Honoring a Landmark Fourth of July

The fourth of July is upon us, and 2026 marks a historic milestone in the lifespan of The United States of America. It has been 250 years since the Second Continental Congress voted to ratify the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia. This act of defiance against the British Empire launched our nation as we know it, but it also achieved something far greater.

By declaring America as a free and independent nation, the Founding Fathers did something that had never been seen before in recorded human history: they created a nation based on ideals rather than borders or heredity.

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

When I look back on this sentence, I see the crux of what our nation was founded on: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness as unalienable rights that every citizen has the right to strive towards. Certainly, this is a lofty goal that was set forth by the Second Continental Congress all those years ago, but it’s one we should continue aspiring towards as we move forward. As such, I find it appropriate to analyze the state of these ideals in today’s America and evaluate what we can do, both as individuals and as an organization, to help make them a continued part of reality in our country.

As I begin this exercise, I consider the state of America today. It would be disingenuous to act as though America is perfect. The struggles we work to overcome as a nation are plenty. You likely experience your own unique blend of these struggles on a daily basis. However, this is not cause to give up or view the future as hopeless. Throughout the history of our nation, America’s greatest heroes have been born through the direst of circumstances and their responses to them.

Abraham Lincoln was faced with the insurmountable task of reuniting a nation embroiled in Civil War. During this time, the great American experiment was on the brink of catastrophic failure. However, it was during these dark times that Lincoln resolved to unify the people and rededicated our nation to the causes the Founding Fathers had formed our country on.  In his famous Gettysburg Address, Lincoln refers to the fallen soldiers’ work as “unfinished.” This is how I view America today. As a nation, we and our goals are unfinished.

That is why I believe it is of the utmost importance that we as American citizens work our hardest to uphold the ideologies that founded this nation, to endure against the struggles of modern life, and remember that life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness in a nation where all men are created equal is within our grasp, but only if we continue to press forward.

What does this look like? Well, that answer varies from person to person. As stated previously, we all face unique blends of struggles in our daily lives. We can start by persisting against them and continuing with the same resolve as those who founded our nation.

As for The American College of Financial Services, I believe these ideals require us to be true to our mission of the betterment of society through financial education. By educating advisors who share their knowledge with their home communities, we hope to allow financial literacy to reach corners of our society that have never before been reached. Once the knowledge of financial literacy has been achieved, we hope those working with our advisors take the next step towards financial freedom.

Ultimately, I believe this monumental fourth of July serves as an opportunity for us to each reflect on how we live out the founding principles of America in our own lives and endeavor against the struggles that would mitigate our passion for doing so. As The College approaches its own milestone of 100 years old, it is my goal that we as an organization reflect those principles as well.  To each individual reading this, I hope my words have resonated with you and I hope you enjoy your holiday. Happy Independence Day.

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