August 4, 2025, Press Release from Bowling Green State University:
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – Supporting student success and workforce needs, Bowling Green State University and Schwab Advisor Services, in partnership with the Charles Schwab Foundation, are collaborating to increase the number of students studying to be financial planners and sitting for the Certified Financial Planner certification (CFP) in an in-demand industry slated for faster-than-average growth by 2033.
As part of the collaboration, the Allen W. and Carol M. Schmidthorst College of Business at BGSU is receiving a multi-year grant from Schwab Advisor Services to support student learning experiences in financial planning through connections with industry professionals – particularly in wealth management and registered investment advising – and opportunities for travel to national conferences to further learn about the profession. The grant will also support scholarships for students studying financial planning, particularly first-generation and non-traditional learners.
“As a public university for the public good, Bowling Green is committed to aligning our academic programs with industry needs,” BGSU President Rodney K. Rogers said. “This partnership with Schwab Advisor Services will absolutely enhance student learning experiences and opportunities while empowering graduates to lead great careers and great lives in the financial planning profession.”
“The future of the RIA industry and financial services is wholly dependent on young professionals entering the space," said Jon Beatty, head of Schwab Advisor Services. "We are grateful to join BGSU in its mission to help students explore careers in financial services, particularly the RIA industry, which is all about serving people and their local communities."
In addition to bolstering learning experiences, the grant will support the faculty director of the financial planning program in building connections with outside organizations to foster further educational opportunities in and out of the classroom for students.
“This generous grant from Schwab Advisor Services underscores the power of public-private partnerships to drive student success and meet workforce needs,” said Dr. Jennifer Percival, dean of the BGSU Schmidthorst College of Business. “This collaboration will elevate the Schmidthorst College of Business to prepare students to become trusted financial professionals through unique learning experiences alongside registered investment experts and relevant, real-world curriculum to promote career readiness and the confidence to lead in a growing industry.”
“We are proud to work with the Charles Schwab Foundation to help our students earn a quality education that prepares them for careers in the finance industry while also growing the number of candidates sitting for the Certified Financial Planner certification,” said Dr. Joseph Zhang, chair of the Schmidthorst College of Business Accounting and Finance Department.
The grant will also provide BGSU an opportunity to host an annual financial planning symposium on campus, empowering students to engage with multiple financial planning firms and professionals to gain further insight into the industry and make connections for internship and job opportunities.
“Grants of this magnitude are not done overnight. It has taken three years of work and coordination by the Schmidthorst College of Business Finance Advisory Board, Charles Schwab, BGSU and myself," said Mark Kangas, a BGSU alumnus, current CFP holder and owner of North Star Advisory Group, an Ohio-based RIA firm. "We were fortunate to tap into the connections that North Star Advisory Group had made with Charles Schwab to help facilitate the largest single corporate gift that the college’s Accounting and Finance Department has received to date."
In 2022, the Schmidthorst College of Business Finance Advisory Board started an initiative to increase support for the department and the number of students graduating with either a CFP or Chartered Financial Analyst designation. Three years later, the college is seeing a 50% increase in the number of new students interested in studying finance for Fall 2025 compared to last year, signaling promising growth in a program poised for further expansion with support from Schwab Advisor Services.
