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Rural Financial Planning Project

The Rural Financial Planning Project (RFPP) brings together a dynamic group of professionals to mentor Shepherd students pursuing the University’s major in business administration with a concentration in financial planning. Led by Shepherdstown’s Rob Hoxton and an advisory board of regional financial planning professionals made up of Shepherd University alumni and friends, the mission of the RFPP is to improve the lives of rural Americans through the promotion of financial literacy and the delivery of financial planning by well-trained and ethical financial planning professionals. The RFPP advisory board also provides significant private funding to support scholarships and other educational opportunities such as paid internships and attendance at national conferences.


The idea is to train well-educated financial planning professionals who will work in their hometowns and improve the lives of rural Americans. The RFPP advisory board works with Shepherd’s academic program to guide and support students pursuing careers in this highly respected and lucrative profession.
- Rob Hoxton, CFP, Hoxton Financial, Shepherdstown, WV, RFPP President

Several named scholarship funds have been created through the Shepherd University Foundation to support Shepherd students and faculty:

  • – Rural Financial Planning Scholarship, Rural Financial Planning Project
  • – Rob and Mary Logan Hoxton Scholarship, Rural Financial Planning Project
  • – John and Lisa Wolff Scholarship, Rural Financial Planning Project
  • – National Capital Area Chapter, Financial Planning Association Scholarship, Rural Financial Planning Project

Students are recommended for awards by Shepherd’s financial planning program faculty and chosen by the RFPP advisory board scholarship committee. Awards are distributed in annual amounts up to $5,000. Students who are interested in receiving awards must submit a letter of application to the business department chair by March 1st of each year. To learn more, visit the Rural Financial Planning Project or contact Monica Lingenfelter, Shepherd University Foundation, mlingenf@shepherd.edu, 304-876-5397.