Subscribe to Newsletter
Related Posts
November 06, 2025
The College held its third annual FinServe Network Summit on October 8 and 9, 2025 — a gathering of financial professionals dedicated to advancing our mission across the industry.
Bringing together ambassadors from across the country, the 2025 FinServe Summit offered two days of connection, collaboration, and strategic insight — all centered around one shared goal: elevating the financial services profession and empowering clients through specialized expertise.
Opening With Vision and Momentum
The Summit opened with remarks from Jared Trexler, chief marketing and strategy officer, who welcomed the 11 FinServe Network ambassadors, including several new members joining for the first time.
Trexler shared updates on The College’s latest initiatives and achievements before offering ambassadors an exclusive first look at The College’s new consumer awareness and engagement campaign. The ambassadors were among the first to view the campaign commercial, Specialists Need Specialists, Too, which marked a milestone moment in The College’s history. The commercial underscores The College’s commitment to helping clients understand the importance of specialized financial advice and the value behind professional designations.
Recipes for Success and the Future of Financial Services
The day continued with an engaging icebreaker during a “sourdough happy hour,” where ambassadors shared their personal “recipes for success” in financial services — and ate sourdough bread! Attendees filled out custom recipe cards highlighting all the ingredients that shaped their career, from the years of education required to the unique clients and communities they serve.
Conversation soon turned to the industry’s evolving landscape and the pressing issue of the advisor talent gap, sparking thoughtful dialogue among the ambassadors and College staff.
“We have found that this is really a second career industry,” said FinServe Network ambassador Terrell Dinkins, ChFC®, RICP®. “It was for me, and I succeeded partly because I had a cushion. [Financial services] is for people who can weather the storm. You have to ask yourself, ‘How long will my cushion last before I actually start making money?’”
The ambassadors compared the financial services industry’s talent and compensation gaps to those in the medical field, emphasizing the need for clearer pathways, better mentorship, and a strong value proposition for the next generation of professionals.
Strategy, Specialization, and the Road to The College’s Centennial
In keeping with tradition, the second day of the FinServe Summit began with an early morning conversation over coffee and breakfast with George Nichols III, CAP®, College president and CEO, and Trexler. The conversation offered ambassadors a candid look at The College’s strategic direction for 2026 and beyond.
Nichols reflected on the shifting expectations of consumers and the growing demand for personalized, specialized advice, reinforcing The College’s belief that specialization is the future of financial services.
“What I want is: if I’m the mountain, everybody wants to be me,” said Nichols. “I want The American College of Financial Services to be the standard of excellence in this profession of applied [financial planning] — and for everybody to want to be The American College of Financial Services.”
He continued:
“I look at the landscape of other players, and no one has what we have. Now, there are people who may do individual things better than us, but when you think collectively about what we're doing — and what we're building — I can't find another organization like it.”
—George Nichols III, CAP®
Nichols also previewed fundraising and engagement initiatives set to launch ahead of The College’s centennial, aimed to expand scholarship opportunities, program innovation, and more.
After breakfast, ambassadors participated in a rotation of interactive sessions led by members of The College’s marketing and communications team. Activities included social media content creation, individual interviews, and group panel discussions centered on The College’s core area of focus: specialization. The ambassadors also shared ideas for deepening collaboration with The College, offering feedback and strategies to help expand the FinServe Network’s reach and impact across the profession.
The Summit concluded with final remarks and appreciation from Trexler, who thanked the ambassadors for their dedication and partnership.
More From The College
- Learn more about the FinServe Network
Related Posts