Diversity, Equity & Inclusion On-Demand Webcasts
How Military Members Can Translate Their Skills Into Success
Listen in as leaders from the Center for Military and Veterans Affairs discuss personal stories of sacrifice and selflessness with Major General Suzanne Vautrinot, USAF (Ret.). They’ll also discuss the skills and leadership that members of the military community can leverage as they work to launch a successful career in financial services.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Financial Planning Wealth Management Podcasts
A Deep Dive Into Tax-Informed Planning
In this episode of our Shares podcast, Michael Finke, PhD, CFP® joins one of those thought leaders — Alan Gassman, JD, LLM, AEP® — for an in-depth discussion of tax law and planning, as well as the impacts tax can have on all stages of a client’s life. They examine the connections between taxes and family expenses, small business growth, retirement and legacy planning, and more to show how tax-informed planning can take your practice to the next level.
Alan Gassman, JD, LLM, AEP® is a senior partner at the law firm of Gassman, Crotty, and Denicolo in Clearwater, Florida and an expert in tax law, specializing in the areas of trust and estate planning, taxation, wealth preservation, and the representation of physician and medical practices. Gassman speaks at many tax conferences, national programs, and national and local webinars, and is one of the featured thought leaders in The College’s Tax Planning Certified Professional™ (TPCP™) Program. Gassman is a frequent speaker for continuing education programs and has published well over 200 peer-reviewed articles with publications such as Bloomberg BNA Tax & Accounting, Trusts and Estates Magazine, Estate Planning Magazine, The Florida Bar Journal, Forbes, and Leimberg Information Services Inc. (LISI), as well as many books on tax planning and law. He has also been recognized several times as a top lawyer in the state of Florida and the country by several prestigious industry lists including Who’s Who in American Law and the AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review RatedSM by Martindale-Hubbell®.
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.
More From The College
Learn More About Our Tax Planning Certified Professional™ (TPCP™) Program
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Financial Planning Wealth Management Podcasts
The Power of Coordinated Planning
In this episode of our Shares podcast, Lindsey Lewis, MBA, CFP®, ChFC® speaks with Padric H.B. Scott, AEP®, CFP®, ChFC®, CLU®, WMCP®, CCFC, CAP®, MSFP, founder and CEO of Crossroads Capital Partners and a member of The College’s FinServe Network and NextGen Advisory Task Force, about his philosophy of coordinated planning. They discuss Scott’s background in the NFL and transition to financial services, as well how he has adapted the strategies of a winning football team to a new approach toward managing client relationships.
Padric H.B. Scott, AEP®, CFP®, ChFC®, CLU®, WMCP®, CCFC, CAP®, MSFP is the president and CEO of Crossroad Capital Partners, where he oversees a team of 10 lady boss associates in the firm and has five advisors in his brokerage unit. In seven years of private wealth practice, he has been named to prestigious lists such as Advisor Today’s Top 4 Under 40 Nationally 2024, The American College of Financial Services’ NextGen Financial Services Professional Award recipient 2023, NAIFA Florida Top 4 Under 40 2023, Northwestern Mutual's Forum, and Forbes Best-In-State Financial Security Professional. He graduated from The College with his Master of Science in Financial Planning (MSFP) degree in December 2023, receiving along the way the CFP® certification as well as the Accredited Estate Planner® (AEP®), and Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy® (CAP®) designations among other planning designation specialties. As a result, he is listed as an estate and business planning specialist in the Northwestern Mutual framework of wealth advisors. He loves his God, family, church, and believes strongly in the motto "Achievement in Every Field of Human Endeavor!"
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.
More From The College
- Learn About Our CFP® Certification Education Program
- Learn About Our Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy® (CAP®) Program
- Learn About the Accredited Estate Planner® (AEP®) Program
- Learn About Our Master of Science in Financial Planning (MSFP) Degree Program
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Insights
Thank You From Our Scholars
Dear The American College of Financial Services Center for Military and Veterans Affairs,
I wanted to express my sincere appreciation for awarding me a scholarship that will allow me to pursue my goals of becoming a financial advisor when I retire from the military. It is hard to put into words how I feel at this moment, because I have been looking forward to this for a long time and the opportunities that this scholarship will afford me are endless. So many people go into debt to achieve their dreams, but thanks to your generosity, I won’t have to do that. Rest assured that I will pay it forward once I have completed the coursework and begin my journey as a financial advisor. Thank you so much for all that you do and continue to do. You guys are truly amazing!
Very Respectfully,
Jeremiah Jares
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Insights
MRG Consortium Meeting and Participation MRG Networking Lounge
On June 25th, numerous members of the MRG Consortium met for their first virtual quarterly meeting to discuss the group’s first initiative: barriers military members face transitioning into financial services. The group identified several barriers, including:
- Awareness
- Informing the military community there is a path into the industry with their skills and companies are interested in hiring them
- Timing
- The time it takes to complete a certification program, timing of their transition and having information ahead of transitioning
- Pathways
- There is not one defined path in this industry, there are many paths an individual can take
- Affordability
- Finding the funding for their education
Various MRGs detailed how they are helping members of the community overcome these barriers, including a mentorship program, working with local bases, and talking with those in transition about financial awareness and wellbeing and what is required to be hired and enter the industry. They also discussed utilizing SkillBridge, a Department of Defense (DoD) program that helps service members gain civilian work experience before they leave active duty.
Following the virtual meeting, the consortium had the opportunity to meet in person during the inaugural Military Resource Group Networking Lounge at The College’s 2024 Military Summit. Various companies including F&G, Nationwide, NFP, Thrivent, and USAA were able to network amongst one another, meet with Military Center scholars in attendance, and have a special meet-and-greet with the 2024 Soldier-Citizen Award recipient.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Insights
AFSA 2024 Convention Symposium
Attending for the first time, the Center for Military and Veterans Affairs was one of numerous exhibitors from various industries present to inform the military community of education and professional development opportunities.
AFSA is a federally chartered Veterans’ Service Organization with a vision to be the premier professional military and veterans service organization of choice for the enlisted corps and their families.
Throughout the conference, the Center had the opportunity to speak with numerous active duty and retired service members, as well as veterans and spouses, of the Air Force, Space Force, Air National Guard, and Air Force Reserve Command about the educational and professional opportunities the Center and The American College of Financial Services has to offer those in transition out of the military and into civilian life and those interested in a career in the Financial Services Industry.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Podcasts
How Diversity Enhances Financial Services
In this episode of our Shares podcast, Lindsey Lewis, MBA, CFP®, ChFC® welcomes the creators of the SER Latin@ Summit – Anna N’Jie-Konte and Vanessa Martinez – for a conversation about how their event brings financial professionals from the Latino community together, and how cultural mores and understanding can be used to bridge divides between advisors and clients.
Anna N’Jie-Konte, MBA, CFP® is the CEO of Poder Wealth Advisors. She helps women entrepreneurs and those who inherit wealth to create an aligned life where their wealth, legacy, and philanthropic plans are rooted in their values. She is also the founder of Financial Powerhouse: The Club, an innovative community to teach women the skills they need to grow, enjoy and preserve their wealth. Having spent her childhood watching the strong women around her live lives dictated by their bank balances, she’s on a mission to rewrite the money stories of women of color. A proud first-generation American with roots in Puerto Rico and the Gambia, N’Jie-Konte is a 3x winner of Investopedia’s “Top 100 Influential Financial Advisors” and has been named “10 Young Advisors to Watch” by Financial Advisor Magazine. She has been featured in well-known publications such as Bloomberg, CNBC, VICE News, The New York Times, Financial Planning, RIA Intel, Think Advisor, and Next Advisor.
Vanessa Martinez is a managing partner at Expressive Wealth. With 15+ years of wealth management expertise, she is dedicated to aligning your financial goals with holistic well-being. She traveled abroad for her undergrad and earned her BBA in Guatemala, C.A. Returning to Chicago, she received her MBA in finance at North Park University while gaining insights from her time at JPMorgan Chase. Her commitment to comprehensive client wealth advisory led her to earn FINRA Series 6, 7, 63, and 65 certifications. In 2020, she co-authored her first book, Family Value at Risk: Inclusive Communication to Pass on Your Family’s Wealth and Legacy. As a female advisor, Vanessa has been recognized by both Barron’s and Forbes and has been a guest on CNBC Power Lunch, Yahoo Finance, Bloomberg, and many industry podcasts.
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.
More From The College
Learn About Our Conference of African American Financial Professionals CAAFP
Visit Our Center for Economic Empowerment and Equality
See More From Our Center for Women in Financial Services
More on Our Know Yourself, Grow Your Wealth® Program
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Retirement Planning Insights
FinServe Ambassador Career Changing Drive to Serve
A U.S. Air Force veteran, Ribuffo went into the service directly out of college after getting a degree in nursing. Along with her husband, also a service member, she was stationed at an American base in Germany – where, under the terms of government agreements at the time, she was prevented from working as a nurse and had to find an alternative.
“I ended up working at the family support center on the base, and part of my job was to help military families with personal finances,” she said. “That was where I got my first taste of how I could change people’s lives through financial advising.”
Challenges of Career-Changing
When she and her husband left the military years later, Ribuffo said a financial advisor they had previously worked with noticed her skill and recommended she consider financial services as a new career path. She ended up joining a major firm as a junior advisor. The year, however, was 2008 – not an easy time to be going into the industry.
“The first few years were very difficult for me,” she said. “Not only was it bad luck and timing, but I was the only woman in an all-male office. It was hard for me to do business the way they wanted me to, and a lot of times it didn’t feel right to me.”
Seeking support from fellow women in the business, Ribuffo discovered and joined her local chapter of Women in Insurance and Financial Services (WIFS) in her home state of Alaska – and found an affirming and life-changing community.
“I always hoped there were other women out there, who were going through the same things I was, who I could talk to about things, and who could give me encouragement to do business the way I wanted to,” she said. “At the first meeting I went to, I was self-conscious about my age and told the group I needed some perspective, and they couldn’t have been more welcoming. Because of them, I stayed in the industry.”
“I always hoped there were other women out there…who could give me encouragement to do business the way I wanted to…Because of them, I stayed in the industry.”
Empowerment Through Education
Despite her difficulties with her first firm, Ribuffo said they were open to her pursuing additional education as a financial advisor, and the CFP® certification seemed like a sensible place to start.
“I was encouraged to look around for a good prep course to prepare for my CFP® exam, and The College’s on-demand CFP® Certification Education Program fit my busy schedule well,” she said. “I eventually became part of a cohort group within my company all studying for and sitting for the exam at the same time.”
During the course of those studies, The College launched its Retirement Income Certified Professional® (RICP®) Program, and Ribuffo said she was immediately drawn to its promise of specialized planning knowledge to serve her growing number of retiree and pre-retiree clients.
“I remember talking to a business development professional from The College about the RICP® Program, and while they encouraged me to take the program, they weren’t sure I’d be able to do it and the CFP® Certification Education Program at the same time,” she said. “Well, I just took that as a challenge and did both programs at once – I got my dual certifications within months of each other!”
While she has since gone on to get other College designations including the Wealth Management Certified Professional® (WMCP®) and the Chartered Financial Consultant® (ChFC®), Ribuffo says the RICP® remains her favorite thanks to its in-depth, product-agnostic, and client-focused approach to retirement planning.
“Seeing subject matter experts from across the industry having conversations with each other and debating different strategies was hugely beneficial for me because it gave me permission to think outside the box,” she said. “It showed me there’s no one perfect solution to retirement planning and that it always comes down to what your clients’ goals are and what a successful retirement looks like to them. The knowledge I gained was invaluable, and I know I’ll always rely on The College to tell me what the next big thing in the industry will be.”
“[The RICP®] showed me [retirement planning] always comes down to what your clients’ goals are…The knowledge I gained was invaluable, and I know I’ll always rely on The College to tell me what the next big thing in the industry will be.”
Supporting Communities Through Financial Services
With her background in retirement planning and military service, Ribuffo says many of the clients she currently serves in her independent practice, Raion Financial Strategies, are military members and federal employees looking for help in understanding the complex web of benefits and savings vehicles available to them. Like many other advisors, she notes retirement planning has in recent years become a much more “do-it-yourself” process, with consumers expected to work things out for themselves with 401(k)s and savings accounts, rather than being provided with prescribed options like a pension plan.
“Oftentimes the expansion of options to military members, veterans, and their families for financial planning haven’t been accompanied by more explanation of how to use them,” she said. “Things are changing and improving, but it’s often slow-moving for the people who most need it.”
These are the situations, Ribuffo said, where a knowledgeable financial advisor in tune with the issues facing these communities can make a big difference – something the industry should also keep in mind when recruiting or approaching women.
“Many people will tell you recruitment numbers for women are climbing, and that’s great. But the flip side of that is retention has not improved,” she said. “More women are being drawn into the industry, but aren’t given a compelling reason to stay. They need to be able to see a successful career path for the future, whether it’s advising or not, and have the mentors and advocates we always hear them say they’re looking for. A mentoring program should be table stakes if you’re a financial services company today.”
“More women are being drawn into the industry, but aren’t given a compelling reason to stay. They need to be able to see a successful career path for the future…and have the mentors and advocates we always hear them say they’re looking for.”
While women as CEOs are becoming a somewhat more common sight in the industry, Ribuffo said more women are needed in middle management positions to really improve representation. She also offered advisors and professionals new to the field advice that would be especially useful in approaching female clients.
“Women as clients want to be heard and understand what is going on, and our industry is often full of jargon,” she said. “I remember having to ask my husband to clarify some of the things our advisor talked about before I joined the industry. Building a relationship with your clients, especially women, is key. Women crave more financial literacy and independence, and if you present yourself authentically, it creates trust, which solidifies that relationship. Listen to what brought them in to see you today – and from there, you can move forward.”