Student Group WEALTH•NESS Brings New Approach to Personal Finance for Students

At the end of the Spring 2024 semester, Kaley Cant, a Business – General major, came to Wenonah Carney, a Financial Literacy success coach, with an idea for a new student organization that would blend holistic wellness practices with personal finance. Little did Kaley know, that’s exactly what Wenonah had been working toward through her role in CCP’s Single Stop office.   

“The ‘whole’ student is important to consider, and financial stability and literacy are pivotal parts of student success,” Wenonah said. 

“We want students to be empowered, active agents when it comes to their money.”

This approach spoke to Kaley, the group’s president, when she first learned about it in her Stocks 101 course. 

“It just made sense to me,” said Kaley. “Of course, you can’t focus on building personal financial health without first meeting your mental and emotional needs.” 

And so, WEALTH•NESS was born. Through her coaching work, Wenonah formed relationships with students interested in acting as peer mentors.  Kaley and Wenonah recruited students from that list, and from Kaley’s Business classes.

Dave Hansen, Business – General major, became interested in joining the group when Kaley announced their first meeting in a Business 101 class. He’s been an active member ever since and now serves as treasurer of the organization. 

For Dave, this approach is about wholeness within oneself and the realization that finances really do affect every part of a person’s life.

“I would say that our approach to finance management and sense of self creates a sense of completeness,” Dave said. 

“Many individuals tend to disregard their health in the pursuit of financial wealth, but often times, that creates a pitfall where money is just being used to recover their wellness.”

Dave said that WEALTH•NESS’s approach helps individuals develop both financial and overall wellness simultaneously, which allows students to keep their hard-earned money without too much sacrifice. 

“Of course I would never preach what I don't practice,” Dave said. 

“With this approach to personal wealth, I have saved most of my income, gotten healthier and have gotten back to religion in the time I've been with the club.”