Students gathered in Meister Hall for Investing is for Everyone, a beginner-friendly financial wellness workshop designed to meet students where they are – balancing immediate financial realities with tools for longer-term planning. Hosted by Alpha Beta Gamma Honor Society in partnership with JPMorgan Chase and Money Smart, the session focused on practical strategies for managing money now while beginning to think about what comes next. 

Led by Iliana Menesick, Community Manager at JPMorgan Chase, along with a financial advisor from the firm, the session introduced students to the fundamentals of budgeting, saving, and investing – emphasizing that building wealth is accessible at any stage. 

A central theme of the workshop was understanding the difference between saving and investing. While saving helps build a financial safety net for short-term needs and emergencies, investing is about putting money to work over time, with the goal of long-term growth. Students learned that both are essential – and that establishing a strong foundation with savings can make investing more effective. 

The interactive session also covered topics such as risk, diversification, retirement accounts, and how to begin investing even with limited resources. Students were encouraged to “pay themselves first” by setting aside small amounts consistently, and to take advantage of tools like employer-sponsored retirement plans and individual investment accounts. 

Professor Thomas D’Arrigo, who has partnered with Money Smart to bring financial literacy programming to BCC, emphasized the importance of these sessions in helping students build practical life skills. Through this ongoing collaboration, students gain access to real-world financial guidance that extends beyond the classroom. 

The workshop is part of a broader series, with an upcoming session on homeownership scheduled for April 29.