Looking into a conference room in Glass Hall where two financial planning students from Bear Essentials are meeting with a client.

Expert Financial Advice at no cost

Our team of financial planners can help MSU students make smart money choices for free.

About BEAR Essentials

Building Economic Awareness and Resilience (BEAR)

BEAR Essentials is a dynamic, pro bono financial planning community project offered on the Missouri State campus.

Services and features include:

  • Free, high-quality financial planning for students who need financial guidance but wouldn’t typically have access to expert advice.
  • A real-world learning experience for financial planning majors to explore the profession, apply their knowledge, and serve their peers in a meaningful way.
  • A mentorship opportunity for Certified Financial Planner® professionals to help shape the next generation of financial planners while breaking down barriers to financial services in our campus community.

BEAR Essentials logo

Learn more about what we do

Making it all add up for you

Financial planning is the process of determining whether individuals and families can meet their financial goals and how they can implement and monitor plans to meet those goals. At Missouri State, we're preparing the next generation of financial planners to meet the industry's high standards.
A financial planning student looks up to smile while studying from a textbook.

Explore MSU's financial planning program

Our financial planning program uses courses in investments, tax, estate planning, insurance and other financial planning subjects to prepare students for success as professional financial planners.
Four MSU business students dressed in professional attire outside of Glass Hall.

Discover the Standard of Excellence

CFP® professionals meet rigorous education, training and ethical standards, and are committed to serving their clients' best interests today to prepare them for a more secure tomorrow.

Contact us

Person item component: JanaPhillips@MissouriState.edu
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Certification

Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Center for Financial Planning, Inc. owns and licenses the certification marks CFP® and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® in the United States to Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc., which authorizes individuals who successfully complete the organization’s initial and ongoing certification requirements to use the certification marks.