Brian Miller, recent graduate from UVU’s MBA program, is challenging the way we think of money – starting with high school students. After volunteering as a financial coach at UVU’s Money Management Resource Center for three years, Miller is teaching seniors how to use their finances to be successful after graduation.
“Financial literacy classes do a lot to help young people understand aspects of money, but for most students, things never really click,” Miller said. His personal mission is to change that so upcoming graduates enter college with a true understanding of money.
Financial struggles are one of the top contributors to student turnover in college. Furthermore, money stress leads to lost productivity in the workplace, increased risk for mental illness, higher likelihood for divorce, and a plethora of other issues.
“I have worked with some of the best financial advisors in the nation, and I realized that most of what great advisors do is fix mistakes made early in the lives of their clients. It is vital that we teach students about good financial health so they can avoid these mistakes altogether.”
As a veteran of UVU’s Personal Financial Planning program, Miller realized that there is a large portion of the population that is not benefiting from the current financial service model.
“There are two places most people can go if they need help understanding their financial situation,” Miller said. “The first is online. There are dozens of gurus and hundreds of books out there, all sharing the same generalized, basic ideas. But most people need better and more personalized help than that. The second option is to get a financial advisor, which, for most young people, is far too expensive.”
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, millennials and generation Zs are recognizing the gap in their financial education at school. With stagnant wages, increasing housing prices, and massive education inflation, having strong financial skills is more vital than ever.
To help fill the gap between free, general, online financial help and the traditional financial services model, Miller launched a financial coaching and education firm called Good at Life. According to its website, the goal of Miller’s company is “to provide financial education, clarity, and accountability in a personalized but affordable way.”
Miller’s results speak for themselves. Good at Life clients cut mis-spending by up to 90%. Furthermore, students who have listened to or worked with Miller report decreased stress and increased confidence. After attending one of Miller’s information sessions, one student stated, “I had no idea what options were available to me. I felt hopeless, but now I am confident about my situation.”
“Financial health underlies every other aspect of your life,” said Miller. “One of the problems with most of the ‘financial wisdom’ many people believe is that it is just about the numbers. In order for real change to happen, we have to understand our relationship with money. It’s not a budget; it’s a life. I want you to be good at life.”
To learn more about Miller or his company, tune into his podcast, Good at Life Radio, at goodatlife.net/podcast, or reach out to Miller at [email protected].