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July 20, 2026
Themed around “Connections Across Generations,” the 2026 event will feature keynotes from industry leaders plus three career-stage tracks: Get Ready, Get Started, and Get Specialized.
KING OF PRUSSIA, PA – July 20, 2026 – The American College of Financial Services announces the upcoming 20th annual Conference of African American Financial Professionals (CAAFP), which will take place from August 3 through 5 at the Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk in Chicago. This milestone year's conference will revolve around the theme of “Connections Across Generations,” a call to explore the advancements, challenges, solutions, and change shaping financial services across generations, and to support both current and rising professionals in advancing the profession.
“For 20 years, the CAAFP has been more than a conference. It is a community that strengthens with every generation that joins it,” said Valencia Gabay, PhD, CFEI®, managing director of the American College Center for Economic Empowerment and Equality®. “This year in Chicago, we are intentionally building connections across generations by honoring the trailblazers who opened doors, equipping the professionals leading today, and empowering the next generation preparing to carry this work forward. We invite all financial professionals who share our commitment to representation to join us as we shape the future of this industry together.”
This year's conference will feature keynote addresses from nationally recognized voices in business, finance, and leadership. Keynote speakers include:
- Justin O. Cooper, founder of JOCMedia & Entertainment
- Tiffany Dufu, president of the Tory Burch Foundation
- Dr. Pamela Jolly, founder and CEO of Torch Enterprises
- John W. Rogers Jr., chairman and co-CEO of Ariel Investments
In addition, the annual and much-anticipated CAAFP White Party will feature entertainment by music legends Big Daddy Kane and DJ Skaz Digga.
Attendees will also hear from workshop speakers including renowned industry experts, veteran practitioners, and faculty of The College, such as Michael Finke, PhD, CFP®, professor of wealth management and WMCP® program director; Daralee Barbera, EdD, CFP®, CMFC®, ChFC®, CPBC®, CLF®, director of faculty and assistant professor of leadership; Lindsey Lewis, MBA, ChFC®, CFP®, managing director and chair of the American College Center for Women in Financial Services; Mike James, global chief sales officer at NFP; Vanessa Martinez, MBA, CEO and managing partner of Expressive Wealth; and Thomasina Skipper, MBA, ChFC®, CLU®, CLF, CPMBC, president of Diversified Professional Coaching, LLC.
Workshops will be organized around three tracks reflecting the core stages of a career in financial services: Get Ready, helping attendees crystallize what's possible, align with a career, role, and business model, and form peer networks; Get Started, focusing on the foundational skills, technical knowledge, and emotional intelligence needed to navigate professional "firsts" with competence and confidence; and Get Specialized, helping experienced professionals deliver clarity and security as specialists by advancing their education to serve clients with increasingly complex needs.
Last year's CAAFP brought together 700 financial services and other professionals in Atlanta, including 250 industry professionals with more than 20 years of experience who shared their knowledge with attendees. The 2025 conference earned a Net Promoter Score of 84, indicating world-class attendee satisfaction.
To learn more about the CAAFP and register for this year's conference, please visit the event microsite.
About The American College of Financial Services
The American College of Financial Services is the nation’s largest nonprofit and accredited educational institution devoted to financial services professionals. Nearly one in five advisors or agents is an alum of The College. The College offers a learning platform that includes professional designation, certification, and degree programs and encompasses early-career foundational knowledge as well as deep, specialized education in tax, retirement income, philanthropy, risk management, and more with the highest-quality combination of rigor and relevance. The College’s faculty represents the foremost thought leaders in the financial services industry. Its educational programs, research, and events offer professionals the opportunity to expand earnings, deepen relationships, and deliver improved client outcomes.
Visit The College’s website to discover all the ways to gain expertise for every stage.
About The American College Center for Economic Empowerment and Equality®
The American College Center for Economic Empowerment and Equality® is committed to narrowing the wealth gap and promoting economic justice with collective, community-focused solutions that last. The Center for Economic Empowerment and Equality is The College’s flagship for research, thought leadership, curriculum and course development, programming, and scholarships in the areas of diversity, equity, and inclusion – all focused on building positive change. By integrating community needs with business goals, the Center is thinking boldly, executing precisely, and embracing the immense capacity of financial knowledge to support individuals and families, inspire communities, affect economies, move markets, and impact business owners.
Through an evidence-based approach leaning on robust data and boots-on-the-ground evidence, the Center is working to identify gaps and new opportunities, create initiatives, and develop products and services by convening partners across financial services, communities, private foundations, and corporate America. Through this collaboration, the Center is committed to establishing a lasting infrastructure that supports sustainable, generational solutions.
Learn more at the Center’s website.
More on CAAFP and Representation
- Learn about the history of CAAFP
- Apply for the Center’s NextGen Program
- Get the latest insights on representation in financial services
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