Isabella Bank Institute for Entrepreneurship

A team of finance students from Central Michigan University’s College of Business Administration won first place in the Financial Planning Challenge at the inaugural Future Advisors Conference Championship. The competition, held on Jan. 23, 2025, at the University of Florida, allowed the students to apply their financial planning knowledge to a real-world case scenario. 

Bridging the gap between students and industry professionals 

The Future Advisors Conference, organized in partnership with Schwab Advisor Services and the Charles Schwab Foundation, was created to address the growing need for skilled financial advisors. Students in the competition were tasked with developing comprehensive financial plans, which they presented to expert panels from various areas of industry. 

With more than 12 universities participating, the competition was intense. It tested students' skills in financial analysis, strategic planning, and delivering clear, effective recommendations. 

 The CBA Team’s strategy and success 

The winning College of Business team—composed of Dylan Gergely, a sophomore personal financial planning and finance student from Woodhaven, Mich., Ryan Hampton, a senior accounting, finance, and personal financial planning student from Midland, Mich., Trevor Carnovsky, a junior accounting and finance student from Berkley, Mich., and Cole Carpenter, a junior personal financial planning student from Mt. Pleasant, Mich.—earned recognition for their analytical skills and client-focused solutions. The case required them to help a family manage an unexpected $200,000 inheritance while working toward financial goals for their children. 

“We learned about the competition through a faculty member and saw it as an excellent opportunity to apply our knowledge in a real-world setting,” said Ryan Hampton, who also works as a retirement and investment center coordinator at Dow Credit Union in Midland. The biggest challenge was condensing a comprehensive financial plan into a clear and impactful presentation. 

The road to success wasn’t without obstacles. The team had to adjust their schedule after Hurricane Milton caused a delay in the competition dates. While reorganizing their plans was difficult, they worked efficiently and managed to deliver their best work under pressure. Hampton described how the team overcame these hurdles and remained focused throughout the process. 

Recognition and opportunities ahead 

As winners of the Financial Planning Challenge, the CMU team earned valuable prizes, including a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) exam review course worth $1,495 per student. This opportunity will help them on their path to earning the CFP certification. The win also further establishes CMU as a leader in finance and wealth management training. Faculty members and peers have congratulated the team for their achievement, recognizing the hard work that led to their success. 

Looking forward 

The Future Advisors Conference provides students with crucial connections between academia and industry, offering practical experience, career mentoring, and networking opportunities. CMU’s real-world business education played a key role in the team’s success, setting an academic benchmark and a roadmap for students pursuing high-level competitions. 

Through their victory, the CMU College of Business Administration continues to demonstrate its commitment to preparing students for leadership roles in the financial sector. You can learn more about the personal financial planning program on the finance and law department page.