For many students at UNLV, the stress of paying rent, managing student loans, and making their paycheck last doesn’t stay outside the classroom. John Hirano, executive director of UNLV’s Institute for Financial Literacy & Wellness, knows this and is building a resource hub around the idea that financial confidence and academic success go hand in hand.

"There is a lot of research that correlates financial stress and overall performance," Hirano says. "Once students feel like they have control and their finances aren't dictating them, that releases a lot of the financial stress, which tends to lead to an increase in their overall performance in the classroom."

Students often face challenges with managing their money while juggling classes, jobs, and daily costs. Sometimes, students make important financial decisions without any guidance. The institute is here to help, aiming to help students not just handle their money but also how to take charge of it.

"Be the CFO of your life. Don't let your money dictate what you can do," Hirano says.

Helping Students Succeed 

For Hirano, financial literacy is an important part of student success.

“Student success means doing well academically and being successful in life after college,” Hirano says.

Financial stress can leave students feeling overwhelmed and negatively affect their academic performance.  

“When they have control of their finances and feel less stressed, their overall performance improves,” Hirano says. 

These skills are also important after graduation.

“How do students stay responsible when making ‘adult money’? How do they plan for the future?” Hirano says. “We want students to leave with tools beyond their time at the university.”

Empowering Students for a Better Financial Future 

Hirano has already seen firsthand the impact he and his team have made. He recounts an experience with a student who was having a tough time finding housing while also managing school and financial issues, with little support from family.

“For many of our students, especially at a diverse university like UNLV, they’re coming from households that are living paycheck to paycheck,” Hirano says.

With one-on-one help, the institute taught her practical financial skills and helped her go from a place of being insecure about money to now flourishing in life after college, as that student has since graduated. The institute aims to help more students achieve similar success through future peer-coaching programs and expanding support services.

“We want to be able to empower students to think beyond today and tomorrow,” Hirano says. “Instead of, ‘How do I get through this month?’, rather, ‘How do I start saving for a home? What does my retirement look like?”

Meeting Students Where They Are

Many students are faced with balancing school and working 20 to 30 hours a week.

“I hear a lot, ‘How do I balance it all?’” Hirano says. 

College involves more than just time in class. It includes additional hours of studying, homework, and projects. When you add in work, it can be a challenge. Hirano’s goal is to help students find a balance and make smart choices.

“You should still enjoy your life,” Hirano says. “Go out and have fun, but do it in moderation and with a plan.”

This approach is part of the institute’s programming, which includes the “Money Talks” series and new microcredential courses. Money Talks is a monthly series of workshops and guest talks that cover topics from scholarship planning and taxes to financial goal-setting. This even includes a dedicated workshop for student athletes that addresses NIL income, brand deals, and the tax responsibilities that come with them. This semester, the institute also launched a set of micro-credentials, a five- to eight-hour self-paced crash course covering money scripts, budgeting, credit basics, and taxes. 

“First, we focus on the basics, which are budgeting, credit, and taxes,” Hirano says. “Once students understand those, we can start talking about how to invest and exponentially grow money.”

Financial Literacy Month: Turning Awareness into Action

As part of Financial Literacy Month: Money Skills for Rebels in April, the institute is marking it with a four-week lunch-and-learn series:

• April 9: Lunch and Learn – The Student Survival Guide: How to Own Your College Budget (in partnership with Rebels CU)
• April 15: Lunch and Learn – The Cash Course: Banks, Credit Unions, and Making the Choice
• April 23: Lunch and Learn – Credit: The Relationship You Can't Ghost
• April 29: Money Talks – Your Future Wealth: A Casual Lunch & Learn on Investing, a fireside chat on investing featuring faculty from UNLV's finance department and professionals from JPMorgan Chase

“We’re excited to have students join us for the various Lunch and Learn workshops aimed at equipping and empowering our students with important financial skills,” Hirano says. “These events will help them manage college budgets, understand banking, build credit, and explore investment strategies, becoming the CFO of their own life.” 

Looking Ahead

Hirano hopes that the institute can be a main source of financial guidance for everyone, including students, faculty, staff, alumni, and the community.

“We want to be the place where anyone who calls themselves a Rebel can ask financial questions,” Hirano says. “It’s a judgment-free zone. There are no wrong questions, just support and continuing to be a beacon of what UNLV is, a pillar to our community.”

The institute hopes every student leaves feeling confident about their finances.

“Finances aren’t scary, and you can control your destiny,” Hirano says.