First Personal Financial Management graduate earns CFP® Certification

Jadyn Watson, a May 2024 summa cum laude Nielsen College of Business graduate, recently became the first Personal Financial Management degree program graduate to pass the Certified Financial Planner, CFP®, exam. 

Watson and her class were the first to graduate from Charleston Southern University as personal financial majors.

The CFP® exam is a rigorous test with an average pass rate of 63% over the past decade. Watson took the exam for the first time in November 2024 and passed on the first attempt. 

Dr. Heather Chadwick, associate professor of business and assistant director of the Center for Personal Financial Management, said, “Congratulations to Jadyn on passing the CFP® exam on her first attempt. This remarkable achievement highlights her hard work, dedication, and exceptional understanding of personal financial planning. As one of the first graduates of CSU’s Personal Financial Management program to sit for the exam, Jadyn has set a high standard of excellence. She truly embodies the values and mission of the Center for Personal Financial Management, and we couldn’t be prouder of her accomplishments.”

Watson initially was nervous to take the exam, noting the low pass rate, and found herself wondering, “How can anyone possibly retain all of this information?” However, as the exam got closer, she shifted her mindset to approach the test with confidence, knowing she was adequately prepared from her long hours of study and the coursework that she had taken. 

She cites Retirement Planning and Financial Planning for Professionals with Dr. Mary Chapman as classes that taught her valuable information needed for the CFP® exam. 

Watson was a leader in the Center for Personal Financial Management, spent two years as a peer-to-peer coach, and participated in many other extracurricular programs which aided in her academic and career success. 

As a first-generation college student, Watson understands how important financial literacy is and how often people seem to know nothing about finances. This, along with an internship at a bank, led her to major in personal financial management. She said, “I felt called to pursue a career where I could help individuals and families make sound financial decisions that align with their values and enable them to give generously, plan responsibly, and live with financial freedom.” 

Upon graduation, she began her career in personal financial advising at Eastport Financial Services where she is an executive assistant to Jonathan Lewis, a wealth advisor in Canada. She is also working as an advisor at Wildes Financial Strategies in Georgetown, South Carolina, where she gained experience and required hours for her CFP® certification. 

She encourages students interested in personal financial management to be ambitious and pursue every opportunity they are given to gain experience and learn about the profession and to maintain a positive attitude. Watson credits her success to internships, supportive professors, and a dedication to her studies. She said, “The road to becoming a CFP is challenging but incredibly rewarding.”

Watson said, “Managing money wisely is not just about achieving personal success but about being a good steward of the resources God has entrusted to us.” She exemplifies how Charleston Southern’s programs are not only impacting students’ lives but making a lasting difference in the lives of people for generations to come. 

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