Investing in the Next Generation of Leaders: Finance Professor Kevin Jaklin’s Legacy Gift

When Kevin Jaklin joined the UW-Green Bay faculty full-time, it wasn’t because he had ever dreamed of becoming a teacher.

“Never in a million years,” he said, “But then, as you get older… it was the right time at the right stage of my career.”

After a career in investment management and wealth advising—including roles at Northwestern Mutual and CLA—Jaklin transitioned to campus life as an associate lecturer in Finance. He also took on the role of manager of the Willie R. Davis Finance and Investment Lab and mentor to the Student Managed Investment Fund. “I’m still managing money, which is fun,” he said, “but then I’m also being a mentor to a lot of the students, which is even better.”

Jaklin is proud of the finance program’s growing success—especially its affiliation with the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Institute. The affiliation allows UW-Green Bay to offer scholarships, study resources, and early exam access to students pursuing careers in investment management. That support is already paying off. A small number of students have passed the notoriously difficult CFA Level I exam while still enrolled. Jaklin said that achievement sends a powerful signal to employers, “that they’re able to understand all the concepts… and that they can be dedicated enough to study and sit for a six-hour exam. So, they’re ahead of the curve.” That advantage, says Jaklin, keeps UW-Green Bay graduates competitive against candidates from much larger and more well-known universities.

Jaklin has also made a legacy commitment of $250,000 to support the Student Managed Investment Fund. The fund is not only a valuable experiential teaching tool, but it also serves as the endowment for the Willie R. Davis Lab. Jaklin said the decision to include UW-Green Bay in his legacy plans was easy: “I don’t have any children… and all our nieces and nephews, fortunately, have been very successful in their careers.” He added, “I think it’s important that Green Bay has a strong university here… to support the community.”

That commitment to supporting the university and its students is personal for Jaklin. He remembers how lost he felt after graduating college in the 1980s with little career guidance. Through teaching, mentoring, and philanthropy, he’s creating the kind of support he wishes he had back then—an education that’s more than knowledge; it’s guidance, experience, impact. His legacy gift ensures that impact will ripple through the lives and careers of students for years and years to come.