Raise your financial IQ at Benedictine University’s Money Smart Week seminar

When does it make sense to open an individual retirement account (IRA)? Do I qualify for a health care subsidy under the Affordable Care Act? How can I more quickly pay off my student loan?

Students and community members can learn the answers to these and other questions at the Money Smart Week seminar “Navigating Personal Finances in Today’s Environment” from 7:00-8:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 17 in the Krasa Presentation Room at Benedictine University.

Sponsored by the College of Business, the Undergraduate Business programs and the Office of Student Activities at Benedictine University – the fastest-growing university in the country – and U.S. Bank, this free event aims to provide important financial information to the University community and public.

Three speakers – Darryl Franklin, Ph.D., CEO and chief investment officer at Oakwood Wealth Advisors; Linda Pfeifer, Affordable Care Act navigator for the DuPage County Health Department; and Valerie Janke, a certified financial planner at Waddell & Reed – will each provide a 20-minute presentation on several aspects of personal finance followed by a 10-minute question-and-answer session.

Franklin, who earned a Ph.D. in Organization Development from Benedictine in 2009, will discuss retirement and financial planning.

Franklin has served as a consultant and technical advisor to dozens of Fortune 500 companies, and his specialties include faith- and values-based wealth management, financial planning, financial market analysis, retirement planning, small business/nonprofit retirement plans, 401(k)s, IRAs and Roth programs. He is also the creator of the Yield Plus Income Generator™ methodology of portfolio management.

Pfeifer will provide an overview of the new health care law and its current status, and health costs and options for college students and recent graduates. She will also discuss what steps to take if students do not have coverage under a family insurance plan, and health care possibilities for people in transition between jobs or after a layoff.

Janke, who went back to school as an adult student to earn a Bachelor of Arts in Management from Benedictine in 2010, will discuss college savings and debt management while in school, repayment options after graduation and the various financial issues that arise in a first job after college.

Janke began her career at a small financial planning firm in 1995 and has worked in several roles in the industry, including trade settlement, sales support, and branch and regional supervision. Her specialties include retirement and education planning and working with small business owners offering comprehensive financial planning, risk management and asset allocation.

For more information on Money Smart Week at Benedictine, contact Rob Rebman at rrebman@ben.edu or (630) 829-1939.