Throughout the fall semester, UKNow will spotlight University of Kentucky students who are putting UK Invests lessons into practice and building the knowledge and habits they need for a successful financial future.
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 16, 2026) — For senior Devin Bester, one lesson from UK Invests stands above the rest: Never leave free money on the table.
Bester, of Nashville, Tennessee, joined the program knowing the basics of saving and investing but was unsure how to put that knowledge into practice.
Through UK Invests, he’s found a way to start building his financial future, while earning rewards for activities he was often already doing as a student.
A mechanical engineering major in the Stanley and Karen Pigman College of Engineering, Bester was initially skeptical when he learned students could earn money through the program.
“At first, I thought there must be a catch but quickly learned there wasn’t,” he said. “Once I saw how easy it was, and how quickly the money showed up in my Fidelity account, I was sold.”
Launched in 2022, UK Invests helps students become healthier, wealthier and wiser by building a foundation of financial education and healthy habits. Through the program, students complete online financial education modules, open brokerage accounts and earn funds from the university by engaging in activities that promote success — from attending financial education sessions to building career skills, participating on campus and prioritizing physical and mental health.
Since its launch less than four years ago, more than 18,000 students have opened investment accounts — earning nearly $3 million in university-funded rewards. Collectively, student investments are projected to exceed $9 million at the next quarterly update at the end of the month.
The program’s growing reach is also being showcased this fall through a new partnership with UK Athletics. The UK Invests logo has been featured on Kentucky Football jerseys as the team’s Official Jersey Patch Partner. The partnership will help introduce more students, families and fans to the program and highlight the ways UK Invests is helping students build financial confidence and prepare for their futures.
UK Invests was initially implemented in phases, beginning in fall 2022 with UK student-athletes who deposited their NCAA Alston Awards earnings into UK Invests brokerage accounts after completing financial education programs. UK Invests then expanded to the full undergraduate, graduate and professional student body population in fall 2023 and has quickly become one of UK’s most successful student initiatives to date.
In this UK Invests student spotlight, Bester shares how the program helped him become more intentional about investing.
UKNow: What interested you in joining UK Invests?
Bester: I was compelled to participate by the lure of earning free money. At first, I thought there must be a catch but quickly learned there wasn’t. It’s as easy as attending events or activities that I was already planning to be at anyway. Once I saw how easy it was — and how quickly the money showed up in my Fidelity account — I was sold.
UKNow: Before participating in UK Invests, what did you know about investing or financial wellness?
Bester: I really only knew the basics of financial wellness and investing. I didn’t know enough to really do anything with that knowledge, but I knew that I wanted to. UK Invests facilitated a path for me to start saving and investing at a young age.
UKNow: What is the most valuable lesson or skill you’ve gained through the program?
Bester: I’ve learned that if you start investing early and intentionally, it can really add up faster than you think. I want to be an active investor now, so that hopefully one day it will earn me passive income. I’ve learned to pay attention to what my money is doing and not take any of it for granted. Lastly, I’ve learned to never leave free money on the table. UK wants to give you money, so participate and take it.
UKNow: How has participating in UK Invests influenced your experience as a UK student?
Bester: Although I consider myself a very involved student on campus, UK Invests took that to another level for me. I’ve participated in wellness sessions that I otherwise may not have and learned a lot about myself through them. I’ve also met new friends by participating in involvement events that I otherwise may have skipped.
UKNow: What advice would you give other students who are considering joining UK Invests?
Bester: I would tell them that it is a no-brainer to participate. You get to earn money by doing things that you may already be doing, and otherwise, it doesn’t take much effort to participate. You can then use that money for whatever goals you have — whether it’s to fund some of your monthly expenses or larger goals like traveling, investing or graduate school. Regardless, it’s a free and easy way to earn money. Don’t think about it. Just do it, and start earning money as soon as possible. Again, don’t leave free money on the table.
UKNow: What financial goal are you most excited about working toward in the future?
Bester: Graduate school is around the corner for me, so funding that without taking on an overload of loans is my most immediate financial goal.
UKNow: Is there anything else you’d like to add?
Bester: I’m just really thankful for this program. I’m impressed and proud of the amount of money I’ve been able to save by participating.
Here’s a reminder on how UK Invests works:
UK Invests is available to all undergraduate, graduate and professional students, helping participants build financial knowledge, strengthen healthy habits and invest in their future.
To learn more about the program and how to get started, visit ukinvests.uky.edu.
As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and healthcare. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $1.02 billion research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.
