Fred Selinger has taught Personal Financial Management through the Haas School of Business for the last eight years, covering a wide range of topics from the subprime mortgage crisis to love and money (did you know, for example, that alimony is tax deductible?).
“I think it became clear to the administration that the amount of student debt and credit card debt was overwhelming many students and graduates,” Selinger said. “It made practical sense to teach students how to manage their personal finances so as to reduce debt and increase wealth.”
Roxy Barghahn, a recent Berkeley grad who took the course in 2012, said Selinger stressed the importance of saving at a young age by highlighting core strategies recent college grads should use to be financially secure in the future — all with a signature panache.
“He drew upon his own experiences — likewhen he and his wife leased a car together — and encouraged class participation to animate concepts that could otherwise be boring,” she said. “A pragmatic approach to teaching personal finance, paired with a dry sense of humor, made it memorable and impactful — especially as I confront many financial decisions in my post-collegiate, professional life.”
Over 5,000 students have completed the course to date and the fall semester is at capacity. In fact, interest has been so high that a similar course will be offered to graduate students in the spring. This two-credit course is available to all students enrolled at the university, even those not in the business school.
Photo credit: John-Morgan
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