About

Jim Petersen PhD is the The American College of Financial Services (TAC) Roger Hull/James S. Bingay Chair of Leadership and the Chartered Leadership Fellow (CLF) Program Director. Jim is one of the more versatile teaching professors at TAC due to his extensive background in Financial Services and Military Leadership.

Jim is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Founding Principal of Diversified Professional Coaching, LLC. As a former financial services executive, he is committed to leading a company that coaches business executives, leaders, advisors, and clients to pursue their financial goals and lifetime dreams by bringing sound business acumen, financial knowledge, and trustworthy advice to a lasting relationship with each person he serves.

In addition, Jim is the President and Owner of the Professional Business Coaches Alliance, LLC, which is committed to training and supporting the future of professional business coaches. As a Professional Master Business Coach, Jim has expertise in training and coaching business coaches, executives, leaders, business owners, and those who want to take their businesses to the next level.

He entered the financial services industry in 1983 while continuing almost a twenty-two-year career in the United States Navy and United States Navy Reserve. He served as a submarine officer and retired with the rank of Captain (0-6). As a commissioned officer in the US Navy, he served on active duty as a nuclear submariner for seven years. His military expertise included many aspects of nuclear propulsion and submarine warfare.

At the end of 2018, Jim retired from the financial services industry, having served in multiple positions in both the field and the home office. A seasoned executive with more than thirty-nine years of experience in the investment and financial services industries, he is an expert in the fields of financial planning, retirement planning, and leading large financial-planning organizations.

Jim graduated from the United States Naval Academy with a Bachelor of Science degree, and he earned Master of Science degrees in Management and Financial services from The American College of Financial Services, King of Prussia, Pennsylvania.

On June 1, 2017, he became the first financial services manager to be awarded a PhD in financial and retirement planning from The American College. As an Adjunct Professor, Jim became the Roger Hull/James S. Bingay Chair of Leadership in 2021 at The American College.

He and his wife, Louise, have three children and two grandchildren.