KING OF PRUSSIA, PA – September 21, 2023 – The American College of Financial Services is excited to announce Carol Parlin Prushan as Senior Vice President, Advancement and Alumni Relations. Working closely with The College’s Executive Leadership team, Prushan will shape the advancement strategy of The College as the institution moves into its next 100 years.

Building meaningful relationships across constituent groups is a major aim of The College as it forges the path toward its Centennial in 2027, connections that will be the cornerstone of its future. The College’s network of corporate partners, individual donors, alumni and professional organizations are just a few of the groups that make up the core supporters of its strategic initiatives. Prushan will be key in nurturing those relationships and continuing to build meaningful pathways.

As SVP of Advancement and Alumni Relations, Prushan will be a member of The College’s Executive Leadership Team. Starting from September 18, Prushan will report directly to President and CEO George Nichols III, CAP®.  

Prushan will direct the integration of annual College-wide fundraising efforts and lead an alumni relations program that fosters connectivity with The College’s mission and provides opportunities for deeper networking and idea sharing to support the profession’s growth.

“Carol is a highly trusted, respected, and valued leader with excellent judgement and unwavering integrity,” said Nichols. “We look forward to the renewed energy and vision she will bring to The College’s fundraising and networking strategy as we bring forth our refreshed brand and strategic areas of focus to all our constituents and build new pathways.”

Prushan comes to The College with over 30 years’ experience as an advancement professional, serving vulnerable communities and impacting social change. She has expertise in fundraising, Board relations, leadership, cultural transformation, revenue expansion and optimization, community engagement, and strategic planning and event management.

“I look forward to working with my colleagues at The College to help solidify its future as a leader in financial services education,” said Prushan.  “This is an exciting time to be a part of this storied institution, working with our community of stakeholders to shape the next century of the industry and its professionals.”

Most recently, Prushan served as Vice President and Chief Development Officer at Einstein Healthcare Network, an independent academic medical center primarily serving the poorest community in Philadelphia. At Einstein Healthcare Network, Carol was instrumental in The Einstein Campaign raising $167M, exceeding the initial goal of $100M, and grew their annual campaign from $3M to $10M.

Prushan graduated from Syracuse University with a Bachelor of Science in Marketing and Management Information Systems. She contributes to and participates in many organizations such as the Forum of Executive Woman, Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association, Delta Phi Epsilon Sorority, and the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia.
 

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ABOUT THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF FINANCIAL SERVICES    
Founded in 1927, The American College of Financial Services is the nation’s largest nonprofit educational institution devoted to financial services professionals. Holding the highest level of academic accreditation, The College has educated over 200,000 professionals across the United States through certificate, designation, and graduate degree programs. Its portfolio of applied knowledge also includes just-in-time learning and consumer financial education programs. The College’s faculty represents some of the foremost thought leaders in the financial services industry. Visit TheAmericanCollege.edu and connect with us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube. Discover all the ways you can expand your opportunities with us.

Contact:

Sarah Tremallo 
908-967-0381 / stremallo@jconnelly.com

Lindsey Allumbaugh 
678-643-1310 / lindsey.allumbaugh@theamericancollege.edu   
 

Please join us at The American College of Financial Services as we celebrate this year’s recipient of the Lang Dixon Leadership and Excellence in Achieving Diversity (LEAD) Award, Salene Hitchcock-Gear! Hitchcock-Gear, the president of Prudential Individual Life Insurance was awarded the title at the recent Conference for African American Financial Professionals (CAAFP) in recognition of her efforts to foster inclusivity in the financial services industry.

With over 30 years of industry experience, Hitchcock-Gear uses her platform to promote equal opportunities for underserved communities, speaking at events such as the American Council of Life Insurers (ACLI) Women and Diversity conference, Congressional Black Caucus events, the Deloitte CEO forum, and others. She was also a speaker at the CAAFP, paired with The College’s president, George Nichols, as the two discussed their advocacy for financial freedom in the African American community.

Hitchcock-Gear utilizes her unique position to promote thought leadership through her own research and writing in order to develop a more diverse customer base in the financial services industry and combat financial inequality. She discusses this subject in her article, Now is the Ideal Time to Court Black Investors, explaining the results of a recent Prudential study that analyzes industry trends. In this study and article, Hitchcock-Gear provides insight as to how the African-American community differs from other investors and why firms should be seeking them out as potential clients.

In her fight to foster equal opportunity for all, Hitchcock-Gear acts as the ultimate representation of what the Lang Dixon LEAD Award is meant to promote. She serves as a role model within the financial services industry, educating all of us on what it means to truly care about the well-being of others and give a voice to those who may not have the same opportunities as most. It is for these actions that The College is proud to award the distinction of the 2023 Lang Dixon LEAD Award to Salene Hitchcock-Gear!

 

Specifically, the group talked about SEC enforcement action against a financial services firm for a recent cheating scandal among employees and how the importance of ethics education can be stressed as something to embrace, rather than an obstacle to work around.

Read the Full 2023 Forum Report

KING OF PRUSSIA, PA – September 12, 2023 – The American College of Financial Services is proud to announce the launch of the FinServe Network, a remarkable cross-section of leaders and rising stars in financial services, including College alumni and dedicated volunteers who represent the uniqueness and diverse landscape of the profession.  

“We are honored to have these ambassadors join the inaugural FinServe Network class and partner with The College to reach our bold strategic vision to better serve financial professionals and society for the next 100 years,” said George Nichols III, CAP®, President and CEO of The American College of Financial Services. “Through valuable connections and the networks derived from those relationships, we are advancing the conversation around what the financial services profession should truly be. We couldn't be prouder to collaborate with these leaders and look forward to working together to help redefine the future of financial services.”

The FinServe Network serves as a valuable resource for The College, advocating on behalf of its vast alumni network, providing unique perspectives and expertise on industry trends, and sharing a collective passion for lifelong learning. FinServe ambassadors will provide a behind-the-scenes preview into the innovative ways The College is growing with the intent of sparking ideas to put forward in their own careers. Issues such as training, retention, career development, access to financial services and practice management are all topics that were workshopped during the FinServe Network’s first in-person gathering in Spring 2023, and these conversations will continue as The College identifies additional areas to best serve its alumni in their career paths.

“The opportunity to be involved in shaping the programs and offerings of The College to truly impact our colleagues and future professionals is extremely inspiring,” said FinServe ambassador Heather Welsh, CFP®, AEP®, MSFS, Vice President, Wealth Planning Department Leader, Sequoia Financial Group. “The exchange of ideas with other College alumni has always been so valuable to me and formalizing this forum opens so many opportunities to meaningfully impact the industry. Financial services and financial education is for everyone.”

The ambassadors are also highly committed to working with The College to create content to inspire and engage in guided conversation on The College’s new website, across social media, and at industry events.

“I’m honored to go beyond broker/dealer affiliations and join a group of financial planning and wealth management leaders chosen by The American College of Financial Services,” said FinServe ambassador Padric Scott, WMCP®, ChFC®, CLU®, CAP®, AEP®, CFP®, CCFC, President and CEO, Crossroad Capital Partners. “This noble profession is constantly evolving, and it is exciting to be at the forefront of that conversation. Our goal as FinServe ambassadors is to continue to expand the opportunities offered through our connection with The College and foster sustained growth through those connections that will hopefully open new avenues for access.”

Meet the FinServe Network ambassadors partnering with The College to benefit society at TheAmericanCollege.edu/FinServeNetwork.  

Inaugural FinServe Network Ambassadors:

• Jason Austell, CFP®, MSFS, ChFC®, CLU®, RICP®, AEP®, CAP®, CASL®, MassMutual
• Nancy Du, MBA, RICP®, CFP®, Ashford Advisors
• Mary Fischer-Nassib, CAP®, Sow Good Now
• Drew Gerling, MSFS, ChFC®, CLU®, CAP®, RICP®, CFP®, Thrivent
• Centario J. Grier, J&G Legacy Financial Group
• Terry Parham, Jr., CFP®, ChFC®, CLU®, RICP®, WMCP®, Innovative Wealth Building
• Richard Peck, CFP®, ChFC®, CAP®, Richard C. Peck Consulting, LLC
• Alanah Phillips, Break Up With Your Broker-Dealer, Advisor Launch Pad
• Angela Ribuffo, CFP®, RICP®, ChFC®, WMCP®, CDFA®, CLTC®, Raion Financial Strategies, LLC
• Irv Rosenzweig, ChFC®, CLU®, AEP®, CFP®, Diversified, LLC
• Padric Scott, WMCP®, ChFC®, CLU®, CAP®, AEP®, CFP®, CCFC, Crossroad Capital Partners
• Andrew Tudor, CFP®, CAP®, RICP®, Alchemist Wealth
• Heather Welsh, CFP®, AEP®, MSFS, Sequoia Financial Group
• Fatima T. Williams, FSCP®, New York Life Insurance Company, LLC
• Marco Williams, CFP®, J.P. Morgan
• Scott A. Winslow, MSFS, ChFC®, CLU®, RICP®, AEP®, CCFC, Nabell Winslow Investments & Wealth Management   
   

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ABOUT THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF FINANCIAL SERVICES   
Founded in 1927, The American College of Financial Services is the nation’s largest nonprofit educational institution devoted to financial services professionals. Holding the highest level of academic accreditation, The College has educated over 200,000 professionals across the United States through certificate, designation, and graduate degree programs. Its portfolio of applied knowledge also includes just-in-time learning and consumer financial education programs. The College’s faculty represents some of the foremost thought leaders in the financial services industry. Visit TheAmericanCollege.edu and connect with us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube. Discover all the ways you can expand your opportunities with us.

Contacts:

Sarah Tremallo   
908-967-0381 / stremallo@jconnelly.com     

Lindsey Allumbaugh   
678-643-1310 / lindsey.allumbaugh@theamericancollege.edu  

The Women Working in Wealth℠ Workbook is one of those tools. It's divided into four main sections: Promote, Advance, Advocate, and Resources. Each part includes information, research, and practical ways to make a difference. See below for a summary of what’s included in the four sections of the workbook.

Section 1: Promote

Your Personal Brand 
Women are often good at promoting their firms, services, teams, and others, but what about ourselves? When women gain confidence in elevating their voices and advocating for themselves, we acquire potent skills that we can use to mentor other women to do the same. 

How to craft your "elevator pitch" 

• How to talk about yourself with confidence 
• Words to use and words to avoid

Role Clarity: Understanding what's expected 
The terminology you need to know to help amplify gender equality. 

• Mentorship 
• Sponsorship 
• Allies

Section 2: Advance

By connecting women with experienced leaders who can offer advice and advocacy, mentorship programs can help them overcome the barriers and biases that can impede their progress.  

How to Facilitate a Mentoring Relationship 

• Expectations 
• Best Practices 
• Impacts 

Understanding the role of the Mentee 

• Expectations 
• Best Practices 

The Business Case for More Women in the C-Suite 

• Research has shown that growing the number of women in executive leadership positions leads to companies that are more profitable, more socially responsible, and that deliver better customer service experiences.

Section 3: Advocate

As an advocate you can help bring attention to the issue of gender equity in the financial services industry, and can help generate support and advocacy for change. 

Becoming a Financial Education Advocate 

Starting financial literacy education at early ages and with competent educators will raise a generation with enhanced skill sets to brave adulthood. Our ultimate goal is to start in middle school, when financial knowledge becomes more relevant. Educating students at this early point can change the whole trajectory of their futures. 

• Junior high and high schools 
• Colleges and universities 
• How to Make an Effective Career Presentation 
   

Advocating for Gender Parity 

• Who to connect with 
• Sample advocacy letter 
   

How to be a proponent for financial education legislation 

• Resources for building knowledge 
• How to offer your help 
• Sample letter to your representative

Section 4: Resources

Reimagine the Female Future in Financial Services

To truly reach equity, reimagining the female professional in financial services is needed to increase executive, C-suite, and board member positions held by women.

The Confidence that Comes From Knowledge

The American College of Financial Services offers you industry-recognized professional designations that enhance your prestige, knowledge, and skill set for the benefit of your clients, the financial services industry, and society as a whole.

Advisors Are Retiring: More Women Are Needed to Replace Them 

• Statistics on the rapidly changing demographics of the next generation of financial professionals and the clients they will represent 

Women Working in Wealth℠ Pledge 

• Creating accountability for promoting, advancing, and advocating for women 

History of Wall Street 

• A brief overview of more than 300 years, of Including women's contributions

Next Steps: Reimagine the Female Future in Financial Services 

• Only 5% of CEOs, 19% of the C-suite positions, and 21% of board seats are held by women 
• But the pandemic reshaped the dialogue around work-life balance and created the opportunity for women to voice their expectations

Download the Women Working in Wealth℠ Workbook

Download My Copy

KING OF PRUSSIA, PA – September 7, 2023 – The Annual Clambake & Soldier-Citizen Award Ceremony, hosted by The American College of Financial Services and the American College Center for Military and Veterans Affairs, and supported by the Center’s founding sponsor and partner, Penn Mutual, will take place September 21, 2023, at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The event, which is celebrating its ninth year, transforms the lives of active-duty, guard, reserve members, veterans, and their spouses by raising money for full scholarships for professional designations and degree programs offered by The College.

“We’ve been here for military families for over 10 years, with roots that go much deeper, offering life-changing career transition support and opportunities for those who have honorably served in the Armed Forces," said Jim Roy, #16 CMSAF, USAF (Ret.), Executive Director of the Center for Military and Veterans Affairs. "We couldn’t do the work we do without the impactful donations of partners, organizations and individuals. This event is a celebration of that support and an opportunity to honor those who serve.”

The event features a patriotic, informative, and moving program, highlighting the work of the Center and the promise of the veterans and service members it serves. The cornerstone of the Clambake is The American College Soldier-Citizen Award, established in 2014 to recognize individuals in the financial services industry who have made significant contributions to the United States military, their community, and our society. The award aims to celebrate sacrifice, success, and service. The 2023 Soldier Citizen Award Recipient is Admiral Michael G. Mullen, USN (Ret.)

“Admiral Mike Mullen truly exemplifies the values of a soldier and a citizen. As a soldier, he has given over 40 years of military service to our nation at the highest levels of leadership,” said John M. Howard, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of The American College of Financial Services. “As a citizen, he has done significant work in the financial services industry, held numerous board positions with for-profit and nonprofit organizations, taught national security decision-making policy, ethics, and leadership, and has received many distinguished awards. Much of his work with non-profit organizations is related to assisting military veterans and their families. It was an honor to nominate Admiral Mullen for this award in recognition of his sacrifice, success, and service.”

Admiral Mullen is President of MGM Consulting, which counsels global clients on related issues to geo-political developments, national security interests, and strategic leadership. He served as the 28th Chief of Naval Operations from 2005–2007 and the 17th Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff for Presidents Bush and Obama from 2007 to 2011. He led the military during a critical time of change and transition.  Admiral Mullen advanced the rapid fielding of innovative technologies, championed emerging and enduring global partnerships, and promoted new methods for countering terrorism. After his retirement from the United States Navy in November 2011 after 43 years of honorable service, Admiral Mullen joined the corporate boards of General Motors from 2013–2018 and Sprint from 2013–2019. He serves on numerous boards, including Bloomberg Philanthropies, Naval Academy Foundation, Naval Postgraduate School Foundation, and a wide array of nonprofit organizations dedicated to improving the growth, development, recovery, and transition of military veterans and their families.

This year’s Clambake will be emceed by Tracey C. Jones, MBA, PhD, Center Advisory Council Chair, author, speaker, veteran, publisher, podcaster, and international leadership expert, who currently serves as president of Tremendous Leadership and T3 Solutions. The Center for Military and Veterans Affairs has experienced robust growth since its launch in 2012 thanks to generous support from corporate and private donors, and many members of the military community. The annual Clambake & Soldier-Citizen Award Ceremony continues to generate professional interest and garner financial support for the important mission of the Center.

The following morning, on September 22, 2023, the Military Center will host a Leadership Symposium, "Bridging the Gap in an Ever-Changing World", that includes a panel of distinguished leaders from academics, business, and the military. The panel will be followed by the annual Maury Stewart Lecture, supported by Center Founding Partner and Sponsor Penn Mutual Life Insurance Company. The lecture, which engages the most notable individuals from diverse disciplines to address themes and issues critical to leadership development in the financial services profession, will be delivered by marquee speaker Colonel Nicole Malachowski, USAF (Ret.) on the subject Harnessing Headwinds: Successfully Navigating Change & Adversity. She is a combat veteran and the first woman pilot on the Thunderbirds Air Demonstration Squadron.

Join the Center’s work to empower those who serve with the gift of knowledge, education, and career transition opportunities. Make your gift today at TheAmericanCollege.edu/Veterans.

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ABOUT THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF FINANCIAL SERVICES   
Founded in 1927, The American College of Financial Services is the nation’s largest nonprofit educational institution devoted to financial services professionals. Holding the highest level of academic accreditation, The College has educated over 200,000 professionals across the United States through certificate, designation, and graduate degree programs. Its portfolio of applied knowledge also includes just-in-time learning and consumer financial education programs. The College’s faculty represents some of the foremost thought leaders in the financial services industry. Visit TheAmericanCollege.edu and connect with us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube. Discover all the ways you can expand your opportunities with us.

Contacts:

Sarah Tremallo 
908-967-0381 / stremallo@jconnelly.com  

Lindsey Allumbaugh 
678-643-1310 / lindsey.allumbaugh@theamericancollege.edu