Shared Success

At Personal Finance Reimagined (PFR), we believe financial literacy isn't just about knowledge—it's about decisions. But behind every successful course, seminar, and student transformation is a team. This spring’s student feedback from our Behavioral Personal Finance (B-PF) class at James Madison University and George Mason University confirmed that belief—and reminded me that while Professor Wieland and I may be the face in the classrooms, the impact is shared.

As the founder and president of PFR, I stay active as a professor and program leader because I love connecting with clients, colleges, and communities. Yet none of this would be possible without the dedication of our advisory board, executive team, and institutional partners. This article is a celebration of that shared success.

What Is PFR?

PFR is a decision-making and financial education platform with one mission: help people make consistent, confident choices that build lifelong wealth. We deliver that mission through:

• Books like Making Choices, Making Money, endorsed by leading behavioral economists.

• Technology like Definitive Choice, our patented smartphone-based decision-making tool.

• Curriculum and Tools for professors, program leaders, and entrepreneurs—including test banks, presentations, and real-world project templates.

We wrap each partner in the structure they need to succeed, whether they’re teaching financial literacy, running a startup, or supporting underserved students.

A Growing Network of Partners

Our work is proudly hosted by universities such as James Madison University, George Mason University, Christopher Newport University, and Virginia Commonwealth University, where classes and seminars introduce students to real-world money decisions: housing, investing, insurance, and more. We also work closely with student services teams, especially those supporting first-generation students. At JMU, for instance, our sessions for first-gen students are designed to be interactive, culturally relevant, and highly practical.

Beyond the university classroom, PFR partners with high schools and community organizations like On The Road Collaborative, a nonprofit that provides after-school support and decision-making workshops for college-curious youth. We prioritize achieving College ROI by evaluating both traditional paths and cost-effective, time-efficient nontraditional options.

Finally, our startup channel helps early-stage entrepreneurs by providing CFO services, equity planning, and wealth strategy—turning brilliant ideas into sustainable ventures.

These organizations and communities are more than clients. They are co-creators in the journey of spreading financial literacy and decision science. Their trust and collaboration power our shared success.

What Students Are Saying

This semester, 97% of our B-PF students said they would recommend the course to a friend. When asked about the teaching effectiveness and value of the class, their words were both humbling and energizing:

• “Definitely one of the best classes I have taken at JMU in terms of preparing for life.”

• “Professor Hulett is hands down one of the best professors I’ve ever had. He deeply cares about the material and delivers it excellently.”

• “You actually learn valuable long-term skills from this class.”

• “This class should be taken by every student at JMU.”

• “The Definitive Choice app and the way we simulated real-life decisions was so valuable.”

Several students mentioned their favorite topics—planning for weddings, buying a house, and investing for retirement—while others pointed to the classroom dynamic:

• “The real-life application made the class incredibly engaging.”

• “I liked how passionate my professor was—he made me want to get involved.”

• “He actually takes the time to teach in a successful way, unlike most professors who just do it as a job.”

These aren’t just compliments. They are validations that the PFR model—content-rich, tech-enabled, real-world application, and engagement—is working. And they’re a reminder that when education is designed around how people actually make decisions, learning becomes transformative.

The Road Ahead

PFR’s reach continues to grow. We’re currently in discussion with several new partners, expanding our startup CFO services and exploring statewide high school initiatives. Our vision is bold but simple: equip every learner—student, entrepreneur, or community member—with the decision tools to thrive financially, personally, and professionally.

To those reading this who have partnered with us: thank you. To those who may want to collaborate—whether you're leading a school, a nonprofit, or a business—let’s talk.

Because true success is never solo.

It’s shared.