Journal of Financial Therapy

Focus and Scope

The Journal of Financial Therapy primarily publishes clinical, experimental, and survey research that examines the empirical link between personal financial knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors and personal and family well-being. The journal also accepts cross-sectional survey research, longitudinal and panel study research, case studies, financial therapy practice management tutorials, and literature reviews. Articles from financial therapists, both those working in academia and in practice, are welcomed.

All manuscripts received are blind peer reviewed. Because of the clinical focus of the journal, authors are encouraged to address the conceptual methodology underlying the research and to describe the intervention methods employed. Although detailed reviews of literature are accepted, reviewers tend to appreciate manuscripts with a very strong introduction describing the purpose of the study, a well described conceptual framework, concise presentation of findings, and a thorough discussion of results that are applicable to practicing financial therapists, financial counselors, psychologists, marriage and family therapists, and others who regularly work in clinical settings.

Topics of interest to readers and reviewers include:

• Pre- and post-test analyses of counseling and financial therapy methods
• Tests showing the effectiveness of financial education in changing both attitudes and behaviors
• Financial therapy trends
• Regulation of financial therapy
• Ethical issues associated with financial therapy
• Practice management techniques
• Client assessment and management procedures
• Employee counseling and therapy
• Financial therapy research methodological and statistical procedures
• Book reviews and letters

The Journal of Financial Therapy is housed and edited by faculty members associated with the Institute of Personal Financial Planning at Kansas State University. The Journal provides a forum for those who are interested in financial therapy and financial counseling with a forum for sharing models, theory, ideas, strategies, and therapy approaches.

Section Policies

Articles

Open Submissions

Indexed

Peer Reviewed

Peer Review Process

The Journal of Financial Therapy primarily publishes clinical research that examines the empirical link between personal financial knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors and personal and family well-being. The journal also accepts cross-sectional survey research, longitudinal and panel study research, case studies, financial therapy practice management tutorials, and literature reviews. Articles from financial therapists, both those working in academia and in practice, are welcomed.

Articles are written by practicing financial therapists, financial planners and counselors, psychologists, marriage and family therapists, behavioral scientists, specialists employed in business, industry, and academia and academicians in these fields.

It is important that manuscripts be well organized and concise. The development of ideas and concepts should be clear. In general, readers prefer articles that avoid dull, stereotyped writing and the use of scientific jargon. Authors should aim at achieving clear communication of ideas. Generic masculine pronoun or other sexist terminology should be avoided.

Tables should be used only where appropriate and should include only essential data. Tables should be understandable as a stand-alone product. All tables should be created using Word Table formats. Columns must have headings, and data should be doubled spaced.

If figures are used, authors are responsible for supplying camera-ready art done by commercial artists. Art must be original and of a quality that can be photographed clearly. All lines and printing must be in proportion to the text.

References should follow APA 6th edition style. Authors are requested to check all references for completeness, including year, volume number, and pages for journal citations. It is imperative that authors check to be sure that all references mentioned in the text are listed in the reference section. Articles should be written in third-person past tense style. For other questions of style, consult the most recent APA Publication Manual. This manual is available at most bookstores and libraries. Finally, please double-space all references.

The use of footnotes should be minimized. Each manuscript title and article headings should be as concise – not to exceed 10 words if possible. On a separate page, place the title of the article, the names of the authors, their professional titles, and their institutional affiliations. Double-space all title-page material.

Articles should include an abstract of not more than 150 words. The abstract should express the central idea of the article in non-technical language and should appear on a page separate from the text. A list of 3 to 5 key words should be provided directly below the abstract.

Submissions are preferred electronically; however, hard copy submissions are accepted. Double-space all material (including references), all lines of tables (including heads), and extensive quotes. Allow wide margins (at least one inch on all four sides). Note that processing fees may be charged for manuscripts requiring significant editing or formatting changes. The editor does not accept responsibility for damage or loss of papers submitted.

Please do not submit material concurrently for consideration by another publication.

Open Access Policy

This journal provides immediate open access to its content on the principle that making research freely available to the public supports a greater global exchange of knowledge.

Journal Questions and Answers for Authors

Questions and Answers for Authors

A primary purpose of the Journal of Financial Therapy is to provide a forum to study the cognitive, emotional, behavioral, relational, economic, and integrative aspects of financial health. The journal bridges the empirical and clinical work typically conducted by financial planning and marriage and family therapy researchers into an integrative disciplinary forum for sharing models, theories, ideas, strategies, and counseling approaches. The following questions and answers are provided to help address some of the issues faced by new authors.

Are all manuscripts are subject to blind peer review?

Yes; the journal uses a double-blind peer review process. All identifying marks (e.g., names, addresses, sample sources) are either removed or hidden to ensure that an author’s identity is not revealed to the reviewers.

What role do reviewers and associate editors play in the publication decision?

Reviewers are responsible for determining if a manuscript will be of importance to the Journal’s readers. Reviewers, in consultation with the editor and associate editors, determine if a paper will be published. Reviewers are asked to pay close attention to the following criteria:

1. The general grammar use and writing skill of the author(s)
2. The development of a clear purpose
3. The appropriateness of literature reviewed
   • Note: Given the clinical focus of the journal, long and exhaustive reviews of literature are discouraged; instead, authors should focus on the method and intervention techniques used in clinical and experimental studies. Research based on survey data should have a very strong practitioner focused discussion.
4. The methodology used
5. The validity and reliability of findings
6. The relevance of findings
7. The usefulness of findings for practitioners

What role does the Journal editor play in the publication process?

The Journal of Financial Therapy utilizes an editor and associate editor process for evaluating manuscripts. That is, the editor works with content specific associate editors, who, in turn, choose appropriate reviewers for manuscripts. As such, the editor’s role is to facilitate a dialog between and among reviewers and authors and to monitor the timeliness of the review process. The editor and associate editors are also available to counsel authors on the process of manuscript submission, review, and publication.

Who will edit the manuscript for grammatical errors?

Basic editing for grammar, readability, and style are the sole responsibility of the author(s). The editor will provide feedback to authors, but will generally not make grammatical corrections. Authors who need this type of assistance should contact the editor for the name of graduate students who may be willing to assist in manuscript preparation.

Are invited articles used?

Occasionally, yes; however, all articles, papers, and manuscripts are subject to blind peer review.

Are there page restrictions or other limitations?

No; it should be noted, however, that reviewers and readers prefer shorter well written manuscripts to those that are overly wordy.

How often is the Journal published?

Currently, the Journal is divided into annual volumes. Since there are no obligatory printing and mailing routines, a volume may have one or more issues in any given year.

Are Journal articles archived?

Contents of the Journal are archived on the website of the Institute of Personal Financial Planning at Kansas State University. Once published, the contents are never changed.

What is the Journal’s ISSN?

The Journal’s International Standard Serial Number is: ISSN 1945-7774