Financial Education

Smith College launched its comprehensive financial education program in 2001 to ensure that Smith students acquire the skills to understand and manage finances in their personal, professional, family and community lives. Smith believes that financial acumen is vital to achieving leadership in today’s complex world. The center offers a curricular course about global financial markets, co-curricular workshops, weekly learn and lunch courses on investing and a personal finance bootcamp for graduating seniors.

Please note: The center’s faculty, staff and student interns are not financial advisers, planners or consultants. We provide financial education, not personal finance advice.

Learn & Lunch

Registration is not required to participate in any of the center’s non-credit learn and lunch courses. Scheduled for noontime with lunch provided for all attendees, we make it easy for students to fit our activities into their schedules.

Take charge of your financial life!

In this online course, the Jill Ker Conway Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center presents an accessible and informative set of topics, videos, and activities to help you improve your financial literacy. The course is taught by Smith College Economics professor Randall Bartlett. With his eloquent storytelling prowess, Bartlett demystifies financial topics ranging from the time value of money to taxable income, and helps you gain a firm conceptual understanding of personal finance. A strong foundation in financial literacy will empower you to ask the right questions when managing your own financial affairs throughout your life.

Click here to register!

Principles of Investing

TBD

More accurately called “stocks and bonds,” Professor Roger Kaufman introduces students, faculty and staff to the fundamental concepts of investing, including differentiation between stocks and bonds; mutual funds, ETFs and index funds; the importance of portfolio diversification; and approaches to asset allocation. Lunch is provided for the first 30 attendees.

Special Events

Date TBD: Business School Admissions Panel

Campus Center Carroll Room

Admissions officers (schools TBD) will speak with students about their admissions process, curriculum and opportunities. Co-sponsored by Smithies in Business. Dinner provided.

Backpack to Briefcase

*virtual event*

Professor Randy Bartlett offers graduating seniors a final opportunity to get unbiased financial education for FREE. Topics include: managing your money, student loan debt and credit card debt; navigating your taxes; and maximizing your retirement saving from your first day on the job. Details and link to sign up to come.

Workshops

September 19: Dollars & $ense

Noon—1 p.m., Campus Center 103/104

College students face a few financial challenges: opening new bank accounts, dealing with credit card advertisements, budgeting for necessities and for fun, and much more. CIEC is here to help! This workshop will address the myriad personal finance issues facing students, helping to get you and your wallet off to a good start at Smith. Lunch provided.

November 2: Learn to Excel with Excel (Intro/Intermediate)

9 a.m.—3 p.m., Bass 103

Students hoping to secure an internship at a financial institution for Summer 2020 or who just want to improve data management skills are strongly encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity. This is the first of a two-part workshop series for Excel beginners. Space is limited with priority given to students currently enrolled in GFX100. $20 cash deposit required to reserve a spot. Breakfast snacks and lunch provided.

November 9: Learn to Excel with Excel (Advanced)

10 a.m.—3 p.m., Bass 103

Students hoping to secure an internship at a financial institution for Summer 2020 or who just want to improve data management skills are strongly encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity. This is the second of a two-part workshop series for Excel beginners. Space is limited with priority given to students currently enrolled in GFX100. $20 cash deposit required to reserve a spot. Breakfast snacks and lunch provided.