Professor awarded grant for $3,000
Utah State University professor Jean Lown was awarded $3,000 from “Smart Women Grants” by Zions Bank for her efforts to educate women about personal finance and investing.
Lown received the grant Oct. 12 for her course “Financial Planning for Women,” the only program in Northern Utah offering monthly financial planning classes.
“I was delighted. I was really surprised, actually,” Lown said. “The money will be well spent.”
Lown said she plans to use the money for fliers, promotion and advertising for her program. She also plans to pay those who work for her.
This was the first year Zions Bank offered micro-grants to recognize women in Utah and Idaho who excel in a number of categories, including continuing education and teacher support, small business start-up and expansion, arts and culture, health and human services and community development.
Lown was one of 11 women selected by the community advisory board of the Zions Bank Women’s Financial Group to receive a grant.
Lown’s program, “Financial Planning for Women,” is intended to help women understand the importance of personal finance and to also motivate them to take responsibility of their financial futures.
“The program is designed to educate and empower women about financial planning,” Lown said. “We mainly focus on investing, basic budgeting and getting out of debt.”
The course also tries to present the importance of long-term financial planning.
“I emphasize a holistic approach to financial planning. Set your goals, prioritize and don’t let the lesser issues distract you from your goal,” Lown said.
The classes are open to women of any age and any situation. She said it is as important for young people to attend as it is for people of retirement age.
Lown said younger women need to know how to provide for their children and family if necessary. Those closer to retirement also need to have a clear understanding of their finances.
“There is a huge cohort of baby boomers approaching retirement and most of the baby boomers don’t have a lot of money saved for retirement,” Lown said.
She said she has had a few men interested in the class and has not turned them away. However, women tend to be more submissive when men are around and are less likely to be actively involved, Lown said.
Each program is centered on a separate topic. Lown recently focused on home-owner’s insurance and also flood and earthquake insurance.
“Occasionally, we try to find something timely,” Lown said.
If interested in “Financial Planning for Women,” contact Lown at lown@cc.usu.edu. The program also has a Web site, www.usu.edu/fpw. Schedules, power point presentations from previous classes and information about related topics can be found.
The class meets the second Wednesday of each month and is usually taught by Lown. The program is taught in the afternoon from 12:30 p.m.-1:30p.m. in USU Family Life 318. It is also offered at night at 7- 8:30 p.m. in the Family Life Center located at 493 N. 700 East.
-ariek@cc.usu.edu