curriculum the needs of the students. This year was no different. A pre-program survey of what the students wanted to learn was conducted. Responses included questions like, “What is a credit score and why does it matter? Should I invest extra money or use it to pay off loans? Will my employer match my 401(K) contribution? Do I need renters insurance?”
Speakers featured during the program included credit union employees Migdalia Gomez, Morris Moukit, Matthew Wildman, and Laura Buso.
Additionally, Board Member Dee Dee Chen leveraged her expertise as the Director of Professional Staff Compensation and Benefits at Partners HealthCare System to deliver presentations on employer benefits and saving for retirement.
Harvard College alum Jared Sleeper presented an overview of investments – a topic he has started his career in as a Venture Capitalist at Matrix Partners.
And finally, returning for their 7th year, two Certified Financial Planners® from The Colony Group, a private wealth management firm, instructed our students on the essentials of financial planning, insurance, and taxes.
What impact did the program have? Here are just a few reflections from our students:
“This program helped me to fill in the gaps in my knowledge.”
“I have a clearer idea of what FSAs are and how they are actually used.”
“Now I know how to take advantage of matched 401Ks!”
“How taxes and different insurance plans work impacted me and was very helpful!”
“I learned more about how to calculate my taxes and what is taxable.”
“I really enjoyed the examples and explanations.”
HUECU is dedicated to the financial well-being of our members. We offer frequent workshops on a variety of financial topics. Check out our upcoming workshops here. Thank you to our community
