Steve Lear

Steve Lear and Brooklyn Forster were recently invited to present a seminar to Professor Jeff Stamp’s Food and Ag Sales class at the University of Minnesota.

They focused on a topic students may not formally learn in school, yet need throughout life:

How to be financially ready for life’s biggest moments and unexpected curveballs.

Through their engaging presentation, Financial Preparedness for Life Events: The Real Syllabus They Didn’t Put in Your Course Catalog, students explored a timeline of financial decisions they may face during major life stages, including career and lifestyle choices, debt, savings, emergencies, and long-term planning.

By highlighting both effective financial habits and common pitfalls to avoid, the seminar demonstrated how a strong financial future is built through the decisions people make today.

While new legislation ensures that Minnesota high school students receive personal finance education, many current college students have never had access to this type of training.

That’s why conversations like this matter.

Steve and Brooklyn emphasized that the earlier young adults develop strong financial habits, the more prepared they will be to navigate life with confidence.

One student later shared:
“I wanted to thank you and Brooklyn for coming into class yesterday. Your presentation was very helpful and very interesting as well, and it’s really guiding me to think more about my financial future.”
— Melia
We’re grateful to Professor Jeff Stamp and the Department of Applied Economics at the University of Minnesota for the opportunity to help equip the next generation with greater financial confidence and capability.