Jodi Kaus - FPA, Greater Kansas City Chapter

College Financial Planning
• Understanding the importance of communicating with clients and their children about college
financial planning (10 minutes)
• Student-to-student model of college financial planning assistance (5 minutes)
• Overview of the steps involved in the college financial planning process (10 minutes)
• Important factors and financial lessons to consider in creating a college spending plan (10
minutes)
• Assessing financial options such as: scholarships, grants, savings, work-study & gifts for college
(6 minutes)
• Considerations involved with educational loans and loan repayment options (6 minutes)
• Overview of types of student loans, loan costs and loan forgiveness programs (3 minutes)
• Methodology of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) (5 minutes)
• Items financial planners should to be alert to with the FAFSA (5 minutes)
• BIO For JODI KAUS, Director of Kansas State’s Powercat Financial Counseling center:
Jodi Kaus is the director of Kansas State University's student financial planning center
named Powercat Financial Counseling. Powercat Financial Counseling began in August 2009
as the first peer-to-peer college financial education program in the state of Kansas. Jodi
oversees approximately 40 students trained to provide individual financial counseling,
financial presentations and interactive events centered on increasing the financial capability
of all Kansas State students. Jodi has over 15 years of experience in wealth management
and financial planning, complimented by her legal experience and designation as a Certified
Trust & Financial Advisor (CTFA). Jodi Kaus received her B.A. in ’91 from Kansas State
University, and her Juris Doctorate in ’94 from the University of Kansas School of Law. She is
an executive board member of the Greater Manhattan Community Foundation and
founding member of the Flint Hills Financial Literacy Council.
You may learn more about Powercat Financial Counseling at www.k-state.edu/pfc or by
contacting powercatfinancial@k-state.edu.
Ben Kohl was born in Kansas City, Missouri and grew up in Olathe, Kansas. In 1998, he
received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication with a Minor in Business
Administration from Emporia State University, in Kansas. In 2005, he received a Master of
Science degree in Adult and Continuing Education with an emphasis in Counseling and
Student Affairs from Kansas State University. Ben is currently in the Ph.D. program of
Student Affairs in Higher Education Administration at Kansas State University and will earn
his doctoral degree in May of 2014. At Emporia State University, he was a Resident Assistant
and planned campus programs and promoted campus activities while working with key
people at many levels in the university and community. Ben was also very involved in
student organizations throughout the campus. Following his undergraduate graduation, his
position as a Computer Technical Support Manager at Sykes Enterprises in Manhattan,
Kansas gave him additional experience managing information resources and personnel in a
fast-paced professional business environment. After three years at Sykes, Ben discovered

that he really missed the university life. Therefore, he became the Coordinator for
Enrollment Management for the Department of Housing and Dining Services at Kansas State
University. In this position, he worked closely with students, department chairs, faculty,
academic deans, and other internal and external constituents to enhance recruitment and
retention efforts at Kansas State University. After three years, Ben became the Assistant
Director for the Office of Student Financial Assistance at Kansas State University. This
position has given him experience managing federal financial aid programs and advising
students about financial assistance. Ben has conducted numerous presentations to students
and their families on scholarships, financial aid, financial management, career planning, and
college student life. In the summer of 2008, Ben traveled to Kyiv, Ukraine to present
information on financial management and career planning to university students. Ben has
taught undergraduate leadership courses and graduate distance courses for the College of
Education at Kansas State University and has had a book review published in the Journal of
College Student Development. Throughout his career, Ben has won awards and honors and
has been in many leadership positions for professional and community service
organizations. Ben met his wife, Deborah, while he was attending Emporia State University
and they were married in July of 1998. Originally from Manhattan, Kansas, Deborah
currently serves as the Coordinator for the Master of Agribusiness Program at Kansas State
University. Ben and Deborah have four children: Zane (11), Ezekiel (8), Tirzah Joy (7), and
Ezra (3).