College News Roundup: Week of August 19, 2024
CNN | Best Annuities for Retirement in 2024
August 15, 2024
James Karthaus, CFP®, CLU®, ChFC®, MA, assistant professor of financial planning, explores how annuities and guaranteed income can be leveraged in retirement planning – including adjusting strategies for inflation.
College News Roundup: Week of August 12, 2024
Rethinking65 | The Crisis in LTC Coverage
August 12, 2024
Members of The College’s 2023 Retirement Income Literacy Study research team including Kaylee Ranck, PhD, James Karthaus, CFP®, CLU®, ChFC®, MA, and Joellen Meckley, JD, MHS, ChSNC® discuss one of the study’s most important takeaways – a lack of long-term care knowledge among aging Americans – and how the industry can move to address this need.
About The College Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Insights
CAAFP 2024 Recap
![CAAFP 2024 attendees in the crowd](/sites/default/files/inline-images/rt-2024caafp.jpg)
For three days from August 12-14, 2024, attendees of the 18th annual event focused on empowering, educating, and advocating for the role of Black, African American, and DEI-committed professionals in the financial services industry experienced informative and inspirational workshops and coaching sessions plus invaluable networking opportunities.
The conference was truly transformational for all involved as it focused on the theme of Expanding Our Collective Impact: building solutions to the racial opportunity and wealth gaps that still persist in America today.
The Power of Insurance Planning
The first day of CAAFP 2024 opened with an insightful conversation between two financial services industry leaders: Salene Hitchcock-Gear, president of individual life insurance at Prudential; and Kam Harris, vice president of actuarial and risk at Atlanta Life Insurance. In their discussion, they focused on their diverse roles within the insurance planning space – one of The College’s foundational pillars thanks to the Chartered Life Underwriter® (CLU®) designation program – and how insurance can shape the futures of diverse communities.
Hitchcock-Gear and Harris also talked about the relationship between insurance and legacy planning, and how Black and African Americans have been left out of conversations about building generational wealth.
Along with a welcome dinner filled with fun and fellowship, attendees went to bed excited for the next day’s main events.
Financial Services Policy and Prosperity
The second day of CAAFP 2024 kicked off with a keynote address from Donna Brazile, a veteran political strategist and author. Brazile drew on her extensive history with Washington, DC and legislating to examine the current state of the country – and what can be done to narrow wealth gaps between diverse communities.
“Leadership comes in all kinds of flavors, shapes, sizes and colors,” she said. “We are not going back. We are going to celebrate who we are, and we are not afraid to claim diversity, equity and inclusion.”
After getting a chance to attend a series of workshops and coaching sessions and check out The College’s Networking Lounge – filled with information booths and activities, as well as shopping opportunities from local merchants – attendees enjoyed lunch and a conversation between two more industry movers: George Nichols III, CAP®, president and CEO of The College; and Raphael Bostic, president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta.
In their discussion, Nichols and Bostic took a look at the role of the Federal Reserve, bankers, and the financial services industry in unlocking new opportunities for communities of color.
“Information is power, and we want to get that information into the hands of the public,” Bostic said. “Our job is to create certainty and an economy for everyone. If we’re doing our job, people will feel optimistic about the future.”
Finally, the evening was capped off with a celebratory White Party, where all attendees were invited to wear their best white outfits and dance to the beats of DJ Shakim and Dee-1. It was the perfect ending to an eventful day!
Empowering Future Generations Through Finance
While no one wanted CAAFP 2024 to end, day three of the event wasn’t short on excitement and insight. To kick off the day, Nichols hosted a fireside chat featuring Virgil Miller, president of insurance giant Aflac U.S.
Following that session, the CAAFP crowd heard a powerful address from Michelle Singletary, author and award-winning personal finance columnist for The Washington Post. Singletary stressed the importance of legacy-building for Black communities and families, returning to the themes of day one while adding her own ideas on how a change in mindset is necessary to close the racial wealth gap.
The College recognized the excellence of African American financial professionals with its annual presentation of the Lang Dixon Leadership and Excellence in Achieving Diversity (LEAD) Award. This year, two award recipients – Maceo A. Sloan, CLU® and Calvin F. Vismale, CLU® – were recognized posthumously as two of The College’s first Black alumni in the CLU® Program and among those who paved the way toward increasing diversity in the insurance business.
Finally, the entire event was capped off by a talk from Dawn Staley, a legendary figure in women's basketball. Staley is renowned both as a former player and as the current head coach of the South Carolina Gamecocks, leading the team to multiple national championships, SEC titles, and Final Four appearances. She played eight seasons in the WNBA as a stellar point guard for the University of Virginia, and was a three-time Olympic gold medalist with the U.S. women’s basketball team. In her address, Staley focused on critical elements of leadership needed to expand collective impact.
“I hope CAAFP attendees do three things after this great event: expand their knowledge, expand their network, and stay connected—both with The College and with each other. That’s how we’ll deliver on the promise of the conference and Expand Our Collective Impact.”
George Nichols III, CAP®
President and CEO
Thanks to all who attended CAAFP 2024! We look forward to seeing even more financial professionals and continuing to expand our collective impact in 2025.
Get an inside look in this year’s recap video.
More From CAAFP:
Learn About the Event.
Visit the Center for Economic Empowerment and Equality.
About The College Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Insights
Lang Dixon and the Origins of CAAFP
![Photo of Lang Dixon and CAAFP logo](/sites/default/files/inline-images/cb15-caafp24-insight-langdixonaward.jpg)
Established in 2018, The College’s Lang Dixon Leadership and Excellence in Achieving Diversity (LEAD) Award is given annually at CAAFP to an African American financial services professional who has significantly impacted the financial services profession. For 2024, two men received the Lang Dixon Award posthumously: Maceo A. Sloan, CLU®, and Calvin F. Vismale, CLU®, two of The College’s first Black alumni in the Chartered Life Underwriter® (CLU®) Program.
Along with recognizing Sloan and Vismale, those offering tributes to them at CAAFP 2024 took time to reflect on the man who provided the inspiration for the award in the first place. Lang Dixon was a successful life insurance agent and mentor who believed in giving back to his profession, and was part of The College’s inaugural African American Advisory Committee dedicated to increasing diversity and inclusion in financial services.
When Dixon passed away in 1994, the members of the still-active committee decided to commemorate his legacy with a Lang Dixon Education Day – and, thanks to the backing of some generous corporate sponsors, the idea evolved into the first CAAFP event held in 2001!
See the full story in this year’s tribute video.
About The College Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Podcasts
Sowing the Seeds of Financial Success
![Shares Podcast logo](/sites/default/files/inline-images/cb15-sharespodcast%20%285%29_0.jpg)
In this episode of our Shares podcast, host Lindsey Lewis, MBA, ChFC®, CFP® speaks with Valencia Gabay, program director for financial educational and wellbeing at The College and one of the many minds behind Know Yourself, Grow Your Wealth®: a non-credit certificate program that helps improve financial decision-making, increase financial security, and put into practice strategies to achieve financial goals. She discusses the ideas and goals behind Know Yourself, Grow Your Wealth® and how the program is fundamentally engineered to help learners take control of their financial future.
Also featured is Tony Sanchez, a community affairs specialist at OneAmerica Financial in Indianapolis and graduate of the program, to speak about the program benefits he has seen personally and in his capacity as a mentor for others.
Valencia Gabay is the program director for financial education and wellbeing at The College. With a dedication to fostering partnerships and guiding community engagement, she strives to enhance financial wellbeing for diverse populations. As an accomplished learning experience designer and academic professional, she excels in creating inclusive learning environments through a design thinking approach. An organizational leadership scholar, her research interests lie in humility and inclusive leadership practices that promote team resilience, creative thinking, and innovation within the virtual workforce. With over 20 years of experience in higher education, she has contributed significantly to academic literature and has shared her expertise on international platforms. Gabay is also the co-author of Group Coaching and Mentoring: A Framework for Fostering Organizational Change. She completed her undergraduate and graduate work at the University of Florida and is completing her doctoral studies in Organizational Leadership at Indiana Wesleyan University.
Antonio “Tony” Sanchez is a community affairs specialist at OneAmerica Financial. He serves on the community affairs team, helping run the groundbreaking Pathways Program which provides students in underserved areas of Indianapolis with journeys that build skills, connections, and a path to sustainable income through jobs, mentorship, and opportunities in the financial services industry. He is a former OneAmerica Financial intern and is now a OneAmerica Financial full-time associate. Before joining OneAmerica Financial full-time, he also worked as an accountant intern at Mutual Savings Bank in Franklin, Indiana. Sanchez graduated from Franklin College with two degrees in economics and has worked and volunteered at the Boys and Girls Club in Franklin.
Any views or opinions expressed in this podcast are the hosts’ and guests' own and do not necessarily represent those of The American College of Financial Services.
College News Roundup: Week of July 29, 2024
Barron’s | Annuities Are Offering Richer Payouts. Here Are the 100 Best
July 26, 2024
College thought leaders discuss the benefits and drawbacks of annuities in retirement planning, including which guaranteed income products may be the strongest for potential client segments.
Rethinking65 | The Crisis in LTC Coverage
August 1, 2024
Members of The College’s 2023 Retirement Income Literacy Study research team including Kaylee Ranck, PhD, James Karthaus, CFP®, CLU®, ChFC®, MA, and Joellen Meckley, JD, MHS, ChSNC® discuss one of the study’s most important takeaways – a lack of long-term care knowledge among aging Americans – and how the industry can move to address this need.
College News Roundup: Week of July 22, 2024
ThinkAdvisor | Which Strategy Wins the Retirement Spending “Smackdown”?
July 22, 2024
WMCP® program director Michael Finke, PhD, CFP® and adjunct professor of wealth management David Blanchett, PhD, MSFS, CFA, CLU®, ChFC®, CFP® discuss themes from their recent Shares podcast episode, including which is the correct approach to helping Americans plan for a life in retirement.
College News Roundup Week of July 15 2024
CNN | How to Buy an Annuity
July 18, 2024
CNN writers Joanne Cleaver, Paul Curcio, and David Tony speak with WMCP® program director Michael Finke, PhD, CFP® as he discusses the key points Americans need to know when considering annuities as a source of retirement income.
College News Roundup: Week of July 8, 2024
AARP | Make Your Retirement Savings Last
July 8, 2024
WMCP® Program director Michael Finke, PhD, CFP® discusses how those at or near retirement can maximize their chances of maintaining a comfortable lifestyle throughout their golden years.
Life Annuity Specialist | How Demise of “Chevron” Could Affect Sales of Life Insurer Products
July 8, 2024
Professor of practice Steve Parrish, JD, RICP®, CLU®, ChFC®, AEP® looks at how the Supreme Court’s latest decisions on the authority of government agencies could affect the financial services industry.
PlanAdviser | ERISA Advisory Council Makes Case for Annuities as Part of QDIA
July 8, 2024
WMCP® Program director Michael Finke, PhD, CFP® speaks to the benefit of guaranteed income products as a part of a balanced retirement strategy.
WalletHub | 2024’s Best Online Checking Accounts
July 8, 2024
Adjunct professor Hossein Salehi, PhD, CFP® offers advice on how people can maximize the use of their online savings accounts.
Financial Advisor | Preventing Second Home Dreams From Becoming A Nightmare
July 12, 2024
Professor of practice Steve Parrish, JD, RICP®, CLU®, ChFC®, AEP® discusses how to navigate the decision to buy a second home in retirement and avoid potential pitfalls.
WalletHub | Best Credits Cards for People with Bad Credit
July 15, 2024
Adjunct professor Jason E. Heller, PhD, CFP®, CIMA®, MSFS, RICP®, ChFC®, CLU®, CAP®, CMFC®, AAMS®, CRPC®, CFS®, FSCP®, AWMA®, CRPS®, BCAA, AEP®, CFBS®, CDFA®, RMA®, CIS®, CAS®, CES®, AIF®, BFA™, APMA®, CFED®, ChSNC®, AFC®, WMCP®, LACP®, CPFA®, C(K)P®, AIFA®, CSRIC® offers advice on how to get out of bad credit.
College News Roundup: Week of June 24, 2024
ThinkAdvisor | American College Rolls Out CFP® Continuing Education Platform
June 24, 2024
ThinkAdvisor writer John Manganaro details the public launch of The College’s Knowledge Hub+ subscription platform, featuring CFP® CE-approved content available for just-in-time learning.
Morningstar | Retirees That Annuitize Income Spend Twice as Much as Retirees With an Equal Amount of Non-Annuitized Savings
June 25, 2024
College wealth management and retirement planning experts Michael Finke, PhD, CFP® and David Blanchett, PhD, MSFS, CFA, CLU®, ChFC®, CFP® discuss how advisors and clients can work toward lifestyle goals through annuity products and other strategies.
Morningstar | Don Graves and Wade Pfau: How Home Equity Affects Retirement Planning
June 25, 2024
College retirement planning thought leaders Wade Pfau, PhD, CFA, RICP® and Don Graves examine how reserve mortgage strategies can help in retirement planning – and why such products have gotten a bad rap over time.
USA Today | Financial Consultant: Definition and What They Do
June 27, 2024
Industry experts discuss the merits of various financial services designation programs, including The College’s Chartered Financial Consultant® (ChFC®) Program.
Human Capital Innovations | Diversity and Inclusion and Empowering Women in Finance with Lindsey Lewis
June 28, 2024
Lindsey Lewis, MBA, CFP®, ChFC®, executive director of The College’s Center for Women in Financial Services, speaks with Dr. Jonathan H. Westover in a podcast about how to empower women in the financial services field.