In the position, Slott, America’s IRA Expert, will contribute to the Retirement Income Certified Professional® (RICP®) program and support The College’s current faculty focused on retirement distribution planning. 

“Ed Slott has educated millions on the second half of retirement planning – how to best help clients distribute their hard-earned retirement savings and navigate potential tax pitfalls. He will bring decades of expertise to our faculty,” said Nichols. “Ed has the unique ability to communicate IRA complexities in common-sense language. His passion and wealth of knowledge will provide tremendous value to our students because he thinks with the end in mind – the application of knowledge to help financial professionals help their clients.” 

As president and founder of Ed Slott and Company, LLC, a leading source of timely IRA expertise and analysis to financial advisors, institutions, and consumers, Slott brings to the RICP® program practical, easy-to-understand information on IRA and retirement distribution planning. The RICP® designation is the profession’s leading retirement income credential developed by more than 45 of the nation’s top financial retirement professionals, focusing on understanding, choosing, and executing sustainable retirement income strategies for a clients’ available resources, including best practices in Social Security claiming, evaluating and addressing risks faced in retirement, planning for long-term care needs, and more. 

“I am honored to join The American College of Financial Services faculty, and I look forward to sharing my knowledge on the latest tax and retirement planning laws and strategies with even more financial professionals,” said Slott. “I have dedicated my career to educating financial professionals across the country so that they can help their clients properly and proactively prepare for the distribution phase of retirement. Through the RICP® program, I will be able to provide these highly-qualified financial professionals with the knowledge they need to confidently guide their clients through some of the most complicated retirement planning strategies.” 

As a nationally recognized IRA distribution expert, professional speaker, and best-selling author, Slott has an unmatched ability to turn advanced tax strategies into understandable, actionable and entertaining advice. He was named “The Best Source for IRA Advice” by The Wall Street Journal, and USA Today wrote, “It would be tough to find anyone who knows more about IRAs than CPA Slott.” 

Slott regularly presents on IRA and estate planning strategies at both consumer events and conferences for financial advisors, insurance professionals, CPAs and attorneys, including virtual events drawing thousands of attendees nationwide. He has provided topical keynote presentations for leading financial membership organizations, including the Financial Planning Association, National Association of Personal Financial Advisors, Estate Planning Councils and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, as well as leading corporate financial firms coast-to-coast. He is the creator of Ed Slott’s Elite IRA Advisor GroupSM, an organization of more than 450 of the nation’s top financial professionals who attend his ongoing continuing-education programs to maintain a mastery of advanced retirement account and tax planning laws. 

He is an accomplished author of many financial and retirement-focused books, including most recently “Ed Slott’s Retirement Decisions Guide: 2021 Edition” (IRAHelp, 2021), “Fund Your Future: A Tax-Smart Savings Plan in Your 20s and 30s” (IRAHelp, 2021), and “The New Retirement Savings Time Bomb” (Penguin Random House, 2021), all scheduled for release in early 2021. 

As the go-to resource for media on timely insight on breaking news as it relates to retirement and tax planning laws and strategies, Slott is often quoted in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, USA Today, Kiplinger, Investor’s Business Daily and numerous additional national magazines and financial publications. He provides a monthly Q&A column to AARP and is a contributing columnist and media resource to Financial Planning, Financial Advisor and InvestmentNews magazines. He has appeared on many national television and radio programs, including NBC, ABC, CBS, CNBC, CNN, FOX, FOX Business, NPR, Bloomberg and Morningstar. He is also the host of several public television specials, including his most recent, Retire Safe & Secure! with Ed Slott (2021). 

Slott is a past Chairman of the New York State Society of CPAs Estate Planning Committee and editor of the IRA planning section of the CPA Journal. He was named a 2020 InvestmentNews Innovator for his significant contribution to helping advisors improve client outcomes and tackle industry challenges as well as the 2020 Sidney Kess Award Winner for excellence in continuing education by the AICPA®. He is the recipient of the prestigious “Excellence in Estate Planning” and “Outstanding Service” awards presented by The Foundation for Accounting Education. He is a former board member of The Estate Planning Council of New York City and is Accredited Estate Planner (AEP) distinguished. 

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 ED SLOTT 

Ed Slott, CPA, is the nationally recognized IRA and retirement planning distribution expert, best-selling author and professional speaker. His upcoming books include Ed Slott’s Retirement Decisions Guide: 2021 Edition (IRAHelp, 2021), Fund Your Future: A Tax-Smart Savings Plan in Your 20s and 30s (IRAHelp, 2021), and “The New Retirement Savings Time Bomb” (Penguin Random House, 2021), all scheduled for release in early 2021. He has also hosted several public television programs, including his latest, Retire Safe & Secure! with Ed Slott (2021). As an AARP columnist, Slott also writes a monthly Q&A column where he answers consumers' retirement planning questions. His company, Ed Slott and Company, LLC, is the nation's leading provider of technical IRA education for financial advisors, CPAs and attorneys. Ed Slott's Elite IRA Advisor GroupSM is comprised of nearly 450 of the nation's top financial professionals who are dedicated to the mastery of advanced retirement account and tax planning laws and strategies. Visit irahelp.com for more information and connect with Ed Slott and Company on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.

As Executive Director of The College’s newest Center of Excellence, Hill will oversee the Center’s research, thought leadership, curriculum and course development, programming, and scholarships aimed at promoting economic justice for underserved communities. 

“Our exhaustive national search has come to an end and was well worth it. Karim brings a unique skillset to The College that complements our near century in financial services, having earned significant career success at some of our nation’s largest banks, representing his dedication to the industry and his ability to communicate and execute upon complex ideas to improve the lives of others,” said Nichols. “His embrace of the possibilities that could come through a collective impact approach to economic justice is what we need to start operationalizing Four Steps Forward for Black America and laying the foundation for The Center’s success.” 

The Center for Economic Empowerment and Equality’s mission is to cultivate lasting relationships between the financial services sectors and all underserved groups. Under Hill’s leadership, The Center will catalyze, convene, and promote evidence-based knowledge in partnership with the financial services industry, nonprofit organizations, government agencies, and broader corporate America to drive solutions that grow businesses and uplift communities in need. 

“I’m honored to lead the new Center for Economic Empowerment and Equality at The American College of Financial Services,” said Hill. “Joining The College in this inaugural position is an exceptional opportunity for me to take part in re-imagining how the financial services industry approaches diversity, equity, and inclusion. I look forward to developing and implementing a viable, actionable plan for sustainable, generational change that will help narrow the wealth gap and have a lasting effect on how the profession best serves an increasingly diverse nation.” 

Hill has devoted two decades of his career to the financial services industry, spending many years at some of our nation’s biggest banks, including Wells Fargo, Bank of America, Capital One, and Citizens Bank. In September 2020, he became a Board member and Interim Executive Director of BDC Capital Community Corporation, a Consumer Development Financial Institution focused on reducing the racial wealth gap in Massachusetts by deploying capital to underrepresented groups via term loans, equity investments, mezzanine loans, and financial based technical assistance. Some 80% of the capital raised has been distributed to Black business owners. 

Since 2015, Hill has led the New England Business Association as its President and Chief Executive Officer, identifying gaps and fixing processes, as well as growing the organization’s membership from 399 member companies to nearly 1,600. As Foundation Market President for northern California at Bank of America, he managed a $1.5 million philanthropic budget for the company, and in a similar role as Foundation Market President for New York State at Capital One Bank, he oversaw its philanthropic budget. 

Hill is the Co-Founder of the Black Vanguard Alliance, a former Board member for the United Way of Northern California, and is a contributor for New England Blacks in Philanthropy and the New England Board of Higher Education. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Ohio University and a Master of Business Administration degree from Florida International University – Chapman Graduate School of Business. He is green belt certified in Six Sigma Methodology, a quality and process improvement methodology. 

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.

Underrepresented communities have faced institutional barriers to financial security and wealth for decades, leaving a significant gap between those benefiting from the current system, and those being left behind. 

“It’s more important than ever for all generations in underserved communities to learn financial literacy principles so that they can effectively manage their money throughout their lifetime and act as ambassadors in closing the economic equality gap,” said Nichols. “That’s why we are pleased to partner with SFE&PD on this crucial program to equip our next generation with a roadmap for financial well-being at this important point in their financial journeys that will last for years to come.” 

Through the collaboration between The College, the nation’s largest accredited, nonprofit institution devoted to applied financial knowledge and education, and SFE&PD, a national non-profit leader in the financial literacy movement, the two organizations will be able to improve financial education and wellness for underserved communities by offering access to tools and support, like HBCU scholarships, mentorship and internship opportunities, access to The College’s education programs, and peer-to-peer financial literacy programs that help students build out successful career-pathways. 

“Thanks to our partnership with The American College of Financial Services, SFE&PD can expand our reach and give HBCU students access to a financial toolkit that can help them increase their economic prosperity and the communities they serve throughout their lives,” said Ted Daniels, SFE&PD Founder and President. “Collaborative partnerships like this help to level the playing field for diverse students who want to enter the field of financial services but often do not have access to information or a support system to make informed financial choices or build a career in the industry.” 

“The mission of The American College Center for Economic Empowerment and Equality is to help close the wealth gap and promote economic justice with collective, community-focused solutions that last,” said Karim Hill, Executive Director of the Center for Economic Empowerment and Equality. “Empowering underserved communities and positioning them for success requires action. With our collaboration with SFE&PD, we hope to amplify their decades-long work educating Black men and women through our strong partnerships with the nation’s leading financial services companies. We are confident this program will help develop a new pipeline of well-qualified and aspiring professionals who will innovate and lead across the industry.”

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 THE SOCIETY FOR FINANCIAL EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT 

For more than 22 years, SFE&PD, based in the Washington, D.C. area, has served as an award-winning financial literacy and professional development nonprofit teaching financial skills to people of all ages and backgrounds with a focus on underserved communities and HBCU college students. SFE&PD is led by President and Founder Ted Daniels, a leader in the global financial literacy movement. Learn more at sfepd.org and connect with SFE&PD on social media: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.

IRA Success is an innovative, continuing education eligible, self-study program covering the latest retirement distribution and tax planning laws and strategies under the SECURE Act and CARES Act. It combines the expertise and clear-cut language of America’s IRA Expert Ed Slott, CPA, founder of irahelp.com and Professor of Practice at The American College of Financial Services, and his team of IRA Experts with The College’s proven results in e-learning design and delivery. 

“The College is proud to partner with industry leader Ed Slott and his team, who have educated millions on the second half of retirement planning, to offer a one-of-a-kind educational program in the financial services industry,” said Nichols. “The IRA is a valuable retirement planning vehicle full of opportunities and obstacles currently owned by one-in-three U.S. households. IRA Success offers our students massive real-world applicability and potential business-building outcomes in a growing marketplace.” 

With an emphasis on the SECURE Act and CARES Act, the 12-course program covers everything from recognizing new backdoor Roth opportunities to identifying key beneficiary categories still eligible for stretch IRA provisions. Each course comes with a video presentation, resources to use with clients and a digital course manual as an extensive reference tool. 

“The financial industry has seen sweeping legislation and policy changes in recent years that have completely changed the retirement planning landscape. Now, more than ever before, financial professionals need access to the latest information available so they can serve clients in their best interest,” said Slott. “I am proud to partner with The College to provide the training advisors need on a robust e-learning platform.” 

As a leading source of timely IRA expertise and analysis to financial advisors, institutions, and consumers, Slott and his team greatly expand The College’s knowledge offerings by providing practical, easy-to-understand information on IRA and retirement distribution planning. This program will help financial professionals prepare their clients to secure hard-earned retirement savings and navigate potential tax pitfalls. IRA Success costs $195 per course or $2,100 for the entire program. Those that enroll by April 30, 2021, will receive a signed copy of Slott’s new best-selling book, “The New Retirement Savings Time Bomb” (Penguin Random House, 2021).

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 ED SLOTT 

Ed Slott, CPA, is the nationally recognized IRA and retirement planning distribution expert, best-selling author and professional speaker. His latest books include “Ed Slott’s Retirement Decisions Guide: 2021 Edition” (IRAHelp, 2021), “Fund Your Future: A Tax-Smart Savings Plan in Your 20s and 30s” (IRAHelp, 2021), and “The New Retirement Savings Time Bomb” (Penguin Random House, 2021). He has also hosted several public television programs, including his latest, “Retire Safe & Secure! with Ed Slott” (2021). As an AARP columnist, Slott also writes a Q&A column where he answers consumers' retirement planning questions. His company, Ed Slott and Company, LLC, is the nation's leading provider of technical IRA education for financial advisors, CPAs and attorneys. Ed Slott's Elite IRA Advisor GroupSM is comprised of nearly 450 of the nation's top financial professionals who are dedicated to the mastery of advanced retirement account and tax planning laws and strategies. Visit irahelp.com for more information and connect with Ed Slott and Company on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.

Based solely on the feedback provided through an employee survey, The College has been named a Top Workplace in Philadelphia for midsized companies. 

“Being recognized as a Top Workplace is about more than just offering great benefits and vacation time. Employees want to align with a company’s vision, be challenged by a high-performance culture, and feel that they are valued and that their voices are heard,” said George Nichols III, President and CEO of The College. “Through the advocacy and ideas of our culture committee, leadership training, frequent surveys, virtual social events, and a clear mission and vision to rally around, this success is all of our success and we take pride in effecting this kind of change.” 

The Top Workplaces list is based solely on employee feedback gathered through a third-party survey administered by employee engagement technology partner Energage LLC. The anonymous survey uniquely measures 15 culture drivers that are critical to the success of any organization: including alignment, execution, and connection, to name a few. The College also received specific badges for certain culture drivers ranked in the top 25% of organizations in our mid-sized company benchmark surveyed in the last 12 months, including: 

• Clued-in Employees – Employees feel well-informed about the important decisions at The College 
• Trusted Leader – Employees have confidence in the leader of The College 
• Company Direction – Employees believe The College is going in the right direction 

"During this very challenging time, Top Workplaces has proven to be a beacon of light for organizations, as well as a sign of resiliency and strong business performance," said Eric Rubino, Energage CEO. "When you give your employees a voice, you come together to navigate challenges and shape your path forward. Top Workplaces draw on real-time insights into what works best for their organization, so they can make informed decisions that have a positive impact on their people and their business.” 

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 ENERGAGE 

Making the world a better place to work together.^TM Energage is a purpose-driven company that helps organizations turn employee feedback into useful business intelligence and credible employer recognition through Top Workplaces. Built on 14 years of culture research and the results from 23 million employees surveyed across more than 70,000 organizations,  Energage delivers the most accurate competitive benchmark available. With access to a unique combination of patented analytic tools and expert guidance, Energage customers lead the competition with an engaged workforce and an opportunity to gain recognition for their people-first approach to culture. For more information or to nominate your organization, visit energage.com or topworkplaces.com.

The goal of Economic Empowerment Day is to create a collective focal point for the national conversation on the racial wealth gap and the inequality in access to capital. 

“The College’s commitment to Black America, and to the Greenwood District and the Tulsa community, transcends our sponsorship. We are proud to partner with and support philanthropic actions in Tulsa through The College’s Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy® (CAP®) program and the CAP® Impact Scholarship,” says George Nichols III, President and CEO at The American College of Financial Services. “The spirit of Economic Empowerment Day mirrors The College’s mission to uplift Black and underserved communities across America.” 

Through the partnership with Economic Empowerment Day, The College is offering the CAP® Impact Scholarship to the Tulsa philanthropic community to support nonprofit gift planners from historically underrepresented communities in their pursuit of advanced knowledge that will enable them to better facilitate the generosity of donors for the benefit of their communities and society. 

Tulsa CAP® Impact Scholarship recipients will join The College’s Advisors of Color network, created in 2021 to engage 100 advisors of color with local communities in the program this year and are currently recruiting for a Tulsa CAP® study group for a fall launch. The College has longstanding partnerships with 19 community foundations across the country who host interdisciplinary CAP® study groups to amplify the impact of philanthropy through knowledge. 

“Hosting an economic empowerment conference of this caliber with a critical focus on closing the Black wealth gap is transformational,” said Phil Armstrong, Project Director of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre Centennial Commission. “This discussion is essential to reviving the legacy of Black Wall Street and will help set the course for Black entrepreneurs to establish a legacy of wealth for themselves and generations to come.” 

The hybrid conference, held in person and online June 1, 2021, will have three tracks for different audiences focused on specific areas of wealth disparity. One track is for institutional investors, one is for entrepreneurs and business owners, and the third is for individuals and families. President Nichols and Dr. Pamela Jolly, Senior Strategist at The College and Founder and CEO of Torch Enterprises, will be participating in sessions throughout the day. 

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.

The 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre Centennial Commission pays homage to the martyrs of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre and celebrates the resilience of the Greenwood spirit and the Black Wall Street mentality. The projects of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre Centennial Commission will educate Oklahomans and Americans about the Race Massacre and its impact on the state and Nation; remember its victims and survivors; and create an environment conducive to fostering sustainable entrepreneurship and heritage tourism within the Greenwood District specifically, and North Tulsa generally.

This is the inaugural year of the scholarship program, an unparalleled educational experience focused on transforming the way you approach wealth management through applied knowledge exclusively offered by The College in collaboration with Ameritas and WIFS. 

“At The American College of Financial Services, we’re committed to supporting women in their aspirations for success in the financial services profession through education, research, and awareness. This scholarship program aligns perfectly with our mission to attract and develop more women in the industry,” said Hilary Fiorella, Executive Director of The American College Center for Women in Financial Services. “Our partnership with industry leaders like Ameritas and WIFS allows us to provide our applied investment management knowledge to two dozen female financial professionals, who will in turn, provide comprehensive wealth management practice to their clients.” 

The College received nearly 50 applications for the newly created scholarship program, with 24 applications accepted, three of which will be mentors who will take part in the WMCP® program and were chosen by WIFS to lead three cohort groups. 

Winners of the 2021 scholarship program represent a diverse group of women, with 42 percent Black, 45 percent Caucasian, and 13 percent Hispanic/Latina participation. The range of tenure breaks down between early career, mid-career, and more tenured/experienced. (See full list of winners below.) 

“This scholarship is a creative and powerful way for us to bring together the strength of three influential organizations,” said Heather Nagengast, Vice President of Wealth Management and Investment Services at Ameritas. “Ameritas has long-standing relationships with both WIFS and The College. Funding this scholarship through our Pike Chair Endowment, we are doing something deeply impactful to grow our next generation of women in this great industry.” 

Ameritas has sponsored $75,000 to support the 24 WMCP® scholarship recipients and mentors in 2021. Starting in 2022, the company will contribute $25,000 for eight WMCP® scholarships each year. Funds for this new program were provided by the Larry R. Pike Chair in Insurance and Investments endowment, established by The College and Ameritas. Complimentary WIFS membership will also be provided by Ameritas. 

“WIFS is proud to partner with The American College of Financial Services and Ameritas on this exciting new scholarship opportunity for women in the profession," said Carrie D. Sayre, WIFS National President. “Our mentoring program continues to be one of the most highly-popular and well-attended programs we offer, and it is gratifying to help other women advance in their careers with this education program.” 

The scholarship program is available to those identifying as female who work in the financial services industry, are interested in earning the WMCP® designation and expanding their advanced financial planning skills, and are not being reimbursed with employer-sponsored education benefits. Ameritas employees are not eligible. 

2021 WMCP® Scholarship for the Advancement of Women in Financial Services Scholarship Recipients 

*2021 program mentors 

• Christy Aleckson, Single Point Financial Advisors, Inc. 
• Brenda Catugno, BPC, LLC 
• Alexandra Cepeda, Boundless Financial Consulting 
• Joanna Craney, 1847 Financial 
• Karen Darby, Jacobi Capital Management, LLC 
• Joan Gilles, Financial Planning Partners LLC 
• Carolyn Humphrey, Horner Townsend & Kent 
• Elyse Jurman, Diversified Financial Solutions, Inc. 
• Sophie Lancaster, Heritage Wealth Management 
• Patrisha Lee, Self Employed 
• Morgan Marlin, Cetera Advisors 
• Emily Miller, UCL Financial Group, LLC 
• Aywanna Monroe, Self Employed 
• April Murdaugh, National Life Group 
• Tracy Payne, Baltimore Life Companies 
• Ashlee Rehbein, Family First Life 
• Patricia Schutt-Aine, One South Florida Wealth Advisors, LLC 
• Karlene Sears 
• Davina Sims, Linda Mitchell State Farm Insurance 
• Diana Smith, Cetera Advisors LLC 
• Crystal Sudbury, Baacke Insurance & Financial Services 
• Kimberly Turner, Retirement Planning Doctors 
• Jodi Vawdrey, Jodi Vawdrey DBA OakBridge Asset & Tax Management 
• Clarissa Williams, Capital Financial Group/MassMutual Financial Group 

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 WIFS 

Founded in 1936, Women in Insurance and Financial Services (WIFS) is an association of financial services professionals working together to Attract, Develop and Advance women in an underrepresented profession. No other financial services organization provides programming designed for women, by women. WIFS is devoted to advancing career opportunities, providing professional development, and representing women's interests in a male-dominated industry. Through attraction, retention, and a unique focus on mentoring and networking, WIFS is the largest women’s association empowering women in the finance and insurance professions to succeed. For more information, visit wifsnational.org. 

ABOUT AMERITAS 

Ameritas is a marketing name for Ameritas Mutual Holding Company and its affiliated subsidiary companies, including Ameritas Life Insurance Corp. and Ameritas Life Insurance Corp. of New York. Founded in 1887, Ameritas offers a wide range of insurance and financial products and services to individuals, families and businesses. These products and services include life insurance; annuities; individual disability income insurance; group dental, vision and hearing care insurance; retirement plans; investments; asset management; and public finance. Securities offered through affiliate Ameritas Investment Company LLC (AIC), member FINRA/SIPC, and investment advisory services offered through the business name of Ameritas Advisory Services. AIC is not affiliated with any third-party entity mentioned herein. For more information, visit Ameritas.com.

As the chief academic officer for the nation’s largest regionally accredited, nonprofit institution dedicated to financial services education, Hall will be responsible for advancing The College’s mission and vision to provide best in class applied financial knowledge and education, and broadening its reputation as the leader in e-learning within the financial and business sectors. 

“Gwen’s long-established career as a leader in higher education, government, and military service makes her the ideal choice to build upon The College’s recent significant growth in faculty thought leadership and investments that have transformed the delivery of our education and support to our students,“ Nichols said. “Her extensive experience with demonstrated success in academic organization and operations, strategic planning, and student success is pivotal in charting the way forward as we approach our centennial.” 

Hall joined The College in March 2020 as Associate Vice Provost and Vice President to establish the first Student Experience Department by reorganizing the admissions and enrollment management function, creating a dedicated team for program advising to support students, adding an academic technology support function for students, and automating many registrar operations. In addition to being responsible for ensuring that students receive a high-quality experience, she has shown College-wide leadership as active member of the President’s Leadership Advisory Council, supporting the development of The College’s strategic planning process, providing guidance on the COVID-19 Task Force, and serving as an advisor to The College’s newest Center of Excellence, the Center for Economic Empowerment and Equality. 

From 2005-2020, Hall held a number of leadership positions with American Public University System (APUS) serving over 80,000 online students, culminating to Senior Vice President and Vice Provost. Previous to that she held many roles of distinction at APUS including Chief of Staff, Office of the President; Associate Provost of Academic Effectiveness and Student Success; Senior Vice President, Academic Operations; Dean, School of Security and Global Studies; and Chair, Department of Homeland Security, and Transportation and Logistics Management. 

“I am honored to be named Provost and given the opportunity to further serve this academic institution with its rich history of advancing the financial services profession for the benefit of society,” said Hall. “I look forward to working closely with our esteemed faculty and talented professional staff to expand the catalogue of exceptional offerings and ensure the programs continue to be relevant for the students and industries we serve, and The College remains at the forefront of online financial education.” 

Hall’s career in government included consulting with the Department of Homeland Security on strategic planning, infrastructure planning, and resiliency planning. She also served as a professional staff member for the House Select Committee on Homeland Security responsible for maintaining the committee portfolio for all homeland defense issues. A retired Air Force Officer, Hall’s last assignment was Chief of the National Security Policy Division, Headquarters Air Force. Before arriving at the Pentagon in 2002, she was deployed as the Director of the Combined Forces Air Component Commander’s Action Group at Prince Sultan’s Air Base, Saudi Arabia. From 1999-2002, she was the Commander and Director of Operations of the Dean of Faculty Squadron at the United States Air Force Academy where she also served on faculty as a Professor of Political Science and President of the Faculty Advisory Group to the Dean of Faculty. 

In addition to her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, Hall holds a Master of Public Policy and a PhD in National Security Policy Studies all from the University of Maryland. 

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.

The mission of CAAFP is to advance and foster professional relationships and development among African Americans working in the industry. 

#CAAFP2021 will be held virtually on August 10-11, and this year focuses on Four Steps Forward, a bold plan from The College’s Center for Economic Empowerment and Equality to foster upward mobility and wealth building in Black America. Racial injustice and inequality have continued for decades, but everyone is saying that this time feels different. The financial services industry has the opportunity – and the obligation – to make sure it really is different by coming together to create sustainable, generational change in Black communities across America. 

The two-day event features inspiring and thought-provoking keynote addresses led by change agents from a variety of backgrounds and industry experts delivering timely and engaging breakout sessions, including: 

Master of Ceremonies: Mike James, Head of Individual Solutions and President, NFP Life Solutions 

Keynote Speakers: 

• Tiffany Aliche, Author and Founder of “The Budgetnista” 
• Maggie Anderson, JD, MBA, Author, CEO and Founder of The Empowerment Experiment 
• Chris Gardner, Author, Entrepreneur, award-winning Film Producer, Philanthropist, and CEO of HappYness 
• Pamela Jolly, EdD, Author, CEO, and Founder of Torch Enterprises 
• Wes Moore, Author, Combat Veteran, and former CEO of Robin Hood 
• Ramesh Srinivasan, Author and Professor at UCLA 

Entertainment: 

• Spoken Word: Ras Asan, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of BREAUX Capital 
• Musical Entertainment: Rob Base, Recording Artist 
• Inspirational Message: Caroline Clarke, Author 
• Comedy Break: Dwayne Perkins, Comedian, Podcaster, and Actor 

“The CAAFP celebrates the history and accomplishments of African Americans in the financial services profession, empowers professional development, and facilitates learning to help professionals on their journey to success,” says George Nichols III, President and CEO of The American College of Financial Services. “Society’s commitment to fostering change can sometimes be fleeting, but we have a responsibility to make sure we don’t miss this opportunity to build solutions that live past the moment. Join us for this landmark event as we take Four Steps Forward to promote upward mobility and wealth-building in Black America and be part of a network of your fellow financial services professionals dedicated to creating lasting change.” 

Financial professionals are entrusted with the public’s financial well-being and play a significant role in helping individuals and families achieve long-term financial security. The CAAFP was designed to help advance participants’ careers and deepen their expertise to better serve their clients of all backgrounds in need of guidance and financial security.

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.

This is the first major gift The College has received in support and celebration of The College’s commitment to promoting economic justice with collective, community-focused solutions that last. It will help with the expansion of the Center’s Four Steps Forward initiative and programs to reach underserved communities and increase their opportunities for economic mobility, as well as educate and empower Black financial professionals as they start and grow their careers. 

“The College is tremendously grateful to Guardian Life for their generous support and the opportunity to collaborate with others seeking to write a new narrative in history around economic equity and social justice,” said George Nichols III, President and CEO of The American College of Financial Services. “This critical investment will allow the Center for Economic Empowerment and Equality to make a measurable impact in our collective effort to close the racial wealth gap and uplift underserved communities.” 

Guardian Life’s financial support is critical seed funding to expand the Center’s financial education programs for Black women, bolster the Center’s scholarship programs for HBCU and early-career financial professionals, and implement a new approach to study groups for Black financial professionals. Beyond the financial commitment, Guardian Life financial professionals will have the opportunities to play an active role in serving as financial education trainers, mentors, and sponsors within their communities and businesses. For their leadership, Guardian Life will be recognized as a Founder’s Circle donor to the Center. 

“At Guardian, we help communities thrive and we invest in creating more equity and access in underserved communities," said Andrew McMahon, Chief Executive Officer and President at Guardian Life. "We take pride in sharing our know-how to help individuals build the essential life skills needed to manage their own finances, plan for their financial futures and share the opportunities available in new and fulfilling career options within financial services.” 

Guardian Life’s important investment in the Center for Economic Empowerment and Equality underlines their focus on supporting their clients and their families at a time they need care the most; hiring and developing talent that can have a positive change in their communities, and giving back to the people they serve.

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.