# @uwmadsohe on Facebook

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.facebook.com/1642504237056710/posts/1595552071751927
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/55047830-uwmadsohe-facebook
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/9f291d3b0e.jpg
- **Posted:** 2025-12-08T16:20:16.000+00:00

## Caption

Human Ecology students practice their future professions well before they graduate. These pivotal experiences help students figure out their passion points and network with employers in industries of interest.

Linda Lepe, Consumer Science teaching faculty, created a collaborative opportunity for Personal Finance students in her Financial Planning Case Competition course. In small teams, students developed a comprehensive financial plan that covered a client's net worth, cash flow, insurance review, as well as investment, retirement, tax and estate planning.

During the project, alumni joined the student teams as coaches—providing guidance and advice. Then, students presented their financial plans to a panel of alumni judges including: Sara Strohmaier '15, principal at Plante Moran; Kyra Adrian '23, financial advisor at Savant Wealth Management; and Carol Vander Sluis '88, principal & senior wealth advisor at Kovitz and member of the School of Human Ecology Dean's Advisory Board.

"I want students to hear from people doing this work so they can better understand how their learnings translate into a post-graduation job," said Lepe, who is also the academic and program director of the Financial Planning and Personal Finance programs. "As for the alumni, I want them to feel connected to the program and provide input on how to improve the class. Our alums are the best! Their commitment sparked my interest in creating the class."

A special thank you to the alumni coaches who worked closely with students throughout the semester: Josh Isenberger '21, senior trust advisor at Plante Moran; Josh McMahon '20, financial planner at Creative Planning; Megan Devault '20, wealth planner at BMO Wealth Management; Joe Pitzl '03, managing partner at Pitzl Financial; Justin Gabriel '17, partner at Pitzl Financial; and Grace Wiedmeyer '21, AVP at Bernstein Private Wealth Management.

Photos by Sharon Vanorny

#HumanEcology #PersonalFinance #FinancialPlanning

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## Tags

personalfinance, financialplanning, humanecology

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