Financial Fitness Program

Speakers and workshops to put you on track to financial empowerment. Throughout the semester, the Zoom workshop series will cover topics ranging from basic financial awareness, personal financial plan development, insurance, estate planning and investing. This series will be facilitated by CBE Faculty and industry experts. 

Workshop Series Takeaways:

• Developing your personal financial plan 
• Gaining insight about investment assets, accounts, strategies and analysis tools 
• Gaining insights about how to use insurance to protect your assets 
• Learning about estate planning tools  
• Learning about the real estate buying process 

Registration:

Workshop #1 | September 19^th, 3:15 p.m. - 4:15 p.m. 
Topic - Developing a financial Plan & Budgeting
Summary - Offering Tips on how to develop a financial plan for a financial future. Leave with a blueprint for a financial plan.
Presenter - Dr. Charles Danso
Register #1 - https://cbegradapp.formstack.com/forms/fall_2023_workshop_1

Workshop #2 | September 26^th, Time: 3:15 p.m. - 4:15 p.m.
Topic - Debt & Credit Score
Summary - Offering tips about debt management and credit score improvement
Presenter - Michael Oconitrillo, profile: https://www.strategicfortunewm.com/team-member/michael-oconitrillo
Register #2 - https://cbegradapp.formstack.com/forms/fall_2023_workshop_2

Workshop #3 | October 3^rd, 3:15 p.m. - 4:15 p.m.
Topic - Investing Basics
Summary - Offering knowledge on different types of investment assets, accounts and guidance on how to open investment accounts
Presenter - Dr. Charles Danso
Register #2 - https://cbegradapp.formstack.com/forms/fall_2023_workshop_3

Workshop #4 | October 10^th, 3:15 p.m. - 4:15 p.m.
Topic - Investing Strategies
Summary - Covering investing strategies on passive to active strategies and tax implication
Presenter - Dr. Charles Danso 
Register #4 - https://cbegradapp.formstack.com/forms/fall_2023_workshop_4

Workshop #5 | October 17^th, 3:15 p.m. - 4:15 p.m. 
Topic - First Time Home Buyer
Summary - This session will offer tips on purchasing and funding real estate for first time buyers.
Presenter - Jonathan Alvarez
Register #5-  https://cbegradapp.formstack.com/forms/fall_2023_workshop_5

Workshop #6 | October 24^th, 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. 
Topic - Estate Planning
Summary - Covering tools and documents to protect your legacy and effectively transfer ownership of your estate by an estate planning attorney and certified Trust & Fiduciary advisor.
Presenter - Jala Eaton, JD, CTFA. Profile: https://www.onmyownfinancial.com/about
Register #6 -  https://cbegradapp.formstack.com/forms/fall_2023_workshop_6

Workshop #7 | October 31^st, 3:15 p.m. - 4:15 p.m. 
Topic - Insurance
Summary - Talking about how insurance can be used as a risk management tool and estate planning tool
Presenter - Chris Bell, CFP®, ChFC®, CLU®, RICP® Profile: https://www.northwesternmutual.com/financial/advisor/chris-bell/
Register #7 -  https://cbegradapp.formstack.com/forms/fall_2023_workshop_7​​​​​​​

What is the Financial Fitness Program?

The Financial Fitness Program is a team of faculty, lecturers, industry experts and external partners focused on developing and offering essential financial workshops and information to empower students financially.

Our Goal

The goal of the Financial Fitness Program is to build a network of students who not only understand but can use financial knowledge to better their lives and the lives of others.

The Financial Fitness Program considers this the year of financial empowerment for students and topics include basic financial awareness and tools to understand complex topics including home ownership and investing. 

Each workshop is designed to give you important knowledge that comes together at the last session to create your financial plan. The most benefit is gained from attending all workshops.

Financial Fitness Program Team:

Dr. Charles Danso, Coordinator

Finance, Law & Real Estate, Cal State LA

Dr. Danso obtained his doctorate from Florida Atlantic University. He has taught several finance classes including personal financial planning. His hope is that students and the community in and around Cal State LA will get useful skills they can apply and share with family, friends, and the community. Click to view Dr. Danso's profile.

Dr. Porschia Nkansa, Coordinator

Accounting, Cal State LA

Dr. Porschia Nkansa is a first-generation college student from Chicago raised by entrepreneurial parents who value education and learning. She would like to see students use the financial skills obtained from the financial fitness program to elevate their financial futures.

Dr. Maryam Tofighi, Director of Behavioral Research and Visualization Environment (BRAVE)

Marketing, Cal State LA

Dr. Maryam Tofighi earned her B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. in Marketing. She has two years of professional experience in marketing. Dr. Tofighi is responsible for measuring the effectiveness of the financial fitness program at Cal State LA. Her favorite quote is from Ayn Rand “Money is only a tool. It will take you wherever you wish, but it will not replace you as the driver.”

• Dr. John Cooper, CBE Accounting Professor
• Mr. Rodrego Byerly, Lecturer, Managing Director, Evitarus
• Mr. Thomas Lawson, Caprice Capital Partners
• Mr. Edgar Ortiz, State Farm Insurance
• Mr. A. Sami Siddiqui, Retired, Banking and Finance