April is Financial Capability Month. Financial well-being is the ability to confidently understand and implement concepts including saving, investing, and managing debt that can lead to an overall sense of financial well-being and self-trust (Experian, 2021).
Every year, SSAC's Financial Well-Being Team partners with various departments around all of our campuses and with community professionals to create MONEY SMART DAY, a virtual and in-person financial capability conference to help you find financial balance in your life.
MONEY SMART DAY 2025
Wednesday, April 9th is MONEY SMART DAY 2025!!!
- Day-long event filled with informational and empowering sessions that will set you on the path to financial freedom and security.
- Topics include anti-scamming, first-time home buying, funding higher education, health insurance, salary negotiation, student loan repayment, and saving and investing!!!
- Tabling on Wednesday, April 9th at all 3 campuses. Participate in Money Smart Squares where you could win a prize! Register and attend at least one session and you will be entered in the drawing to win an iPad.
Money Smart Day Activities
Money Smart Day Tabling - Giveaways and snacks plus Play Money Smart Squares
Time: 9:00 – 11:00+ AM (may vary at each campus)
Location:
- Fairfax Campus: Johnson Center KIOSK B on 4/9 (10:00 - 12:00) and KIOSK E/G on 4/8 (11:00 AM - 1:00 PM)
- Mason Square Campus: Plaza (outside of Van Metre Hall)
- Sci Tech Campus: First Floor Atrium in Katherine Johnson Hall
️$ How GMU Students Can Avoid Fraud & Scams
Time: 10:30 – 11:30 AM
Location: Virtual plus in-person viewing at Fairfax SUB 1, room 4210
Scams and identity theft can happen to anyone! Find out how to protect yourself.
$ Buying & Financing a Home as a First-Time Buyer (box lunches provided while supplies last) *
Time: 12:00 – 1:00 PM
Location: In-person at Mason Square Van Metre Hall, room 308 with virtual viewing
Learn the ins and outs of home buying and financing from industry experts.
$ Funding Your Higher Education
Time: 1:00 - 2:00 PM
Location: In-person at Fairfax SUB 1, room 4210 with virtual viewing
Learn about financial aid options.
$ Student Loan Repayments: What is Happening?
Time: 2:00 – 2:30 PM
Location: Virtual plus in-person viewing at Fairfax SUB 1, room 4210
Get up-to-date information on student loan repayment options.
$ For the Health of It: Health Insurance 101
Time: 3:00 – 4:00 PM
Location: Virtual plus in-person viewing at Fairfax SUB 1, room 4210
Learn everything you need to know about health insurance to safeguard your well-being and your wallet.
$ Salary Negotiation
Time: 4:30 – 5:30 PM
Location: Virtual plus in-person viewing at Fairfax SUB 1, room 4210
Discover the art of negotiation and how to maximize your earning potential.
$ Building Wealth Through Saving & Investing
Time: 6:00 – 7:30 PM
Location: In-person at Fairfax SUB 1, room 4210 with virtual viewing
Learn how to build wealth and protect your money from investment scams
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Snacks will be provided at tabling and in-live sessions.
* Box lunches will be provided only at the Mason Square session on a first-come, first-served basis and while supplies last.
You must register and attend at least one session to qualify for the iPad drawing.
Register on Mason 360.
Money Smart Day Speakers/Presenters
️$ How GMU Students Can Avoid Fraud & Scams - Ari Lazarus, Consumer Education Specialist, FTC
- Presentation Overview: Scams and identity theft can happen to anyone — even college students. Do you know what to do if someone steals your personal or financial information? Join staff from the Federal Trade Commission for a discussion on scams and identity theft basics – along with free resources to share with other students, faculty and staff on campus.
- Ari's Bio: Ari Lazarus is a Consumer Education Specialist in the FTC’s Division of Consumer and Business Education. He has worked extensively on various education campaigns, including online safety and privacy topics, student loan debt relief scams, among others. Ari’s outreach work focuses on reaching college students and libraries and sharing tips with them on how to avoid frauds and scams. Prior to coming to the FTC, Ari worked in personal financial management. Ari holds a Master of Public Policy from the University of Maryland and a Bachelor’s Degree from Rutgers University.
$ Buying & Financing a Home as a First-Time Buyer - Amal Hall, Realtor and Jenny Books, Loan Officer
- Presentation Overview: Join us for an essential guide to buying and financing your first home! This presentation will walk you through every step of the process—from securing a lender to closing the deal. Learn best practices, avoid common pitfalls, and gain the confidence you need to navigate your home-buying journey successfully. If you're a first-time buyer, this is the perfect starting point to turn your homeownership dreams into reality!
- Amal's Bio: Amal Hall is a dedicated real estate professional with Samson Properties, bringing nearly five years of experience and over $7 million in solo sales. Specializing in first-time home buyers and sellers—who make up more than 60% of her clients—she understands that every real estate journey is unique. With a personalized approach, she takes the time to listen to her clients’ goals, wants, and needs, ensuring a smooth and successful experience from start to finish.
- Jenny's Bio: Jenny Books is a loan officer in the Fredericksburg, VA, branch where she focuses on generating loans and helping borrowers meet their unique financial needs. Her career has included prior stops at Second Bank & Trust, C&F Bank and Embrace Home Loans, with responsibilities ranging from budget management and compliance, branch operations, construction lending and residential purchases and refinances. Jenny grew up in the Fredericksburg area and currently lives in Spotsylvania with her husband. She enjoys running and has participated in two marathons and several half-marathons, and has volunteered as a treasurer for a local elected official. In her spare time, you can find her watching football or enjoying family time on the beach.
$ Funding Your Higher Education - Leslie Rodriguez, Asst Director of Athletics & Compliance, GMU's OSFA
- Presentation Overview: Leslie will provide a summary of how to approach financing your education including a review of resources that may be available, whether you are an undergraduate or graduate student or are eligible for federal aid, Virginia state aid, or external sources of aid.
- Leslie's Bio: Leslie Rodriguez, originally from Queens, NY, is a dedicated professional with a strong background in accounting and higher education. She holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree from Mason. She has worked in higher education for almost 8 years, 3 as a Student Account Specialist, 4 as a Financial Aid Counselor, and currently as the Assistant Director of Athletics and Compliance in Mason's Office of Student Financial Aid.
$ Student Loan Repayments: What is Happening? - Shannon Osborne, MA, Associate Director, SSAC
- Presentation Overview: Student loan repayments keep changing and can be confusing as to what the current options are for repaying back these loans. Join us for an informational 30-minute session that will go over the current changes and help to navigate potential options for what is to come with Public Service Loan Forgiveness and the Income Driven Repayment Plans.
- Shannon's Bio: Shannon Osborne is the Associate Director for Financial Well-Being in the Student Support and Advocacy Center at Mason. She has over 16 years of Financial Aid experience but has focused most of her career on financial literacy and well-being for students. She received her Master of Arts in Financial Communication from Indiana University Indianapolis and a Bachelor of Arts in Telecommunications from Indiana University. She also received a 2nd Master of Arts in Global Community Engagement from University of Denver which enables her to help all students navigate an understanding of finances.
$ For the Health of It: Health Insurance 101 - Stephanie Amirsoltani, MPH, CHES, BSN, RN, Health & Well-Being Coordinator, GMU's SHS
- Presentation Overview: Health insurance can often seem like a daunting matter, filled with jargon and complicated plans. This presentation breaks down the basics of health insurance so you can understand how health insurance works, define common insurance terms, and explore common health insurance options.
- Stephanie's Bio: Stephanie Amirsoltani, MPH, CHES®, BSN, RN (she/her) is the Health and Well-Being Coordinator at Student Health Services. Her role is dedicated to advancing health and well-being on campus. Stephanie is a two-time alum of George Mason, earning her Bachelor of Science in Nursing and her Master of Public Health. As a health educator and registered nurse, Stephanie is deeply committed to enhancing health literacy and empowering individuals with the knowledge and skills to make informed decisions about their health.
$ Salary Negotiation - Elena Chiru, Director of Career Advising, GMU Career Services
- Presentation Overview: Empower yourself, whether you're a current college student or an alum, with essential skills to confidently negotiate your salary. Learn practical techniques and invaluable insights to advocate for fair compensation as you navigate the dynamic landscape of the professional world.
- Elena's Bio: As the Director of Career Advising at University Career Services (UCS), Elena Chiru leads a dynamic team that’s here to help you navigate your career journey. Serving over 40,000 students, UCS is dedicated to making sure every student has access to career resources that promote success. With a team of thirteen career advisors who specialize in various industries, UCS is nationally recognized for its innovative and personalized approach to career advising, programs, and employer connections. Whether you’re choosing a major, setting career goals, or preparing for internships and jobs, UCS is here to support you. Take advantage of our individual appointments, career-preparation courses, and workshops to create a standout resume, connect with Mason alumni, and prepare for your future—whether in the workplace or further study. Engage with UCS early and often to maximize your career potential!
$ Building Wealth Through Saving & Investing - Thomas D. Manganello, JD, Senior Counsel, SEC's Office of Investor Education and Advocacy (OIEA)
- Presentation Overview: Learn how to build wealth beginning with your first job with this 3-step roadmap presented by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Topics will include:
- Paying down credit card debt and living within your means
- Getting banked and starting an emergency fund
- Participating in your workplace 401(k) or IRA
- What to consider when using investing apps
- Considerations with emerging investments
- Protecting your money from investment scams
- Tom's Bio: Tom Manganello is a senior counsel in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Office of Investor Education and Advocacy (OIEA). In that role, Tom helps to coordinate investor education throughout the SEC’s headquarters and 10 regional offices. Tom researches, writes and disseminates an extensive library of plain language investor education tools and resources on the SEC’s website, www.Investor.gov. Tom is a subject matter expert on saving, investing and avoiding scams, and has been a featured lecturer, panelist, moderator, and social media communicator for 10 years. Tom regularly guest lectures on “Building Wealth Through Saving and Investing” to college and high school audiences, and he speaks to organizations and groups representing novice investors, including returning citizens. Tom has conducted hundreds of financial readiness briefs at military installations around the world, and he highlights the red flags of investment scams and steps to protect investments in his “Never Stop Learning” presentations at libraries, senior centers, and community events. Tom is an attorney who spent ten years in the SEC’s Division of Enforcement, where he investigated violations of the federal securities laws, including insider trading, Ponzi and pyramid schemes, accounting and broker fraud, and unregistered offerings. He graduated from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law and earned a BS in journalism from Ohio University. Email: [email protected] and [email protected].
