Kimberly Watkins
College of Family and Consumer Sciences
Assistant Professor
204 Charles Schwab Financial Planning Center
407 Sanford Dr.
Athens, GA 30602
Education
| Degree | Field of Study | Institution | Graduation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ph.D. | Financial Planning | University of Georgia | Fall 2018 |
| M.S. | Business Management | University of Florida | Fall 2007 |
| B.S. | Political Science | Florida A&M University | Spring 2006 |
Prior Professional Positions
| Organization | Title | Years of Service |
|---|---|---|
| University of Alabama | Assistant Professor | 2019-2021 |
Awards
| Award Name | Awarded By | Year Awarded |
|---|---|---|
| Outstanding Instructor Award | Financial Therapy Association | 2026 |
| Bill and June Flatt Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award | College of Family and Consumer Sciences | 2026 |
| Richard L. D. Morse Early-Career Award | American Council on Consumer Interests | 2026 |
| 20 People Who Will Shape Wealth Management in 2026 | Financial Planning Magazine | 2026 |
| 25 Financial Advisory & Wealth Management Leaders Shaping the Profession in 2026 | The Industry Leaders | 2026 |
| Career Champion Award | UGA Career Center | 2026 |
| 2025 CFP Board Best Paper Award | Academy of Financial Services | 2025 |
| CFP Board Research Grant | CFP Board | 2023 |
| Sweaney Innovation Fund | College of Family and Consumer Sciences, University of Georgia | 2022 |
| Lilly Teaching Fellows | Center for Teaching and Learning, University of Georgia | 2022 |
| Crenshaw Research Award | College of Human Environmental Sciences, University of Alabama | 2021 |
| Nefe Research Grant | National Endowment for Financial Education | 2021 |
| Future Faculty Fellow | Center for Teaching and Learning, University of Georgia | 2017 |
| Endsley-Peifer Student Researcher Award | College of Family and Consumer Sciences, University of Georgia | 2016 |
| Dr. Betty Lane Graduate Scholarship | College of Family and Consumer Sciences, University of Georgia | 2016 |
| Graduate Assistantship Award | Financial Planning, Housing and Consumer Economics, University of Georgia | 2016-2018 |
| Graduate Assistantship Award | Graduate School, University of Georgia | 2014-2016 |
Editorial Appointments
| Position | Name of Journal | Year(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Editorial Board Member | Financial Planning Review | 2023 to Present |
| Editorial Board Member | Journal of Family and Economic Issues | 2023 to Present |
| Editorial Board Member | Financial Services Review | 2023 to Present |
| Editorial Board Member | Journal of Consumer Affairs | 2019 to 2023 |
Outreach
- UGA Financial Planning Academy Camp Director, 2022 to Present
- Financial Literacy Week Planning Committee, 2021 to Present
Current Classes
- FHCE 7250- Advance Capstone in Financial Planning
- FHCE 3200E- Introduction to Personal Finance
- FHCE 7200E- Advance Financial Counseling and Client Communication (Summer Only)
Current Research
My current research focuses on the following areas:
- Financial well-being of marginalized populations
- Financial socialization
- Diversity, equity, and inclusion and financial planning
- Financial planning pedagogy
Journal Articles
Chutani, R.*, Watkins, K+, Lu, Z., & Grable, J. (2026). Family financial socialization, financial capability, and well-being across generations: Practical insights for financial planners. Financial Planning Review. https://doi.org/10.1002/cfp2.70038
Rollins-Koons, A., Staples-Hall, T.*, McCoy, M. & Watkins, K. (2026). The CFP® exam gender gap: Analyzing exam preparedness and pass rates among financial planning graduates. Journal of Financial Counseling and Planning. doi:10.1891/JFCP-2025-0023
Daniels-Hollar, I., Hollar, D., McCoy, M., & Watkins, K. (2026). Financial distress among law enforcement officers: Effects on job performance and resiliency. International Journal of Bank Marketing. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJBM-04-2025-0324
Olajide, O., Dihn, V.*, Watkins, K.+, & Johnson, A. (2026). Perception vs reality of financial Situation, the role of emotions, and locus of control. Journal of Financial Therapy. 17 (1) 4.
Reiter, M., Jurgenson, J., McCoy, M., Watkins, K., White Jr., K., & Warmath, D. (2025). Klontz Money Script-Inventory Revised (KMSI-R): Examining measurement invariance using a diverse sample. Journal of Family and Economic Issues. doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10834-025-10055-7
Ming, S., Maietta, J. E., Ranum, R. M., Hermann, G., Murriel, E. C., Block, C., ...Watkins, K. & Kiselica, A. M. (2025). Practical considerations for job application, interview, and negotiation in clinical neuropsychology. Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology, 1-19. https://doi.org/10.1080/13803395.2025.2565213
Grable, J.E., Archuleta. K., Watkins, K., & Kwak, E.J. (2025). To bank or not to bank: Describing the banking status of Black households. International Journal of Bank Marketing. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJBM-12-2023-0641
McCoy, M., Machiz, I., Johnson, P., White, K., Watkins, K., & Bennetts, C*. (2025). Resilient personality or financial resilience framework for coping with mental and physical health during the COVID-19 pandemic. Financial Services Review. 33(1), 67–85. https://doi.org/10.61190/fsr.v33i1.3628
Watkins, K., Choi, S., Reiter, M., McCoy, M., Smodic, S*., Thompson, C.*, White, K., & Muruthi, B.A. (2024). U.S. Black adults' estate planning: The role of financial planner use, inheritance receipt, and life insurance ownership. Financial Planning Review. doi:10.1002/cfp2.1181
Johnson, P., Watkins, K., McCoy, M., White, K., Byram, J.L., & Muruthi, B. (2024). Lessons for FCS professionals on the relationships between financial socialization messages, financial management, optimism, and stress by race. Journal of Family & Consumer Science. doi: 10.14307/JFCS116.4.4
White, Jr., K., Olajide, O., Watkins, K., Reiter, M., Johnson, P., & McCoy, M. (2024). The strength of perception of financial education quality on financial stress and anxiety. Journal of Financial Counseling and Planning. doi: 10.1891/JFCP-2023-0022
McCoy, M., Watkins, K., Kahler, R., Reiter, M., & White Jr., K. (2024). The importance of being a “client” for financial planning students: A thematic analysis of financial planning students’ experiences meeting with a planner. Journal of Financial Counseling and Planning. doi:10.1891/JFCP-2022-0077
Reiter, M., Qing, D., Watkins, K, & White, Jr., K. (2023). Race/ethnicity and financial advice seeking: An examination of three datasets. Journal of Personal Finance, 22(2).
Johnson, P., McCoy, M., Watkins, K., & White, Jr., K. (2023). Encouraging money conversations among Black, Hispanic, and White households: Lessons for FCS professionals. Journal of Family & Consumer Science, 115(4). doi: https://doi.org/10.14307/JFCS115.4.30.
Watkins, K., McCoy, M., White Jr., K, Reiter, M., & Liu, Y*. (2023). Exploring the role of financial socialization on financial planning students’ financial and career confidence: A thematic analysis. Journal of Family and Economic Issues. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10834-023-09892.
Reiter, M., Qing, D.*, Anderson, N., & Watkins, K. (2022). The intersectionality of race and gender in financial planner use. Journal of Financial Therapy, 13(2). https://doi.org/10.4148/1944-9771.1315
Choi, S. L., Harrell, E. R., & Watkins, K. (2022). The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on business ownership across racial/ethnic groups and gender. Journal of Economics, Race, and Policy, 1-11. doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s41996-022-00102-y