Center for the Study of Personal Financial Planning
Mission & Objective
The Center for the Study of Personal Financial Planning aims at advancing research, education, and outreach in the field of personal financial planning.
The primary objectives of the Center are:
- To promote and support research in personal financial planning among faculty and students.
- To encourage and facilitate student engagement in professional development activities.
- To advance financial literacy through research and outreach programs.
- To foster a collaborative environment that advances knowledge and practice in financial planning.
Associate Professor
Finance Department
Director
Personal Financial Planning Programs
Fowler College of Business
San Diego State University
San Diego, CA 92182-8221, USA
Phone: 619-594-2082
Email: [email protected]
Research
Director of Center for the Study of Personal Financial Planning
Ning Tang, Ph.D, CFP®, is an Associate Professor in the Fowler College of Business and serves as Director of the Personal Financial Planning Programs and Director of the Center for the Study of Personal Financial Planning. Her research lies at the intersection of household finance, financial literacy and education, and behavioral finance.
Dr. Tang’s work spans a wide range of topics in personal financial planning, including the efficiency of 401(k) plans and target-date funds, behavioral biases in retirement and investment decisions, and the role of financial education in improving financial outcomes. More recently, she has incorporated big data into her research on household finance. Her work has been published in high quality journals such as the Journal of Public Economics and the Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization. She has received recognition including the TD Ameritrade Best Paper Award in Behavioral Finance and was selected as a TIAA Institute Fellow.
In addition to her research, Dr. Tang teaches courses in personal financial planning and is actively involved in developing innovative tools and interventions to enhance the effectiveness of financial literacy education.
Assistant Professor, Finance Department
[email protected]
Phone: 619-594-4166
Byeong-Je (Jay) An is an Assistant Professor of Finance at the Fowler College of Business at San Diego State University. His research lies at the intersection of household finance, financial decision-making, and information in financial markets, with a particular focus on how individuals and households form expectations, allocate assets, and respond to financial disclosures and economic uncertainty.
Professor An’s work contributes to a growing body of research that seeks to better understand the financial behavior of households—key decision-makers in savings, investment, and retirement planning. His recent research explores topics such as retirement expectations, target-date fund choices, and the role of information environments in shaping financial decisions, offering insights relevant to both financial advisors and policymakers.
More broadly, his scholarship connects household financial outcomes to broader financial systems through the study of disclosure, expectations, and market behavior. His research has been published in leading academic journals including the Journal of Finance and the Journal of Financial Economics.
Education
Financial Planning Association Student Chapter
The San Diego State University Financial Planning Association (FPA) strives to provide a bridge between the financial services industry and students at SDSU in a friendly and professional manner. The FPA of SDSU has weekly meetings to discuss financial planning industry topics and hear from Financial Services professionals in the industry currently.
Student Experiential Learning: Financial Planning Software Training (eMoney)
To support hands-on learning and career readiness in the financial planning industry, the Center for the Study of Personal Financial Planning facilitates student participation in the eMoney University Program, which provides access to professional financial planning software.This opportunity allows students to develop practical skills widely used by financial planners, complementing their academic training.
After submitting applications, students who enroll in the program will receive access to the student version of eMoney, where they can complete self-paced training modules, build financial plans, and earn a certificate upon completion. In addition, the FPA Student Chapter will offer workshops to further support skill development and application.
How to Participate
- Sign up within the first three weeks of the semester by completing the form below (name and email required).
- Eligible students will receive instructions to activate their free eMoney student account.
- Complete the eMoney University training modules at your own pace.
- Participate in optional FPA Student Chapter workshops to enhance your learning experience.
- Earn a certificate of completion to showcase your technical skills in financial planning.
