About

Everyone can benefit

Knowing how to manage your money better

From managing debt to preparing for your first major purchases and everything in between, our trained staff is ready to help through one-on-one coaching, group presentations, and workshops. Our free and confidential services are designed to help you improve your financial wellness.

While we cover some of the same topics as Student Financial Aid and the Cashier’s Office, we do not provide those specific services. Please visit their respective pages to learn more about how they can assist you.

Register for a workshop in MU Engage Request a presentation
Peer financial coaches talk to students and parents at the finance fair.

Mission - Vision - Values

Mission

The Office for Financial Success provides personal financial literacy resources and opportunities to MU students in an inclusive, accessible, and nurturing environment, helping to reduce financial stress and empowering financial well-being.

Vision

Developing and growing financially capable MU graduates prepared to change the world.

Values

Inclusive – Money and personal finance is indifferent to human differences. We promise to provide high quality financial counseling regardless of race, gender identification, religion, nationality, disability, or sexual preference.
Accessible – We promise to provide only the most up-to-date, relevant resources in an easily accessible format to the customer.
Nurturing – Financial capability is not just what you know, but whether you have the willingness, confidence, and opportunity to act. We promise to not only provide you with knowledge, but to help you in your journey to financial capability.
Well-trained – Staff and student peer counselors are chosen due to their academic knowledge of counseling and personal finance. All customer facing counselors must first complete a rigorous training program.
Confidentiality – We promise to safeguard information to the best of our ability using only university approved student data management systems abiding by applicable federal and university rules and regulations along with industry standards. Referrals and sharing of information will only happen with the customers’ consent.

Contact our office today to schedule a coaching session.

Alex Embree

Program Manager
Alex Embree, M.Ed., AFC®, leads the team of Peer Financial Coaches as the program manager for the Office for Financial Success. She has helped students reach academic and personal success since 2009. An avid reader and podcast aficionado, she enjoys learning about teaching, learning, and motivation and applying her learning to her work with students. Fun Fact: Alex once bungee jumped off the second-highest bungee in the world!

Isaac Cyr

Student Manager
Major: Accounting
Expected Grad. Date: Earning his masters in Accounting
Fun Fact: Isaac has 75 first cousins!

Dylan Rasmason

Peer Financial Coach
Major: Personal Financial Planning
Expected Grad. Date: May 2026
Fun Fact: Dylan is a first-generation student!

Kristen Mayfield

Peer Financial Coach
Major: Finance (with a certificate in Personal Financial Planning)
Expected Grad. Date: May 2026
Fun Fact: Kristen loves country music and went to 4 concerts this past summer!

Ian Mueller

Ian Mueller

Peer Financial Coach
Major: Personal Financial Planning & Economics
Expected Grad. Date: May 2026
Fun Fact: Ian went skydiving during a study abroad trip to New Zealand this winter!

John Valerio

Peer Financial Coach
Major: Accounting
Expected Grad. Date: May 2028
Fun Fact: John has played piano for 6 years!

Zach Fults

Zach Fults

Peer Financial Coach
Major: Finance & Economics
Expected Grad. Date: May 2026
Fun Fact: Zach has never met a person better than him at foosball!

Abel Bonga

Abel Bonga

Peer Financial Coach
Major: Personal Financial Planning
Expected Grad. Date: May 2026
Fun Fact: Abel loves exploring Missouri trails and hidden spots around Columbia!

Lydia Downing

Lydia Downing

Peer Financial Educator
Major: Finance & Economics
Expected Grad. Date: May 2027
Fun Fact: Lydia is an Eagle Scout!

Logan Garcia

Logan Garcia

Peer Financial Educator
Major: Personal Financial Planning
Expected Grad. Date: May 2027
Fun Fact: Logan is a member of Marching Mizzou!

Brea Peterson

Brea Peterson

Peer Financial Educator
Major: Finance
Expected Grad. Date: May 2028
Fun Fact: Brea is allergic to bees!

Chris Woodcock

Chris Woodcock

Peer Financial Educator
Major: International Business Management
Expected Grad. Date: May 2027
Fun Fact: Chris saw Kendrick Lamar and SZA in concert this past summer!

Camille Walker

Camille Walker

Peer Financial Educator
Major: Marketing
Expected Grad. Date: May 2027
Fun Fact: Camille loves baking—her favorite thing to make is muffins!

Christina Chen

Christina Chen

Student Marketing Manager
Major: Textile & Apparel Management
Expected Grad. Date: May 2027
Fun Fact: Christina is a dual citizen!

Andrew Davis

Andrew Davis

Student Marketing Assistant
Major: Journalism
Expected Grad. Date: May 2028
Fun Fact: Andrew once played football on Interstate 40 in the Arizona desert!