APA’s Committee on Early Career Psychologists (CECP) will offer two sessions at APA’s 2006 Annual Convention in New Orleans, Aug. 10–13, that aim to help early-career psychologists clear financial and family-balance hurdles.

“Two of the biggest challenges early-career psychologists face are balancing being a parent and your work and finances—how do you manage debt at the same time you are starting a family and buying a house?” says Nabil Hassan El-Ghoroury, PhD, CECP chair.

The sessions are:

• “Being a Parent and a Professional: Is Balancing the Right Strategy?” This session, Saturday, Aug. 12, 9–10:50 a.m., will feature speakers offering advice gleaned from their own diverse experiences balancing parenthood and careers. Presenters include Jim Mahalik, PhD, of Boston College; Steven James, PhD, of the National Health Service Corps; Alfiee M. Breland-Noble, PhD, of Duke University Medical Center; and Theresa Sass, a doctoral student at Boston College. Guerda Nicolas, PhD, also of Boston College, will chair the session.

• “Launching Your Career on Solid Financial Footing: A Business Plan for Personal and Professional Success.” This session, Friday, Aug. 11, 12–1:50 p.m., will survey financial skills for early-career psychologists. Chris Roos, a certified financial planner, will discuss reducing debt and making savings and investment decisions. Chris Stout, PsyD, MBA, founder of Stout Ventures, a consulting firm in Kildeer, Ill., will give a presentation on drafting a business plan for private practitioners. He’ll also offer tips for those going into academia and other fields on how to negotiate salary and benefits on a first job.

—S. Dingfelder