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.
Sahar Pouyanrad
EMBA, CTFA, AEP®, CEP®, ChSNC®
Major General Suzanne Vautrinot
USAF (Ret.)
From The President About The College Financial Planning Tax Planning Insights
Newest Professor of Practice Jeffrey Levine
Who is Jeff Levine?
Jeffrey Levine, CFP®, CPA/PFS, ChFC®, RICP®, CWS®, AIF®, BFA™, is the quintessential lifelong learner—an alumnus of The American College of Financial Services who holds several designations and professional credentials, and who has spent much of his career obtaining and sharing knowledge that can help fellow practitioners and clients alike.
He got his start in the profession by learning IRA and retirement planning from one of the best – and another professor of practice at The College – Ed Slott, CPA. Jeff went on to become chief retirement strategist at training firm Ed Slott and Company, LLC. (Incidentally, he’ll be a great addition to our epic retirement experience next year.)
As impressive as his academic acumen is, Jeff’s success as a practitioner also speaks for itself. He’s excelled in several leadership roles within financial services firms and is presently chief planning officer at Buckingham Wealth Partners.
Like Liam Neeson’s character in the blockbuster “Taken,” Jeff has “a very particular set of skills” – primary of which is the uncanny ability to translate the nuances of tax regulation into practical to-dos (and don’ts) for financial advisors. He has killer instincts when it comes to helping professionals understand this very complex topic.
Why tax planning?
Only two things in life are certain. And taxation is one of them. It’s no secret today’s clients are interested in tax-informed financial planning. Yet what has been taboo until now is offering it—or what’s more, specializing in it. I believe this stems from a misunderstanding and conflation of “tax planning” versus “tax advice” (the latter of which is left to CPAs). But make no mistake: Tax planning is an essential part of financial planning.
The College’s recently released 2024 Advisory Services Study revealed some interesting facts about this nuanced area: first, (whether they realize it or not) most advisors are offering some services we would define as tax planning; and second, that nearly all of them are missing opportunities by not offering other tax-planning services. For example, small business owner tax planning is clients’ most frequently requested service that investment advisor representatives (IARs) are not currently providing.
Why do unmet client needs matter so much more in today’s market than they did even five years ago? Because driving revenue is so much harder as services become more commoditized – and it’s past time to take a new approach. We believe applied knowledge will be the key to a breakthrough for future-thinking financial professionals who seek to specialize in an area some are uncomfortable addressing. One of the best ways advisors can grow business organically will be by offering additional services, in turn, increasing client satisfaction, client retention, and client lifetime value.
What makes this program different?
One of the things I love about The College is that we don’t do anything without first “studying up” on the subject. It’s not often we see such a clear need for specialized, applied knowledge – nor do we hasten to develop solutions that are not fully researched or thoughtfully built. The TPCP™ will be the first new designation program The College has offered in over seven years and the first since I joined.
Presiding over the research, development, and launch of the TPCP™ excites me not simply because it’s new to The College, but broadly speaking, because it’s new to the world of financial services. There is no other professional educational program that’s fully focused on tax-informed financial planning to support clients – including business owners – throughout their life. And at present, there’s no designation program that signifies a financial advisor is well-versed in tax planning, except in the relatively rare case (Jeff is one) of a practitioner who is credentialed as both a CPA and a CFP® professional. And even then, the CFP® only trains on income taxation, and the CPA is broadly a compliance credential for someone licensed to practice public accounting.
On one hand, the TPCP™ can help financial advisors build tax-smart strategies as a valued (and value-add) service to their clients who want more than investment management. On the other hand, it can help CPAs incorporate financial planning for their clients who want more than public accounting services. We believe this credential will be a big differentiator for the professionals who earn it, giving early adopters a first-mover advantage with the clients and prospects who have been expecting a broader spectrum of services.
I know the individuals who are drawn to the TPCP™, including thousands already on our waitlist, have this in common with Jeff Levine: they dare to be different. With his string of credentials, his sharp wardrobe of signature vests, and his unmatched ability to simplify complicated subject matter, Jeff has always been a standout professional. And I couldn’t be happier to congratulate him on becoming a professor of practice and welcome him to our team of outstanding academics as we usher in our newest program.
More From The College
- Join the waitlist for the Tax Planning Certified ProfessionalTM (TPCPTM) Program
- Meet Levine at the new, epic retirement planning conference: Horizons
- Learn more about Ed Slott and Company’s IRA Success
- Watch the Webinar on How to Integrate Tax Planning Into Your Practice
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