Faces of CAFNR: Personal Financial Planning

Introducing the faculty members from PFP.




photo of the 6 columns framing Jesse Hall on a blue sky day

PFP faculty members joined the CAFNR family earlier this year! Learn more about them as we introduce our new colleagues in Personal Financial Planning.

Starla Ivey

Starla Ivey

What is your role/title?

Instructor and graduate program coordinator

What do you enjoy most about working in Mizzou’s PFP program?

I love when students hit the “aha” moment when all starts to make sense, and they understand how powerful that personal finance is in their lives and their family. The program creates a family atmosphere that genuinely cares about their students and their success.

What advice do you have to give future/current PFP students?

Lay it all on the table. Don’t be afraid to try new things, especially those that are outside of your comfort zone.

Abed Rabbani
Abed Rabbani teaches undergraduate and graduate level courses in PFP. He also performs research focusing on risk tolerance and risk literacy.

Abed Rabbani

What is your role/title?

Assistant professor in Personal Financial Planning

What advice do you have to give future/current PFP students?

College is the greatest opportunity you will ever have for personal development. As Oscar Wilde said, “Be yourself, everyone else is already taken.” Be confident, get out of your comfort zone, and try new things.

Mary Dorn

Mary Dorn

What is your role/title?

I am the academic advisor for personal financial planning and serve as the faculty advisor for the Financial Planning Association.

What advice do you have to give future/current PFP students?

There is so much more to PFP than just getting your degree. Get involved, network with peers and industry professionals, join Mizzou Financial Planning Association. The thing I hear most often from graduates is that they wish they would have gotten involved sooner. Once you graduate, sit for the CFP exam while the information is still fresh and you are used to studying. Finally, always remember you are part of the PFP family and that should stand for something.

Deanna Sharpe, Personal Financial Planning

Deanna Sharpe

What is your role/title?

Associate professor and Director of CFP Board-Registered Program

What advice do you have to give future/current PFP students?

Unprecedented times provide us with unprecedented opportunities. Need has never been greater for skilled, ethical, professional personal financial planners to help individuals and families achieve financial stability and security. Those serving clients as a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ not only give sound financial advice and develop plans for financial success. If you want a career that makes a difference in life, come talk with us and explore opportunities in personal financial services.

Jim Green

James Green

What is your role/title?

Adjunct assistant teaching professor and Director of  the Office for Financial Success

What advice do you have to give future/current PFP students?

Always keep in mind this is a human-targeted service. There’s a human receiving your help with human frailties, behaviors and issues. Personal finance is about the person. If it wasn’t, it would be business finance.

Rui Yao

What is your role/title?

Professor and Director of Graduate Studies

What advice do you have to give future/current PFP students?

Have a vision; be a team member; work hard; be resilient; and be the best!