The Department of Agricultural Economics in the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences received approval from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to create a Bachelor of Science degree program in financial planning.
The new bachelor’s degree program will start Aug. 15.
This will be the first degree from Texas A&M University that focuses specifically on holistic financial planning, which involves managing household short- and long-term financial goals across various areas such as risk management, insurance, investments, retirement, household taxation, estate and retirement planning.
Growing demand for financial planners
Financial planning is one of the fastest-growing career fields, with an increasing number of people turning to these professionals to help them make informed decisions to achieve their financial goals.
The Texas Workforce Commission estimates that in the decade from 2018 to 2028, the number of personal financial advisers will grow by 25.3%, almost double the average growth rate across all occupations.
“With trillions of dollars estimated to pass between the oldest three generations in the coming decade, the need for holistic financial planning has never been greater,” said Nathan Harness, Ph.D., an instructional professor and director of financial planning in the Department of Agricultural Economics. “There is a lot of demand from individuals wanting sound retirement investment advice, as well as advice on other future investment needs, from an industry in which the current average age of a certified financial planner is about 60.”
