Off-Campus Life is happy to host our "Adulting After College" transition seminar series. These conversations focus on topics relevant to JMU students as they prepare to transition away from the university.

We hope these talks answer questions, help you feel prepared to take the next steps toward achieving certain life goals after college, and promote a successful transition as you embark on your new journey!

While these conversations are aimed at graduating seniors and recent graduates, all students are welcome and encouraged to attend!

• Thursday, February 06, 2025: Drive Your Future: Master the Car Buying Game from 04:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. in Festival Highlands Room: ired of feeling lost in the car-buying process? This seminar by Finance Professor Jeff Hulett will teach you how to confidently navigate every step, from understanding financing options to spotting the best deals. Learn insider tips and tools to make car buying simple, empowering, and stress-free—because your dream car should come with peace of mind. Register here
• Bankroll Your Best Life: Budgeting Hacks for JMU Students| Febraury 20, 2025, in Festival Highlands Room @ 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm: Personal Finance Professor Jeff Hulett is Ready to help you take control of your finances and make your money work for you? In this seminar, discover simple, actionable budgeting hacks tailored for JMU students. Learn how to save smarter, spend wiser, and build lifelong financial confidence—all while living your best college life. Register here
• Personal Investing for the Recent Graduate By Dr. Jason Douglas Fink| , Febrauary 27, 2025, in Taylor 305 @ 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm: This presentation will cover the basics of investing, starting at the very beginning (such as What is a stock? What is a bond?), and building to a point where students will understand the importance of investing in a 401(k), and how to choose a solid portfolio to do so. The importance of diversification, starting early, investing in only what you understand, and the use of tax advantaged accounts will all be demonstrated. Register here
• Money is a Mindset: April 16, 2025, in Taylor 306 @ 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm by Finance Coach Lindsey Scott. Money is an emotional topic. As we walk through life, we pick up different attitudes and beliefs around money to form our own money mindset. Curious what your money mindset is and how unlocking it is your key to true financial wellness? Register here
• Networking the Easy Way: Conversation Skills for Career Development | , April 8, 2025, in Taylor 306 @ 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm: It’s easy in the job search to get sucked into the black hole of online applications, submitting resume after resume with no response from employers. Escaping that void comes down to who you know and how you talk to them. Come learn how to set up and navigate simple conversations to build your network and let your connections bring the opportunities to you. Register Here
• How to crush real life | April 02,  2025, in Festival Ballroom A @ 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm :  OCL is thrilled to welcome back Pete Hardesty, co-author of two Amazon #1 bestsellers, Adulting 101 Books 1 and 2. Join us for his compelling presentation, Transitioning into the "real world" can feel overwhelming, but with the right strategies, you can navigate it with confidence. This workshop will cover five key areas essential for success, including overcoming anxiety, managing finances effectively, excelling in the workplace, and practical life hacks to make daily living easier. Join us for an engaging session packed with insights and actionable tips to help you thrive in every aspect of life! Register here
• Alumni 101 Workshop by Rose Tribby: April 17, 2025, in Leeolou Alumni Center Great Room @ 5:00 pm Join the Alumni Association to find out what life is like as an alumni! Learn about what an alumni chapter is, alumni perks, and more! Join us to network, and learn about life after JMU! The event starts at 5pm, with the presentation at 5:45pm. Register here

• The secrets to financial success and decision-making for college students| September 19,  2024, in Harrison, Room 1261 @ 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm: Personal Finance Professor Jeff Hulett walks through the tight link between decision process and achieving great wealth.  We discuss the habits and behaviors of the wealthy.  This session introduces you to tools to help you save, invest and make great financial decisions.
• The secrets to financial success – getting credit and using credit wisely| October 3rd, 2024, in Harrison,1261 @ 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm: Personal Finance Professor Jeff Hulett walks through making good decisions about credit, especially credit cards.  We will discuss the importance of signaling banks you are a responsible credit user by building a good credit score.  You will be shown how to leverage your college experience to prepare yourself for the adult credit world.
• Basic Budgeting for College students| October 30, in Taylor 306 @ 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm: Our Graduate Assistant for Financial Literacy Sushma Shivalingaiah will Take you through Managing your finances in college. Join us for Basic Budgeting for College Students, where we’ll cover the essentials of creating and sticking to a budget. This interactive workshop will teach you how to track your income and expenses, set financial goals, and avoid common money pitfalls like overspending on non-essentials. Whether you’re new to budgeting or need tips on saving more, this event will provide practical tools to help you take control of your finances and build healthy financial habits for the future.
  
  

• Secrets of Financial Success - "Budgeting and planning" | April 02, 2024, in Taylor Hall, Room 306 @ 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm: With the best personal finance approach, retiring as a millionaire is within reach of most Americans. But most people do not reach their wealth goals. Career banker, investor, and JMU Personal Finance professor Jeff Hulett shows you the path to unlocking your wealth potential. This 1-hour program provides a starting point. The program focuses on budgeting, planning, and the essential tools for making a lifetime of great financial decisions.
• How to crush real life | April 03,  2024, in Festival Conference & Student Center, Highlands Room @ 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm:  OCL is thrilled to welcome back Pete Hardesty, co-author of two Amazon #1 bestsellers, Adulting 101 Books 1 and 2. Join us for his compelling presentation, "How to Destroy Distraction and Anxiety and Wildly Succeed at Work and in Life." Pete shares his personal journey with anxiety and distraction, eliciting both nervous laughter and profound insights. Drawing from the expertise of top mental health professionals, he presents unexpected yet proven strategies. Don't miss this session—it's where humor meets invaluable guidance for navigating life's challenges with resilience and achieving success.
• A Humorous Guide to Financial Freedom| March 27,  2024, in Festival Conference and Student Center, Ballroom A @ 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm: OCL Welcomes back Colin Ryan to present “A Humorous Guide to Financial Freedom." Colin believes that your ability to handle your finances directly affects your ability to have the life you want. So, what do you want your money story to look like? Colin Ryan uses humor, storytelling, and interactivity to teach what you need to know about building wealth & managing money as a college student. You’ll learn the knowledge and skills you need, plus how to find your experts and define the vision for your big life.  
• "Personal Finance Tips for Life after College”, Presented by the JMU Banking Team| March 21,  2024, in Taylor Hall Room 404 @ 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm: In an educational and compelling presentation, Members of the JMU Banking Team will share personal finance tips and tricks to help you thrive in your personal finances after college. Covering essential topics such as the significance of early saving and investing, understanding credit scores, exploring options for tax-advantaged retirement accounts, crafting effective budgets, and preparing for significant life purchases, attendees will gain practical knowledge to navigate their financial journey. Additionally, the team will offer recommendations on accessible financial literacy resources, including podcasts and other educational materials.
• Saving is not Investing: Are you Saving or Investing or doing Neither? , Presented by the JMU Banking Team| March 04,  2024, in Taylor Hall Room 306 @ 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm: OCL Presents Jaideep Chowdhry Embark on a journey to financial empowerment with our dynamic talk! Dive into the fundamentals of personal finance, equipping yourself with the knowledge to navigate your financial journey with confidence. Whether you're a student on the brink of graduation or already diving into the professional world, this session is your roadmap to take control of your financial future. From mastering the art of saving to exploring the world of investments and retirement planning, we've got you covered. Don't just dream about financial freedom – seize it! Join us and unlock the keys to your financial future today.

• Money Matters for Graduating Students with Brad Barnett | March 7, 2023, in Taylor 405 @ 6:00 pm: Join OCL on March 7^th featuring Brad Barnett, Director of Financial Aid and Scholarships, presenting Money Matters for Graduating Students as he leads an open forum on personal finances with a tailored focus on what you need when graduating to your professional life. 
• How to Destroy Distraction and Anxiety and Wildly Succeed at Work and in Life with Pete Hardesty | March 27, 2023, in Union Ballroom @ 8:00 pm: OCL welcomes back Pete Hardesty, co-author of two Amazon #1 bestsellers, Adulting 101 Books 1 and 2, presents How to Destroy Distraction and Anxiety and Wildly Succeed at Work and in Life! Pete shares his journey with anxiety and distraction as you nervously laugh together while also describing some unexpected, proven strategies from top mental health professionals.
• Food & Finance with Meredith Bauer | March 28, 2023, in Taylor 306 @ 5:00 pm: OCL is pleased to present Food & Finance! Meet Pastry Chef turned Student Life Fiscal Manager Meredith Bauer who shares her love for food and finance! Combining her degrees in Baking and Pastry as well as accounting and finance, Meredith provides her expertise in food and finance to help you get the most out of your grocery shopping experience as well as the best tips and tricks for everything from meal prep and food storage to eating out.
• Investing 101 with Kennedy Musyoka | April 6, 2023, in Festival Allegheny Room @ 7:00 pm: Investing 101 is here! Introducing Kennedy Musyoka! Kennedy shares his knowledge of the basics of investing. With a background in economics, master’s degree in Strategic Management, and passion for teaching BUS 160 while in the PhD Strategic Leadership program on campus, Kennedy provides a unique international perspective on investments strategy. 
• "A Humorous Guide to Financial Freedom" with Colin Ryan | April 11, 2023, Grafton-Stovall @ 7:00 pm: OCL Welcomes back Colin Ryan to present “A Humorous Guide to Financial Freedom." Colin believes that your ability to handle your finances directly affects your ability to have the life you want. So, what do you want your money story to look like? Colin Ryan uses humor, storytelling, and interactivity to teach what you need to know about building wealth & managing money as a college student. You’ll learn the knowledge and skills you need, plus how to find your experts and define the vision for your big life.

• Money Matters for Graduating Students with Brad Barnett: Money matters for students who are getting ready to graduate or are thinking about their future beyond college. Brad Barnett, Director of Financial Aid and Scholarships, is here for students to have the opportunity to ask any financial questions they have before graduation so he can help point them in the right direction. This is an open forum about personal finances with a specific focus on what you need to know to move into the start of your professional life. 
• A Humorous Approach to Financial Freedom with Colin Ryan: Your ability to manage your money directly affects your ability to have the life you want. No one knows this better than Colin Ryan, who went from broke with bad credit, living on PB&J sandwiches, to owning his house outright, investing with confidence, and becoming a very proud dog dad. He has spent the last decade speaking at colleges across the country, bringing this important subject to life using funny stories, practical tips, and lots of interaction. You will learn the skills and secrets of being debt-smart, building credit, breaking bad spending habits, and using money to build the life you want. 
• How to Destroy Distraction and Anxiety and Wildly Succeed at Work and in Life with Pete Hardesty: Pete, co-author of the two Amazon #1 bestsellers ADULTING 101 Books 1 and 2, will share his journey with anxiety and distraction as you nervously laugh together. He will also describe some unexpected, proven strategies from top mental health professionals that can help you reduce anxiety, focus deeply, and succeed when you graduate.
• Communicating Your Professional Brand with Lindsey Scott: Whether or not we realize it, we all have a professional brand. It lives in a variety of spaces: on social media, in emails, and even in conversation. Join the University Career Center and learn how to identify your brand, ways to intentionally craft and communicate it, and its impact on your job search process. From this session, students will be able to communicate their professional brand within their professional networks, identify ways to utilize channels of communication to effectively relay their brand, and understand the impact of their professional brand and communication on evaluating job offers and navigating salary negotiation conversations. 
• Making Career Transitions with Lindsey Scott: The Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that individuals now hold an average of 12.4 jobs between ages 18 and 54. Surprised? Likely, you’ll one day find yourself in a job or career transition. It’s important to recognize when a change may be needed for your growth and how to go about these transitions professionally. Join the University Career Center in a conversation about career transitions and keeping “bridges” intact. From this session, students will be able to recognize how individual priorities, values, and needs influence when a position, job, or career change may be necessary, identify steps in pursuing a job or career change, and demonstrate belief in the importance of keeping professional relationships intact. 
• Make It Count - Understanding Real Estate Markets and Home Ownership with Luke Smith: Local real estate broker Luke Smith shares motivating, actionable, and practical thoughts on real estate and homeownership he wishes had been shared with him as he graduated from JMU 11 years ago. 

• Budgeting and Debt Repayment with Brad Barnett: Have questions about setting up a realistic budget? Want to develop a strategy to pay off your student loans? Know how much you should be saving? This talk is for you. Watch now!
• Real Estate and Home Ownership with Scott Rogers: Is it the right time to buy for you? What is the difference between a buyer's vs. a seller's market? Where do you start researching the housing market? Come get some answers! Watch now!
• First Year as a Professional with MaryGrace Johnson: What I wish I would have known going into my first job out of college! Join this seminar to hear a few of the vital tips no one tells you before you navigate the “real world.” Visit this Career Guide and JMU Career Outcomes site to supplement this presentation. Watch now!
• Finance 101 with Trevor Mann: Hear strategies and tips from a recent JMU alum! Topics include good debt vs. bad debt and strategies for paydown strategies, maximizing employer benefits (knowing what to expect before you sign), the advantage of saving and investing early ‑ the time value of money, and general personal finance 101. Watch now!
• Adulting 101: Self-Awareness with Pete Hardesty: Author of two Adulting 101 books, Pete Hardesty imparts wisdom for life around self-awareness ‑ how to increase it and leverage it in the workplace and relationships. Watch now!
• Stocks, Investing, and Retirement Planning with Brad Barnett: When should I start to worry about retirement planning? What’s the difference between a mutual fund and an IRA? We’ve got some answers! Watch now!