The Maverick Center for Financial Success

About Us

The Maverick Center for Financial Success (MCFS) was established in the fall of 2023 at Minnesota State University, Mankato with a generous funding from the Schwab Foundation. Initially named, the Schwab Center for Financial Wellness, the structure of the Center was formalized in 2024 with the designation of its co-directors Dr. Daniel Hiebert and Dr. Ishuan Li Simonson from the Department of Finance.

The mission of the Maverick Center for Financial Success at Minnesota State University, Mankato, is to serve as the premier hub for training the next generation of financial planners and advancing financial literacy education across southern Minnesota. By fostering workforce development, the MCFS aims to produce diverse, skilled personal financial planners and entrepreneurs equipped to meet the growing demands of the financial services industry. Additionally, the Center is dedicated to improving financial literacy among students and providing accessible personal finance resources to the local community, creating a lasting impact through education, outreach, and professional development.

The MCFS's priorities are structured in two phases. In Phase 1 (the first 24 months), the Center focuses on establishing a strong foundation by enhancing the Financial Planning Program, providing peer-to-peer financial counseling for students, and launching initiatives like the Financial Conference for Financial Success Day. Phase 2 (starting in the third year) expands these efforts to include training grades 4-12 teachers on financial literacy, offering general education courses for college students, and developing a community-facing non-credit financial literacy program. These priorities reflect a commitment to addressing immediate needs within the university while building a regional infrastructure for financial education.

The MCFS’s goals are designed to achieve measurable outcomes that align with its mission. The key objectives and initiatives are supported by robust research and external partnerships with organizations like the Charles Schwab Foundation. They position the MCFS as a leader in financial wellness education and professional development in financial planning in southern Minnesota.