Back To School, Again
Back in 2024, I shared a blog post called Professor Haas where I hinted that I might pursue more formal education someday. Well, that “someday” came sooner than expected. This past spring I was accepted into the Master’s of Financial Planning program through the College of Financial Planning, and I just finished my first course.
I’ll admit when I signed up, I wondered if I had lost my mind. Desiree probably thought the same thing! Life is already full with the three boys (one of which is in his Senior year and working every week to figure out what’s next for him), a busy wife (her dance studio is doing the Nutcracker this winter), coaching, board meetings, and oh yeah, my normal 40-50 hour workweek. The last thing I needed was MORE deadlines! But I also knew I needed to find out if I could do it. Because of the professional designations I’ve already earned, most importantly my CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification, I only need to complete five courses to earn the Master’s degree. That makes the path manageable. So, I just had to have the discipline for a couple weeks, try out one course, and see if I could make it work. If that meant typing APA-formatted essays at 9:00 p.m. on a Sunday night, so be it.
So, what was this first class like? A lot of reading of peer-reviewed journal articles. A lot of essay writing on planning topics alongside classmates. And, yes, a steady stream of weekly papers with citations in proper APA format (flashbacks to college, anyone?). It wasn’t fun. But it got done, and with a grade better than I expected to get. I guess it also fits into who I am: a lifelong learner. From the CFP® to other designations, to recent behavioral finance coursework I’ve done over the last three years, I’ve always believed in pushing myself to grow.
The biggest lesson for me was how different the academic world can be from the world of working face to face with clients. Early in the course, the professor told us: “What you know doesn’t matter if you can’t find peer-reviewed evidence to back it up.” That was humbling. But it also reminded me that blending evidence with experience is where true value lies. I enjoyed diving deeper into many topics. But how to implement them with real people and real situations is still up to me to figure out.
I’m in no rush to finish the remaining courses. I’ll take them as life allows. But these past few months showed me I can do this. Even if it takes a couple years. Afterall, I’m pursuing this degree not just to sharpen my own skills, but to position myself to maybe teach later in life. Because there’s joy in not only serving all my clients, but in teaching the next generation of planners too.
If lifelong learning is a calling, I’ll keep answering it, one Sunday night paper at a time.
Investment Advice offered through Great Valley Advisor Group, a Registered Investment Advisor. Great Valley Advisor Group and Haas Financial Investment Advice offered through Great Valley Advisor Group, a Registered Investment Advisor. Great Valley Advisor Group and Haas Financial Group are separate entities. This is not intended to be used as tax or legal advice. Please consult a tax or legal professional for specific information and advice. are separate entities. This is not intended to be used as tax or legal advice. Please consult a tax or legal professional for specific information and advice.
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