The President’s Dinner will be the first in-person event The College has hosted since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020, which forced the 2020 President’s Dinner to be held in a virtual format. 

As in years past, The College is proud to honor several individuals at the year-end gala who have made significant and meaningful contributions to The College, its programs and initiatives, the financial services industry, and society at large. These include honors such as the Solomon S. Huebner Gold Medal, the President’s Award, the NextGen Financial Services Professional Awards, and the 2021 Alumni Hall of Fame induction. 

“We’re incredibly excited to return to the tradition of our in-person President’s Dinner and recall why it’s one of our favorite times of the year,” said George Nichols III, President and CEO of The American College of Financial Services. “Getting to celebrate the connections, camaraderie, and commitment to the community that tie us all together is exactly what The College is all about, and I know I’ll be honored to be able to actually shake the hands of this year’s deserving award recipients.” 

Presented annually since 1975, The College’s Huebner Gold Medal is named for Solomon S. Huebner—financial services, education, and insurance pioneer who founded The College in 1927—and is the highest honor bestowed by The College. Individuals receiving the Huebner Gold Medal are those whose leadership and support have advanced the mission of The College in significant ways. This year, The College will honor a pair of recipients with the Huebner Gold Medal: 

• Michael Corey, Managing Partner of MJC Ventures, Advisory Board Member Emeritus for The American College Penn Mutual Center for Veterans Affairs, past member of The American College Board of Trustees, past member of The American College Foundation Board, and member of The College’s President’s Roundtable 
• James Meehan, MSM, Managing Partner at 1847 Financial, immediate past Chair and current member of The American College Penn Mutual Center for Veterans Affairs Advisory Board, and current member and former Chairman of the Board of Trustees 

Specifically, Corey and Meehan are honored this year for their leadership roles with The College’s Board of Trustees and The College’s Penn Mutual Center for Veterans Affairs immediate past Chair and Advisory Board Member Emeritus respectively. Both men have played a vital role in helping The College and its Center for Veterans Affairs serve the military community, including active-duty, guard, and reserve service personnel, veterans, and their families with educational opportunities to find second careers in financial services. 

Established in 2005, the Alumni Hall of Fame award recognizes graduates of The College’s programs who have made extraordinary contributions in time, talent, and treasure to the institution, their community, and the financial services profession. This year, The College recognizes Michael “Mickey” Rosenzweig, CLU®, ChFC®, AEP®, Founder, President, and CEO of Rosenzweig Financial Services and Trustee at The College, for his over four decades of dedication to the betterment of the financial services profession and stewardship of The College and its mission. Rosenzweig is a past member and Chair of The American College Alumni Association Advisory Board and past member of The College Foundation. 

Conferred by the President and CEO of The American College of Financial Services, the President’s Award recognizes the extraordinary leadership and generosity of benefactors and volunteers for The College. The 2021 President’s Award recipient is Susan Cooper, MSM, RICP®, ChFC®, CLU®, CAP®, CFP®, Managing Director at Prudential Financial. Cooper has been a critical and valuable partner in many of The College’s initiatives and serving in many leadership roles including a current member of the Board of Trustees and past member of The College Foundation. 

Intended to recognize the significant contributions made to the financial services industry by individuals under the age of 40, the NextGen Financial Services Professional Award is given each year to a group of talented and deserving young professionals making their mark on the industry. The 2021 group of award recipients include: 

• Amie Agamata, CFP®, AIF®, RICP®, ChFC®, CLU® 
• LeTian Dong, CFP®, RICP®, ChFC® 
• Shellie Haluska, CFP®, CLU®, ChFC®, AAMS® 
• Michael Sise, CFP®, ChFC®, CPFA®, AIF®, CRPC® 
• Andrew Tudor, CFP®, RICP® 
• Lauren Yamaoka, CAP® 

To ensure the health and safety of event attendees, The College will adhere to all COVID-19 guidelines within the City of Philadelphia. Vaccination against the COVID-19 virus is encouraged. To learn more about the 2021 President’s Dinner or to register, visit here or call 610-526-1338. 

The College is accepting President's Dinner tributes for those that want to offer congratulations to the 2021 honorees in the form of donations that will allow the institution to continue to serve the industry and benefit society. 

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.

Penn Mutual, a leading provider of life insurance since 1847 focused on helping the people they work with get stronger, is the founding sponsor and strategic partner of the American College Center for Veterans Affairs, launching new initiatives this month to better serve the community. 

“The College is tremendously grateful to Penn Mutual for their continued support and the opportunity to collaborate with others seeking to uplift our nations’ heroes,” said George Nichols III, president and CEO of The American College of Financial Services. “This critical investment provides important funding to help the Center for Veterans Affairs make a measurable impact in our collective mission to transform the lives of our active-duty, guard, and reserve service members, veterans, and their families.” 

The Center for Veterans Affairs will support the veterans community through additional initiatives and activities including: 

• Transition support services 
• Career services, job placement, and a mentorship program 
• Expanded veterans scholarship program and an executive leadership program 
• Thought leadership and research 
• Collaboration across The College’s Centers of Excellence 

“We’re honored to continue our support of veterans and extend our commitment to The American College of Financial Services,” said Eileen McDonnell, Penn Mutual chairman and chief executive officer. “We firmly believe in the mission of the Center for Veterans Affairs to provide financial education and purposeful employment and career opportunities for our active-duty, guard, and reserve service members, veterans and their families. Over the past 10 years, Penn Mutual has had a positive impact on The College, the industry, and the lives of the scholarship recipients and their clients and we believe that it will make an even greater impact in the years to come.” 

Penn Mutual has a long history of support for America’s military veterans and has invested in programs designed to assist the veterans community in transitioning to civilian life and career opportunities in financial services. Through an initial $2.9 million commitment from Penn Mutual in 2012, the Center for Veterans Affairs has awarded scholarships to active-duty, guard, and reserve service members, veterans, and their families. Penn Mutual’s important investment in the Center for Veterans Affairs underlines their focus on supporting financial professionals and their clients by building customized solutions for individuals, families, and businesses, hiring and developing talent that can have a positive change in their communities, and giving back to the people and communities where they live and work. 

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 PENN MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY 

Penn Mutual helps people become stronger. Our expertly crafted life insurance is vital to long-term financial health and strengthens people’s ability to enjoy every day. Working with our trusted network of financial professionals, we take the long view, building customized solutions for individuals, their families, and their businesses. Penn Mutual supports its financial professionals with retirement and investment services through its wholly owned subsidiary Hornor, Townsend & Kent, LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. Visit Penn Mutual at www.pennmutual.com.

In his position, Chief Roy will oversee the Center for Veterans Affairs’ research, programs, and outreach to provide educational support and career opportunities to eligible service members, veterans, and their spouses. 

“Throughout his career, Chief Roy has proven himself to be a driven leader who is passionate about helping others, from the members and veterans of our armed forces to the public at large, both within the U.S. and around the world,” said Nichols. “This is the vision and value set that’s needed to give back to our honorable communities of service members and their loved ones. Chief Roy’s service record and professional qualifications speak for themselves, and he’s the kind of leader we want on our team.” 

Established in 2012 by a generous gift from the Penn Mutual Life Insurance Company, the vision of the Center for Veterans Affairs is to empower deserving service members, veterans, and military spouses with career opportunities, thereby infusing the financial services profession with a talent pool of determined, mission-minded individuals who will be vital to the economic integrity and sustainability of the financial services profession in the 21st century. 

The Center for Veterans Affairs recently hit a major milestone by awarding their 1,000th scholarship, a program built to grant deserving professionals access to The College’s keystone designation programs, including the Retirement Income Certified Professional® (RICP®), Chartered Financial Consultant® (ChFC®), Wealth Management Certified Professional® (WMCP®), graduate degree programs, and others that give them an edge in finding a new career in financial services, along with the benefits of The College’s vast support and alumni network. The Center also holds yearly events to drive awareness of veterans issues and to raise money for further scholarships, as well as the profiles of those who have courageously served—most notably through the annual Clambake & Soldier-Citizen Award event. 

“I’m always seeking new ways to serve the people of this great nation, including my fellow veterans, military members and families. The opportunity to lead a Center of Excellence like this and work for an institution like The College that sets the gold standard of financial services education is an honor for me, personally and professionally,” said Chief Roy. “I look forward to collaborating with my peers across The College and the financial services industry to bring renewed attention to the challenges facing military members and families and recognition for all that they do on behalf of this country and all of us.” 

As Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force, Roy represented the highest level of leadership among noncommissioned officers in the U.S. Air Force—only the 16th service member appointed to such a position—and in his role provided direction for enlisted men and women, as well as representing their interests to the American public and all levels of government. He served as the personal advisor to the Chief of Staff and the Secretary of the Air Force on all issues regarding the welfare, readiness, morale, and proper utilization and progress of enlisted forces. In his business career, Chief Roy also most recently served as Chief Operating Officer for Silotech Group, a small company focused on advanced cyber, intelligence, IT, and modernization solutions. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Chief Roy brought on 20 new employees to the firm, expanded to three new business sectors as part of his vision to grow Silotech beyond small business status, and brought in nearly $20 million in annual revenue. 

Chief Roy grew up in Monroe, MI, and entered the Air Force in 1982. He has been stationed in places including Guam, South Korea, Kuwait, and Japan, as well as Hawaii, Florida, Missouri, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Virginia. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in engineering management from Park College and a Master’s degree in human resource management from Troy State College, and has worked a variety of civil engineer duties. His military background includes roles at squadron, group, numbered Air Force, and combatant command levels, as well as serving as Senior Enlisted Leader and advisor to the U.S. Pacific Command. 

“As a fellow Armed Forces veteran, I salute Chief Roy for everything he has accomplished over his lifetime of service,” said Jim Petersen, PhD, MSM, MSFS, CFP®, CLF®, ChFC®, CLU®, RICP®, WMCP®, ChSNC®, CRPC®, CAP®, CASL®, AEP®, Chair of the Penn Mutual Center for Veterans Affairs Advisory Board. “His work on behalf of this country and the business community has been exemplary, and under his leadership I truly believe we’ll be able to take our efforts to provide opportunity and education to veterans to the next level.” 

A charismatic speaker and presenter with a strong background in effectively leading high-performance teams and implementing organizational change, Chief Roy’s passion for education and helping others serves as a through-line from his time in the military to corporate roles. He has overseen diverse projects, including professional development of enlisted forces at home and abroad, designing a strategic development model to grow the next generation of Air Force enlisted leaders through an Enlisted Development team that provides guidance and mentorship to 25,000 senior NCOs. In addition, he worked to promote programs ensuring National Guard and Reserve forces are trained to the same standard as their active-duty counterparts. 

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 two executives are joined by new Board members Dr. Wallace Boston, Lt. Gen. Michelle D. Johnson (USAF-ret), Cheri Lytle, and Kristi Martin Rodriguez who collectively bring decades of financial services and leadership experience, and their expertise will support The College as a trusted source of applied financial knowledge and education. 

“I’m excited to welcome our new Board members and celebrate the developing roles of our new chair and vice chair who will continue to guide The American College of Financial Services on our mission to be a trusted voice in a world that needs it now more than ever,” says George Nichols III, President and CEO at The American College of Financial Services. “As we embark into a new year, the leadership of distinguished professionals like John and Salene will help us in our goal to provide applied financial knowledge and education to everyone who needs it. We are committed to helping the people of our nation lead lives of financial wellness, supported by financial professionals with the expertise to lead them.” 

John Howard is chairman and chief executive officer of Truist Insurance Holdings. He also serves as chief insurance officer for Truist Financial Corporation and is a member of the Truist Executive Leadership team. An alumnus of Columbia University and Duke University and a U.S. Navy veteran, his three decades of financial services experience began at Alex. Brown & Sons, followed by positions of increasing responsibility at GE Capital. He later served as president of retirement services for Conseco and, following that, president of Prudential Select Brokerage. 

Howard joined Truist predecessor BB&T in 2012 through the acquisition of Crump Group where he was president and chief executive officer. In 2007, he merged Crump with the insurance and retirement divisions of the BISYS Group, where he was president of insurance services. 

Howard currently serves as executive sponsor of the SERVE (Supporting Emergency Responders & Veterans Engagement) Business Resource Group at Truist. He is vice-chairman of The Institutes; chairman of advocacy for The Council of Insurance Agents and Brokers; and an overseer of the Maurice R. Greenberg School of Risk Management, Insurance and Actuarial Science at St. John’s University. Additionally, he is a prior chairman of the Board of Trustees of Gill St. Bernard’s School and a recipient of the Hall of Fame Award from the Tri-County Scholarship Fund. 

“It’s an honor to lead the Board of The American College of Financial Services in fulfilling its commitment to student success, providing relevant course material, and discovering new solutions for financial security,” Howard says. “The College delivers the highest quality education to the professionals entrusted with the public’s financial well-being, and I’m proud to be a part of this institution.” 

Salene Hitchcock-Gear, JD, is president of Prudential Individual Life Insurance, leading the unit offering competitive solutions to meet the needs of consumers via a diverse portfolio of life insurance products. An industry veteran with more than 30 years of experience, Hitchcock-Gear joined Prudential in 2017 as chief operating officer of Prudential Advisors, the company’s national sales organization with more than 3,000 financial professionals, advisors and fee-based financial planners who offer clients a broad range of financial solutions. She was appointed president of both businesses in 2018. Previously, Hitchcock-Gear served as president and CEO of Ameritas Investment Corp. and president and CEO of Acacia Life Insurance Company. She represents Prudential as a director on the Women Presidents’ Organization Advisory Board, serves on the Board of Trustees of The American College of Financial Services, and sits on the Life Insurance Committee of the American Council of Life Insurers. Hitchcock-Gear is an alumna of the University of Michigan and New York University School of Law, holds FINRA Series 7 and 24 securities licenses, and is a member of the New York State Bar Association. 

Dr. Wallace E. Boston was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of American Public University System (APUS) and its parent company, American Public Education, Inc. (APEI) in July 2004. In September 2019, he retired as CEO of APEI, and he retired as APUS President in August 2020. During his tenure as president, APUS grew to over 85,000 students, 200 degree and certificate programs, and approximately 100,000 alumni. In his career prior to APEI, and APUS, Dr. Boston served as either CFO, COO, or CEO of Meridian Healthcare, Manor Healthcare, Neighborcare Pharmacies, and Sun Healthcare Group. Dr. Boston is a Certified Public Accountant, Certified Management Accountant, and Chartered Global Management Accountant. He earned an A.B. degree in History from Duke University, an MBA in Marketing and Accounting from Tulane University’s Freeman School of Business Administration, and a Doctorate in Higher Education Management from the University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education. 

Lt. Gen. Michelle D. Johnson (USAF-ret) is a transformational leader with over 30 years of success leading complex organizations on a national and global stage. Most recently, she served as senior vice president and head of referee operations for the National Basketball Association. She served with distinction in various assignments during her three decades in the U.S. Air Force and is the first woman cadet wing commander to lead the U. S. Air Force Academy as the 19th superintendent—equivalent to a college president. Before becoming superintendent, Johnson spent time as NATO’s Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and Intelligence (2011-13) and served stints at the Pentagon as the Air Force’s Deputy Director for Information and Cyberspace Policy (2007-09) and Director of Public Affairs (2005-07). A command pilot with more than 3,600 flight hours, she was the Air Force aide to Presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton from 1992-94. She was the Air Force’s first woman cadet wing commander, first female Rhodes Scholar (1981-83) and first female inductee into the coSIDA Academic All-America Hall of Fame (2007). 

Cheri Lytle is managing director and head of practice management delivery and advisor development at J.P. Morgan Wealth Management, responsible for delivering practice management tools, resources, and training to over 5,000 advisors across the J.P. Morgan Wealth Management business. She holds a national role coaching and upskilling in business development, business management, financial planning, investments, and client relationship management and service. Previously, Lytle served as Managing Director, Head of Financial Advisor Strategy and Development at Bank of America, Merrill Lynch. A graduate of West Virginia University, Lytle brings nearly 20 years of experience in the finance industry with demonstrated success implementing high-impact initiatives, improving advisor practices and leading mass organizations and cultural changes. 

Kristi Martin Rodriguez is senior vice president of the Nationwide Retirement Institute (NRI) where she reports directly to the Nationwide Financial President and COO. She advises executive leadership to successfully expand service offerings, accelerate business growth and align strategic objectives with key organizational goals. Over her 20+ years of experience, Rodriguez has held various positions in the highly regulated healthcare and financial services industries, spending seven years with Nationwide and previously holding roles with Aetna and UnitedHealth Group. She is a graduate of Hampton University and holds a certification in Consumer Marketing from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management Executive Education. 

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.

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

“Our people are what make us great, and we strive to ensure The American College of Financial Services provides a positive work environment and supportive culture for our workforce of exceptionally talented individuals,” said George Nichols III, President and CEO of The College. “We are honored to be recognized as a Top Workplace for a second year because this shows that our employees feel heard, challenged by a high-performance culture, valued and are connecting with our vision.” 

Under the leadership of President Nichols, The College’s commitment to building a collaborative and inclusive work culture remains a priority. With faculty and staff across the country, keeping the workforce connected and engaged is integral to its continued success as a growing and dynamic company. The College can affect this kind of culture change through the advocacy and ideas of The College’s culture committee, leadership training, frequent employee surveys, virtual and in-person events, and a clear mission and vision to rally around. 

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 

“Earning a Top Workplaces award is a badge of honor for companies, especially because it comes authentically from their employees,” said Eric Rubino, Energage CEO. “That's something to be proud of. In today's market, leaders must ensure they’re allowing employees to have a voice and be heard. That's paramount. Top Workplaces do this, and it pays dividends.” 

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.

On September 15, 2022, at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the premier scholarship fundraising and networking event will feature thought-provoking content and a moving, patriotic award ceremony. The Clambake's generous supporters, including the event’s Diamond sponsor and the Center’s Founding Partner and Sponsor, Penn Mutual, have provided educational support and career opportunities to more than 1,200 men, women, and their spouses. In 2022, the Center aims to award 400 full scholarships. 

“Making a positive impact in the lives of those who have honorably served our country and assisting them with a viable second career is at the heart of the mission of the Center for Military and Veterans Affairs," said Jim Roy, PMP, USAF (Ret.), Executive Director of the American College Center for Military and Veterans Affairs. "We are tremendously grateful for the continued support and the opportunity to collaborate with others seeking to uplift our nations’ heroes.” 

A key component of the Clambake is The American College Soldier-Citizen Award, established in 2014 to recognize extraordinary individuals who have served honorably in the United States military, have achieved success in the financial services profession, and have selflessly given back to society and their community. The 2022 Solder Citizen Award Recipient is General Lester L. Lyles, USAF (Ret.). 

In his last assignment before retiring from the Air Force, General Lyles served as the Commander of the Air Force Materiel Command of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. The command conducts research, development, test and evaluation, and provides acquisition management services and logistics support necessary to keep Air Force weapons systems ready for war. General Lyles, a distinguished graduate of the Howard University ROTC program, served in various Air Force assignments including Vice Chief of Staff at Headquarters U.S. Air Force and Director of the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization. 

"I am both humbled to accept The American College of Financial Services’ 8th Soldier Citizen Award, and proud to join the ranks of impressive leaders previously selected,” said General Lyles. “The same passion to help service members and their families in improving their own quality of life guided me during my 15 years on the Board of USAA - the last eight years of which I served as the Chairman of the Board. Servant leadership is much like being a Soldier Citizen; it requires selfless sacrifice and commitment to helping others.” 

The Center for Military and Veterans Affairs has experienced explosive growth since its launch in 2012 thanks to impressive support from corporate and private donors, as well as word-of-mouth advocacy from scholars. September 11, 2022, marks the 10-year anniversary of Penn Mutual as the Center for Military and Veterans Affairs’ Founding Partner and Sponsor. The annual Clambake continues to generate professional interest and garner financial support for the important mission of the Center. 

“We’re proud to be an active, longtime sponsor of The American College Center for Military and Veterans Affairs,” said Thomas H. Harris, CLU®, ChFC®, President, Life Insurance and Annuities, The Penn Mutual Life Insurance Company. “We salute General Lyles for his inspired leadership and celebrate his lasting impact on the Center’s meaningful outreach programs, which elevate financial professionals to better serve their clients.” 

“The Clambake is a time to come together to celebrate sacrifice, success and service,” said George Nichols III, President and CEO of The American College of Financial Services. “We thank our generous supporters who have helped us to make a measurable impact in our collective mission to transform the lives of our active-duty, guard, and reserve service members, veterans, and their families.” 

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.

Carter brings decades of financial services and leadership experience, and his expertise will support The College as a trusted source of applied financial knowledge and education. 

“Brandon is a standout leader, and we are pleased to welcome him to The American College of Financial Services Board of Trustees,” says George Nichols III, President and CEO at The American College of Financial Services. “As The College grows and we implement our strategic plan, it is especially important that our Board includes consummate professionals, like him, to help us in our goal to bring students and alumni on a lifelong journey of learning and provide applied financial knowledge and education to everyone who needs it. His deep passion and professional success in supporting our military, veterans, reservists, and their spouses also aligns with the work and our desired expansion of the American College Center for Military and Veterans Affairs.” 

As Chairman and President, Carter oversees the USAA Life Insurance Company and multiple subsidiaries and is responsible for the strategy and operations for product management and distribution, actuary, underwriting, servicing, and claims across the life, health and annuity portfolio. He is leading the digital transformation of the business while preserving USAA’s legendary service. Carter is a member of USAA’s Executive Council, which oversees the strategy and day-to-day operations of USAA’s companies and staff agencies. The USAA family of companies provides insurance, banking and investment and retirement solutions to more than 13 million current and former members of the U.S. military and their families. 

“It’s an honor to serve on the Board of The American College of Financial Services, an institution that shares USAA’s and my commitment to help the people of our nation lead lives of financial wellness, supported by financial professionals with the expertise to lead them.” Carter says. “The College has a robust reserve of talent and knowledge and I look forward to being a part of an organization that delivers the highest quality education to the professionals entrusted with the public’s financial well-being.” 

Prior to his current role, Carter served as General Manager of USAA’s Phoenix Campus, with site management of the expanding facility and its more than 3,000 employees, external community relations, and support for USAA's military affairs and government relations for the State of Arizona. His additional responsibilities included serving as Vice President of Experience Management, leading the transformational journey to a relationship sales culture, marketing campaigns and design capabilities that deliver world-class member experiences. 

Carter joined USAA in 1997, and over his 25-year USAA career has excelled in multiple executive leadership positions focused on sales, marketing, service, operational efficiency, and transformation. He currently holds the Chartered Life Underwriter® (CLU®) and Chartered Financial Consultant® (ChFC®) designations and is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®). Carter sits on the Board of Directors for the American Council of Life Insurers (ACLI) and is past Chair of LL Global, the parent company of LIMRA and LOMA. He is also an active board member for Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), a non-profit organization providing comfort, care and resources to families grieving the death of a military loved one. He graduated from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management. Carter and his wife, Sherri, and their three children reside in San Antonio, Texas. 

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 College is proud to honor several individuals at the year-end gala who have made significant and meaningful contributions to its programs and initiatives, the financial services industry, and the benefit of society. These honors include the Solomon S. Huebner Gold Medal, the President’s Award, the NextGen Financial Services Professional Awards, and the 2022 Alumni Hall of Fame induction. 

“This year's distinguished award honorees have achieved the kind of success in their fields that inspire us all. Still, it's their character, commitment to their communities, and passion for helping The College succeed in our vision that truly sets them apart," said George Nichols III, President and CEO of The American College of Financial Services. "It gives me great pleasure to honor them with distinction at this year's President's Dinner and 95th Anniversary celebration." 

Presented annually since 1975, The College’s Huebner Gold Medal is named for Solomon S. Huebner—financial services, education, and insurance pioneer who founded The College in 1927. Individuals receiving the Huebner Gold Medal, the highest honor bestowed by The College, are those whose leadership and support have advanced the mission of The College in significant ways. The College honors J. Scott Davison, CLU®, ChFC®, Chairman, President, and CEO of OneAmerica, with the 2022 Solomon S. Huebner Gold Medal. As a College Board of Trustees member since 2011 and chairperson from 2020-2022, Davison helped lead the institution into an exciting new era. 

Established in 2005, the Alumni Hall of Fame award recognizes a graduate who has made extraordinary contributions in time, talent, and treasure to the institution, their community, and the financial services profession. This year’s Alumni Hall of Fame inductee is Mark Weber, JD, MSFS, CLU®, ChFC®, CAP®, Philanthropic Consultant at Legacy Spectrum Advisor and creator of The College’s A Spectrum of Legacies educational program. Weber embodies a passion for philanthropy which he has infused into The College’s Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy® (CAP®) Program, the Omaha CAP® Study Group Program, and over 130 difference-makers serving to advance philanthropy. 

Conferred by the President and CEO of The American College of Financial Services, the President’s Award recognizes the extraordinary leadership and generosity of benefactors and volunteers for The College. Leyla A. Lesina, ChFC®, CLU®, Senior Vice President and Head of Individual Markets Distribution at Guardian Life is the recipient of this year's President's Award for her personal philanthropy and commitment of time to championing a critical partnership that propelled The College's initiatives to support of underserved communities. 

The NextGen Financial Services Professional Award is given each year to a group of talented and deserving young professionals under forty whose contributions are making a significant impact on the industry. The 2022 group of award recipients include: 

• Matt Riley, ChFC®, CLU®, ChSNC®, Fiduciary Officer and Vice President at TS Prosperity Group 
• Kyle Kuyat, CFP®, ChFC®, RICP®, Partner at Sugar Magnolia Wealth Advisors and Managing Director at Silver Oak Securities 
• Ashton Lawrence, CFP®, ChFC®, AIF®, Partner at Goldfinch Wealth 
• Joshua Rosenberg, ChFC®, CLU®, CCFC®, Partner at Nabell Winslow Investments and Wealth Management 
• Stephanie Hohenshell, RICP®, LACP®, LUTCF®, Founder of the Hohenshell Agency 

For those who want to offer congratulations to the 2022 honorees, The College is accepting President's Dinner tributes in the form of donations that will allow the institution to continue to serve the industry and benefit society. 

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 man who spoke those words, John “Jack” Bogle, founder of The Vanguard Group, and inventor of the index mutual fund, passed away on January 16, 2019, at the age of 89. 

Bogle, who served on the Board of Trustees of The American College of Financial Services from 1981-1987, revolutionized the investment industry and is among the most influential investors of the past century. 

His contributions to the financial services profession have deeply impacted the lives of investors, thought leaders, and countless families saving for their future.

Courtesy of The Institute for Fiduciary Standard via Wikimedia Commons.

With his passing, the faculty at The American College have shared some thoughts on the impact Bogle made on the profession and to them personally.

Dr. Benjamin Cummings, CFP®, Associate Professor of Behavioral Finance

"John Bogle was a visionary who saw a way to make investing more efficient by providing low-cost access to diversified investments. Then he took the risk to start a company built on that philosophy, and it worked, becoming one of the largest investment firms in the world. I made my first retirement investment in a Vanguard mutual fund when I was in college, and I’ve held Vanguard investments ever since. Thanks, John, for helping me and millions of others prepare for their financial future."

Dr. Michael Finke, CFP®, Chief Academic Officer

"The revolution in finance theory of the 1960s made it clear that individual investors needed a way to access the equity market using low cost, well diversified financial products. Bogle stuck with his vision despite adversity and created an institution that gave investors greater retirement security and a company they could trust. Bogle was a reminder that companies can do good and do well by providing consumers with the right investments and embracing transparency and quality."

Dr. Gerald Herbison, ChFC®, CASL®, CFP®, CLF®

"Assistant Professor of Management John Bogle created a way for self-directed investors to save without incurring the costs associated with full-service mutual funds. Vanguard continues to be a company that serves mass market investors in a true low-cost model, which takes discipline that most companies can’t maintain. John Bogle was a visionary."

Theodore Kurlowicz, JD, LLM, CAP®, ChFC®, CLU®, AEP®, Professor of Estate Planning and Taxation 

"The concept of low fee mutual fund investing brought participation in equity investing to the masses. And it certainly enhanced self-investing for the middle class. Accumulating for retirement is an essential step and I personally can appreciate the concept created by Mr. Bogle because of my own retirement planning."

David Littell, JD, ChFC® Professor of Taxation

"John Bogle and Vanguard made investing easy – I certainly appreciated this as a youngster looking to save for retirement. Today as I’m about to retire I certainly appreciate the advice. Contribute regularly, invest in low-cost equity-based mutual funds, don’t look at your statements, and your wealth really will add up over the years. Thanks John Bogle."

Kevin Lynch, MBA, CFP®, ChFC®, CLU®, RHU®, REBC®, CASL®, CAP®, CLF®, LUTCF, FSS, RICP®, Faculty Instructor

"My step father passed away July 24, 2018, just 38 days away from his 94th birthday. His legacy to my sisters and me, financially, included substantial holdings in mutual funds. His largest holding was his Vanguard account. My dad taught me many different things, but one of the most important lessons he taught me, he learned from John Bogle. 'Start early, save regularly, keep your costs low, and never react to market volatility.'"

Kirk Okumura, MSFS, ChFC®, Academic Director

"John Bogle may be the person single-most responsible for democratizing investing, and making investing in securities markets accessible to millions of Americans. He will forever be to me the father of indexing, providing a cost-effective alternative to active management to those of us who subscribe to some version of efficient markets. On behalf of the millions of investors impacted by his contributions to the industry: Thank you, John. You will be missed." 

Dr. Wade Pfau, CFA®, Professor of Retirement Income

"One of my career highlights was being able to award John Bogle with the Consumer Advocate Award from the Retirement Income Industry Association in 2014. Here is an excerpt from my introduction for him: As mutual funds are a dominant element of American retirement plans, the work of John Bogle to develop broadly diversified, low-cost indexed mutual funds at Vanguard has provided the tools used by millions of Americans to meet their retirement goals. John Bogle has played an instrumental role in educating the public about this, including writing one of the fundamental investor education books, his best-selling 'Common Sense on Mutual Funds: New Imperatives for the Intelligent Investor.' John Bogle has dedicated his life and career to serving as a tireless advocate for greater ethical standards, trusteeship, and service from the financial industry. By placing the interests of clients first, John Bogle has demonstrated how to build trust and confidence in financial services. John Bogle reminds us that we are part of an industry designed to help people develop appropriate retirement income strategies by developing our specialized knowledge and skills, formulating best practices, and thinking outside the box."

Ross Riskin, CPA/PFS, CCFC Assistant Professor of Taxation 

"John Bogle truly personified the term 'vanguard.' Not only was he focused on the impact investing and investment costs have on the consumer over the long-run, he was focused on educating consumers and financial advisors, which really hits home for me given what I strive to do as an academic, and especially as I reflect on what The American College stands for. John’s book, 'The Little Book of Common Sense Investing,' has been on my bookshelf for many years as it has served as both a reminder for me of what he stood for and as a resource I have made a part of financial planning courses I have taught and currently teach. While John is no longer with us, his knowledge and wisdom will carry on and I won’t simply remember him as a pioneer in the financial services industry, but rather as an educator."

On behalf of The American College of Financial Services, we thank Jack Bogle for his contributions to The College’s Board of Trustees and the MDRT Foundation Hall. His vision will be missed, though his legacy and teachings will forever impact the financial services profession and investors alike.

Timi Joy Jorgensen, PhD, the “Joyful Money Doctor” and Director of Financial Education & Wellbeing at The American College of Financial Services, has made it her life’s mission to help educate others on how to take charge of their financial journey. Here are Jorgensen’s three tools to empower your clients and communities to achieve long-term financial well-being.

Global Thinking

Take stock of an entire situation. There will always be moments of regret in life, with money or otherwise. When you regret a past decision, think through it entirely. What led to it? How was your emotional state when you made the decision? Was this decision made out of habit or was this a one time thing? There are many factors that go into a decision. Walk through them all. We can be unnecessarily hard on ourselves and regret alone won’t change future outcomes. If you want to change the behavior in the future, understand the whole situation and make a plan.

Give Yourself Grace

Be kind to yourself. Reality is that your past and future selves are you. We deal with non-stop external factors and have to make thousands of decisions a day. We’re not always going to make the best decision and it probably made sense in that moment. The new plan for your future self is to use global thinking and grace to move past financial pitfalls. Changing your expectations and making sustainable plans that are realistic for you will keep you feeling content and happy in your financial choices.

Gratitude as a Training Tool

Gratitude is a training tool toward financial well-being and can help you get into the habit of global thinking and grace. Behavior impacts our outcomes, and healthy thoughts and feelings around money are necessary for financial well-being. Practicing gratitude doesn’t mean you ignore the difficult financial obstacles you may face, but rather, that you intentionally seek out both financial and nonfinancial things to be grateful for. With global thinking, grace, and gratitude, you are on your way to a healthy and wealthy life.

“Gratitude builds financial satisfaction and confidence, improves financial behaviors, and reduces financial stress.”

— Timi Joy Jorgensen, PhD, Director of Financial Education & Wellbeing