The President's Blog

29 Blog Posts

Answer the Call to Serve Veterans with Us

Nov 10, 2022

At The American College of Financial Services, we serve active duty, guard, reserve, veterans, and military spouses. Why do we serve veterans?

Deepening Our Understanding to Better Assist Those Who Serve

May 27, 2022

Memorial Day is a day of remembrance honoring the over 1.3 million service members who made the ultimate sacrifice to protect our liberties. Today, there are over 1.4 million active-duty service members, 845,000 reservists, and over 400,000 National Guard, all of whom can be deployed at any time. Serving in the United States Armed Forces is an act of selflessness, one we acknowledge with words of gratitude and, most importantly, with actions of support.

Five Critical Considerations to Advance Financial Literacy

Apr 27, 2022

While America may be one of the wealthiest nations on earth, we do not even rank among the top ten of the most financially literate. It has long been recognized that America has a financial literacy problem, significant enough to keep most living paycheck to paycheck, unable to purchase a home, with inadequate retirement savings, and feeling tremendous anxiety.

Uncover the Meaning Behind Wealth with A Spectrum of Legacies

Mar 08, 2022

When we think of estate planning, we usually think about the fundamentals. Who are our heirs? How should our wealth be divided? What is the most tax-efficient manner for distribution? Yet, during this process, it's uncommon to discuss the meaning behind our wealth, the values we lived by as we created it, and what we dream our wealth can achieve for our family and others after we have passed.

The President’s Report 2021: Forging New Pathways to Trust in Financial Services

Feb 15, 2022

America's trust crisis, which emerged during the financial crisis of 2008, has been masked for some time by the longest-running bull market in history. The COVID-19 pandemic and America's awakening to social and economic injustice have stoked the flames of this distrust. Organizations looking to attract and retain today's values-driven consumers need a new plan, one that removes the mask and confronts the issues with collective, long-lasting solutions.

A Celebration of Black History in the Making

Feb 01, 2022

This month we celebrate Black History Month, a special time to recognize and honor the history of Black Americans and those who triumphantly blazed new paths, advancing the nation while contending with racial discrimination and inequality. We honor Maggie Lena Walker, Alonzo Herndon, O.W. Gurley, Ernesta Procope, Arthur George Gaston, and Clifton Wharton, Jr., the first Black pioneers in financial services. However, I've always loathed the notion of celebrating Black history for a month because Black history is steeped in our history; it's American history.

Critical Research Enables Our First Step Forward

Nov 09, 2021

Last year, when The American College of Financial Services launched our Center for Economic Empowerment and Equality, you heard me talk a lot about Four Steps Forward, our strategic plan to promote upward mobility and wealth building for Black America. I'm proud to announce that critical research is now available for the industry to make evidence-based, data-driven decisions to take our first step, which is to increase financial education and opportunity for Black women—and I'm pleased to be able to share it with you.

A New Resource for a Growing and Caring Community

Oct 25, 2021

Whenever I read personal stories and consider how special needs impact children, adults, caregivers, and families, I marvel at their spirit and resilience. While I can’t deny the special needs community’s tenacity, they need the help financial professionals can provide, and we need to embrace the urgency of this moment.