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ADDING UP TO GREATNESS

Never underestimate the importance of mentors.

Philip Gibson, director of Winthrop’s financial planning program, always knew he wanted a career that involved finance and helping people. But it wasn’t until he con- nected with his mentor Jan Jasper, a former professor at Prairie View A&M University, Gibson’s alma mater, that he learned of financial planning.

“It’s one of the benefits of talking to your professors,” Gibson said. “I fell into an area where I get to do finance, but also where I get to work with people, which is what I love doing.”

Under Gibson’s leadership, Winthrop’s financial planning program has earned national acclaim. Financial Planning Magazine recognized the program as one of the top 95 in the United States, and Winthrop financial planning students have placed in national competitions.

Experts also recognize the university’s program for its fast-paced classroom en- vironment, which Gibson’s believes is a result from his role as both a faculty

member and as a financial advisor in the Rock Hill office of Carroll Financial Associates, which was founded by Larry Carroll. Carroll and his wife, Vivian ’73, are long- time, generous supporters of Winthrop, and the College of Business Administration’s main classroom building is named for Vivian.

“Financial planning is dynamic,” Gibson explained. “Things are always changing, laws are always chang- ing. There is a lot that goes into operations and best practices that you’re not going to find in any textbook. Students in my upper-level financial planning courses do

SUMMER 2021

ADDING UP TO GREATNESS

projects that replicate real-life scenarios. This is where I can bring a lot of my experience and teach them how to navigate different situations. We can quickly address how new changes in the industry are going to affect things going forward.”

In 2020, Investment News selected Gibson as one of the 40 Under 40 who are positively impacting the in- dustry. More recently, the Association of African Amer- ican Financial Advisors (AAAA) also recognized and celebrated him for his influence.

“When I’m speaking with a client or I’m teaching a class on financial planning, there’s not an on and off switch,” he said. “It’s always the same knowledge, just a differ- ent area. It brings a lot to the classroom, and being able to practice [financial planning] has made me a much better professor.”

Helping Students

Gibson grew up in Jamaica, but moved to the U.S. to attend Prairie View A&M University on a partial tennis scholarship and then a full academic scholarship. He earned a Ph.D. in personal finan- cial planning from Texas Tech University. He formerly taught at the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio. He joined Winthrop in 2014 and led the charge in re-registering Winthrop’s financial planning program with the Certified Financial Planner Board.

Outside of work, Gibson enjoys playing tennis, partici- pating in exercise boot camps and spending time with his family – wife Tasheika and their two children, Zara and Elijah.

Gibson proudly serves each summer as an Orientation faculty mentor, welcoming incoming students to Win- throp. He also builds and maintains relationships so he

can bring students to conferences and connect them with internship and career opportunities.

“I’m passionate about helping students,” he said. “One course I really enjoy teaching is our personal finance course. It’s a financial literacy course open to all majors. I teach students how to manage personal finances, how to build wealth, how to navigate benefits once they graduate, how to invest safely, how to do basic estate planning and more.”

On the Horizon

Gibson sees growth opportunities for the financial plan- ning program.

“We’re at a point where we’re well recognized locally and nationally, and I see that continuing,” he said. “I’d love to see the continued progression of the program in terms of student placements, which has been great and something I’m proud of.”

He is particularly interested in the rise of “fintech,” the integration of technology into offerings from financial service companies.

“Finance is always changing, but now we’re starting to see faster change into financial technology, like block chains and cryptocurrency,” Gibson said “We have a computer science program and partnering with them would potentially be a good fintech program.

“We have to evolve. Charlotte is becoming a fintech hub. We can provide the labor for that market — we have all the resources here to do it and we certainly have the faculty.”

Learn more about the financial planning program.

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