Fran Lawrence, Ph.D.

College Planning Specialist

Fran Lawrence, Ph.D.

Dr. Fran Lawrence joined our team after having stellar careers at Louisiana State University (LSU) and the University of Missouri (Mizzou) where she worked in various administrative, research, and teaching positions. Her depth of financial planning knowledge and extensive academic experience are an asset to the Elwood & Goetz financial advisory team, particularly as the firm works with an increasing number of university professors across the country.  

At LSU, she held the Gerald Cire and Lena Grand Williams Alumni Professorship and the Ourso Professorship of Communication Studies, served as Associate Dean in the E. J. Ourso College of Business, and was a Professor in the Department of Finance. She received numerous honors including 13 teaching awards and the prestigious University Distinguished Faculty Award. Fran was selected as a Fellow in the SEC Academic Leadership Program. She played a key role in establishing the Cale P. and Katherine Smith Student Financial Management Center.

At Mizzou, Fran served as Professor and Chair of the Department of Personal Financial Planning. Serving as the Director of the CFP Board-Registered Programs at Mizzou and LSU, she had the opportunity to mentor many students who received CFP® certification and succeeded in the financial planning field.

Fran served on the editorial boards of the Financial Planning Review, Journal of Financial Planning, and Journal of Financial Counseling and Planning (former Editor). She has been active in the Financial Planning Association and served on the Board of Directors for the Greater Kansas City and the Baton Rouge chapters.

Fran has held various leadership positions in honorary organizations such as Pi Kappa Phi and Gamma Sigma Delta; in professional societies such as the Academy of Financial Services, American Council on Consumer Interest, Association for Financial Counseling and Planning Education, and Financial Planning Association; and in the international sorority, Alpha Phi. She earned her B.S. from Virginia Tech and her M.S. and Ph.D. from Florida State University where she received the Centennial Laureate Award.

Education & Credentials
Florida State University
Doctor of Philosophy - Consumer Sciences, Masters of Science - Consumer Sciences
Virginia Tech
Bachelor of Science - Management, Housing, and Family Development
NAPFA Associate
Service, Associations, & Accolades
Financial Planning Association, Member
Association for Financial Counseling and Planning, Member
Academy of Financial Services, Member
American Council on Consumer Interests, Member
Contact
fran@elwoodgoetz.com
(706) 548-1025