Joe Bergan, the Principal responsible for Professional Development Elective Training at Edward Jones, and Ellen Rinaldi — who served as the Chief Security Officer and Chief Information Security Officer at Vanguard — will bring their array of insights to the Board. Bergan and Rinaldi possess decades of financial services leadership experience that aligns with The College’s mission to benefit society and vision to accelerate impact leading into its centennial celebration in 2027. 

“Joe and Ellen have been standout leaders within their respective financial fields, and we are pleased to welcome them to The American College of Financial Services Board of Trustees,” says George Nichols III, President, and CEO at The American College of Financial Services. “They bring decades of senior leadership and unique skills in client-facing, home office, and information technology roles to their governance responsibilities. Their guidance will be invaluable.” 

Bergan spearheads the Professional Development Elective Training initiative for Edward Jones’ Branch Development division. He began his tenure at Edward Jones in 1998 as a Financial Advisor in Sunset Hills, Missouri, and built his career on fostering meaningful personal and financial relationships with clients through advanced development and designations. These efforts led to him being recognized as a top financial advisor within his region, and he would later share his success with others by serving in several leadership roles. This included a stint as a regional leader, which he held from 2008 until November 2013. Bergan has since relocated to the firm’s St. Louis headquarters, where he has held his current responsibilities since October 2021. He is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School’s Securities Industry Institute and earned a degree in business administration from the University of Notre Dame. 

“As I’ve grown with Edward Jones, I’ve made a commitment to uplifting others within the financial services industry, which is why I am honored to support other financial professionals through my work with The American College of Financial Services Board of Trustees,” Bergan says. “I am excited to share the skills I’ve developed over the course of my career within the profession’s leading academic institution.” 

Rinaldi served as an expert in cyber risk management for Vanguard, a $6 trillion-plus financial services organization. She created a comprehensive, integrated global security function that successfully protected more than 22 million institutional and retail shareholders’ assets as well as sensitive corporate data and business and technical infrastructure. Rinaldi has more than twenty years of leadership experience and served as the first Chair of the Chief Information Security Officer Advisory Committee of the Investment Company Institute (ICI) for four years until her retirement in January 2019. 

“In an age where technology is at the forefront of business, it is paramount that the appropriate security measures are taken to mitigate cyber risks and ensure trusted, secure financial exchanges,” Rinaldi says. “I am honored to share my experience with the Board of The American College of Financial Services. This institution delivers the high-quality education necessary for future financial leaders to innovate and thrive, and I am excited to be aiding them on their path toward success.” 

Rinaldi received her B.A. from the University of Connecticut, her J.D. from Suffolk University Law School, and her L.L.M. in Taxation from Boston University Law School. She serves as a member of the Board of Penn National Insurance, a mutual regional casualty property company and sits on both the Finance and Audit Committees. She is also on the Board of Governors for Main Line Health, a not-for-profit health system with four of Philadelphia’s most respected acute care hospitals.

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.

Hosted by The American College of Financial Services — a nonprofit, accredited institution delivering an educational and impact platform for financial professionals, nonprofit leaders, and consumers — the Annual Conference of African American Financial Professionals (CAAFP) will be held in Chicago, IL, August 7-9, 2023. 

This marks the 17th year of The College hosting this premier event and since its founding, the CAAFP has served to advocate and advance the charge for increased representation of Black and African American professionals in the financial services industry. This year’s conference theme is “Reclaiming Black Wealth” and is a follow-up to a tremendously successful gathering last year in Washington, DC, focusing on empowering Black communities, businesses, and individuals. 

This year’s expansive agenda will reinforce and elevate the conversation around how the financial services industry can inspire Black professionals and promote the advancement of all underserved communities through education and empowerment, as we seek to narrow the wealth gap and create sustainable, generational change. This is the core mission of the CAAFP. 

Keynote sessions will feature thought leaders from a variety of backgrounds in financial services and other areas, including Lauren Simmons, Eszylfie Taylor and Linda Clemons. There will be a wide range of breakout sessions, led by change agents and industry experts, covering and continuing education credit, with a focus on empowering Black communities and the advisors that serve them. Four main tracks include:

• Retirement - Prepare to help clients improve their financial fitness and retirement readiness no matter where they are in life.
• Consumer Connections - Build skills and learning tools to cultivate personal and professional networks to better understand the real needs of clients and communities.
• Applied Knowledge - Focus on foundational industry knowledge, insights from thought leaders and experts, and best practices from pioneers and bold new voices making an impact across financial services.
• Niche Markets – Access opportunities and trailblazing strategies to increase professional and personal influence through community networks. 

"As the nation's leading financial services educator, we look forward to gathering with this outstanding community and introducing innovative programs to empower future generations of Black financial professionals," says George Nichols III, President, and CEO of The American College of Financial Services. “The Conference of African American Financial Professionals has continued to grow and innovate over two decades. It is a true testament to the conversations, education and advancement that happens as a result of this gathering and the efforts of its attendees.” 

To learn more about the CAAFP and register, visit TheAmericanCollege.edu/CAAFP-2023.

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.

Guild partners with forward-thinking companies to invest in their employees, unlocking opportunities for personal and professional growth through education and learning programs, career development, and one-on-one coaching. 

“The College’s applied financial knowledge and education has supported professional growth and success for nearly a century. We’re excited to work alongside Guild and innovative financial services organizations in service of those who fortify the financial security of all Americans,” said George Nichols III, The College’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “We look forward to educating these professionals and becoming their lifelong learning partner.” 

Through this new partnership, employees at innovative employers including Regions Bank will now have employer-funded access to The College’s applied financial knowledge and education through some of the most recognized and reputable programs in the profession, allowing financial services professionals across the country to attend without the burden of student debt. As it grows in impact ahead of its centennial celebration in 2027, The College helps professionals accelerate through knowledge, grow through connections, and uplift through community. 

“We are proud to announce the addition of The American College of Financial Services to Guild’s Learning Marketplace,” said Marty Martinez, Chief Partnerships Officer at Guild. “The College has a history of supporting financial services professionals, helping them realize their career goals through rigorous, practical education in their field. They are positioned to support employers across the sector as they invest in the career development of their employees and unlock in-demand career pathways across financial services.” 

Current employees at U.S. based companies whose employer offers education programs are encouraged to contact their HR representatives to see if Guild and The College are an option for them.

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. 

ABOUT GUILD 

Guild’s Career Opportunity Platform™ enables forward-thinking employers to invest in their employees, unlocking life-changing opportunities for personal and professional growth through education and learning programs, career development, and one-on-one coaching. Guild partners with the nation’s largest employers — including Walmart, Chipotle, Discover, Hilton, Target, The Walt Disney Company, and healthcare systems like Providence Health and UCHealth — to create cultures of opportunity that will help them attract and retain top talent, and build the workforce of the future. Guild offers a marketplace of curated education and learning programs designed for the success of working adults. Layered onto that is support, guidance, and resources at every step to help ensure the new skills employees are building translate into career pathways that are in demand at their companies — all without paying for tuition or career services on their own. For more information, visit guild.com.