Our Mission to Uplift the Profession and Society
We provide applied financial knowledge and education, promote lifelong learning, and advocate for ethical standards to benefit society. It’s a mission rooted in history and focused on the profession’s future.
Our Focus on the Future
The College fulfills its vision with an integrated strategy to expand your opportunities: knowledge that accelerates your career or changes your life, events that enrich you professionally and personally, and initiatives that advance causes you care about.
Our Core Values
Integrity
We create trust by adhering to the highest academic, professional, and ethical principles in all that we do.
Respect
We cultivate a diverse and inclusive environment where everyone is valued equally and encouraged to contribute and be heard.
Accountability
We commit to being dependable, results-oriented, empowered, and accountable for our actions.
Excellence
We’re passionate about lifelong learning and deliver academic excellence to drive impactful student and societal outcomes.
Top Work Places
An Award Winning Culture
The College has been recognized by The Philadelphia Inquirer as a 2024 Top Work Place in the categories of Work-Life Flexibility and Employee Well-Being.
We’ve been shaping financial services for close to a century.
And our impact on the profession and society is growing.
Our Story
Our Story
Our Story
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Industry pioneer and educator Dr. Solomon S. Huebner establishes The American College of Financial Services to meet the growing need for a more knowledgeable profession to best serve the public’s financial security.
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The College's Chartered Life Underwriter® (CLU®) Program graduates 21 designees, beginning a long tradition of excellence. Since then, more than 100,000 financial services professionals have earned their CLU® designation.
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The College becomes accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE).
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The College launches its second graduate degree program, the Masters of Science in Management (MSM), supporting professionals in their pursuit of leadership roles across functional areas in non-profit, for-profit, and private organizations.
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The College forms the American College Cary M. Maguire Center for Ethics in Financial Services – the only ethics center within an academic institution focused exclusively on the financial services industry. The Center continues to help individuals and companies think more critically about solutions for the benefit of society.
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The College affirms its commitment to advancing women in financial services by establishing the American College Center for Women in Financial Services. Since then, The College has continued championing women through various initiatives, including the annual Women Working in Wealth SummitSM and Awards Ceremony.
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The Retirement Income Certified Professional® (RICP®) Program awards its first designation. Today, over 9,700 RICP® designees are serving their clients with extensive retirement income planning knowledge acquired from the program's 45 elite retirement planning experts.
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The Wealth Management Certified Professional® (WMCP®) Program launches to support an industry shift in the development of sophisticated goal-based financial plans. Over 800 financial professionals have already earned the designation renowned for modern wealth management.
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George Nichols III, former financial services senior executive, is appointed the 10th President and CEO. President Nichols immediately outlines a new strategic vision to transform the student experience, democratize financial education, and expand The College's reach to support a more inclusive and equitable financial services profession.
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The American College Center for Economic Empowerment and Equality® is established to narrow the wealth gap and promote economic justice with collective, community-focused solutions that last. To date, 13 organizations have given substantial philanthropic donations to support the Center's work.
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The College launches the FinServe Network, an elite group of alumni and volunteers committed to extending The College's reach in the profession by sharing their College experience and perspectives via social media, trade publications, and other channels.
We believe a rising tide lifts all boats; an informed public asks the right questions; knowledgeable professionals best guide the public's financial well-being; and all Americans have the right to economic equality.
George Nichols III, CAP®
President and CEO, The American College of Financial Services
Our Lasting Impact
200K+
Professionals have chosen The College as their lifelong learning partner.
$21.7M
Raised in philanthropic investments since 2022 from individual, corporate, and foundation donors to amplify our mission
35%
Higher client retention reported by College alumni over the past three years compared to advisors with no designations1
Here, We Propel Career Success
As a nonprofit, accredited institution, we champion your career. Explore opportunities to advance your career in the industry or with us!
1 FUSE Research Network. The American College of Financial Services Designation Outcomes Study. 2024.