WKOW 27: Madison, WI Breaking News, Weather and SportsUW students more concerned about financial management this year

UW students more concerned about financial management this year

More than 120 students attended the Alumni Student Board's annual personal finance seminar. That's more than double the number last year.

"We do have a very good turnout I mean for 10 o'clock on a Saturday morning is pretty darn good," remarked Drew Lake, a member of the board who organized the event this year.

Topics ranged from managing credit card debt to planning for retirement. One of the financial planners even offered free 20 minute personal consultations to the students.

Given the economy, it's no surprise why so many students turned out this year.

"Everybody's talking about how bad the economy is so I guess I was kind of scared and I was like well let me come learn some stuff," explained Linda Vakunta, a UW Senior.

Lake expanded "This really speaks to them, you know, because it gives them the opportunity to do all that they can to kind of better their finances and better the way they look at the world of finances, because if you don't really know what you're doing right now, you can really get hurt, and I think everyone knows that and is more cognizant of that right now."

Given that, Lake was surprised more people did not turn out.

"It's amazing how many people, you know, you turn on the news but how many people don't really understand kind of the magnitude of it. You know, we're kind of in this bubble on campus and a lot of people don't really understand how bad it is," he rationalized.

The event was sponsored by Great Lakes Higher Education Guaranty Coorporation.

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