Abhirath Baiju

Contributing Writer

The Sokolov Miller Family Financial and Life Skills Center at Penn State is launching a free online webinar series for students from all campuses, designed to equip them with essential financial and life skills for success during college and beyond. The sessions run from February through May 2026 and are scheduled online on Tuesdays from 12:00 to 1 p.m. EST. Advance registration is required.

Each session focuses on a key topic that impacts students’ financial wellbeing. The webinars are designed to be practical, engaging, and immediately applicable.

• Building a Better Budget – Tuesday, February 3

Students will learn how to build a personalized budget that matches their unique lifestyle and financial goals. Topics include tracking income versus expenses, creating realistic spending categories, and planning for both short-term needs and long-term savings.

• Financial Decluttering – Tuesday, March 3

This session focuses on organizing your financial life: simplifying accounts, streamlining subscriptions, and reducing money-related stress by creating clear systems for tracking and managing finances.

• Student Loans – Tuesday, March 17

Participants will explore types of student loans, repayment options, minimizing interest costs, and long-term strategies for managing loan debt after graduation, a crucial topic for many Penn State students.

• Money and Relationships – Tuesday, March 31

This webinar addresses communication about money in interpersonal relationships, including budgeting with roommates or partners, setting shared financial goals, and resolving conflicts around spending and saving.

• After Graduation – Tuesday, April 14

Perfect for students preparing to transition out of college, this session covers planning for first-year expenses, understanding benefits, setting financial goals, and establishing healthy money habits early in adulthood.

• Environmental Stewardship – Tuesday, April 28

This installment ties financial decisions to environmental impact, offering tips for sustainable living on a budget, including energy-saving strategies, conscious consumption choices, and practical ways to reduce both financial and

environmental waste.

• Credit Scores and Reports – Tuesday, May 12

Participants will learn how credit works, how to read a credit report, how credit scores are calculated, and steps students can take to build or improve credit safely, foundational knowledge for future financial milestones like renting, buying a car, or seeking loans.

All Penn State students from any campus are eligible to participate in this webinar series.

Advance registration is required for each session. Students can register via the Zoom link

Here: http://psu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_exX6htPqSKay8Y7R-zpvcw#/registration

Even if students are unable to attend live, webinars are often recorded and made available through YouTube or the Center’s website for later viewing. 

The Center’s mission is to “provide learners with the ability to use knowledge and skills to manage financial resources effectively for a lifetime of financial wellbeing.” Its programs help students develop confidence and practical skills for managing money and planning for life’s milestones. The Center serves Penn State students, staff, alumni, and the broader university community through workshops, presentations, webinars, one-on-one coaching, self-study resources, and more. 

The Sokolov Miller Family Financial and Life Skills Center offers a broad range of financial education services for Penn Staters. These include:

• One-on-one financial coaching with trained professionals and highly trained student ambassadors, available both in person and online.

• Interactive presentations and workshops on core financial topics.

• Webinars covering timely personal finance and life skills subjects.

• Online self-study modules through the Money Counts financial literacy curriculum, allowing students to learn at their own pace.

• Recorded webinar access for students who cannot attend live sessions. 

In addition to the spring series, the Center offers:

• One-on-one coaching appointments to help students tackle personal financial challenges.

• Interactive workshops and presentations that can be scheduled for classes or student groups.

• Self-paced learning modules through the Money Counts curriculum covering topics like credit management, debt reduction, savings strategies, and retirement basics. 

Through these programs, the Sokolov Miller Family Financial and Life Skills Center aims to empower students to make informed financial decisions that build a strong foundation for their future.

Abhirath Baiju is a Financial Literacy Ambassador at Penn State Behrend. He can be reached via email at apb6894@psu.edu or in person in Reed 114 in the Career Services Office.