Financial Literacy Month Spotlight: Dionne Blanks, AFC®

My Work: Providing financial education, coaching and credit counseling services to clients who are focused on building wealth. I also educate children and young adults regarding personal finance and preparation for adulthood. My Roots: Raleigh, NC My Passion: Providing my community with the knowledge needed to increase their credit scores, reduce debt and build wealth....

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Financial Literacy Month Spotlight: Carmina Lass, AFCPE® Member

My Work: In my current role, I work to support financial capability practitioners, including but not limited to those within CBA’s network of over 500 nonprofit organizations, by disseminating credit building and credit education best practices.  My Roots: My educational background is in international relations and peace and conflict studies. While completing...

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Financial Literacy Month Spotlight: Karin Jewell, AFC® Candidate

My Work: I wear many hats here at EWU, from working with families of incoming freshmen, to helping graduates plan for student loan repayment. I counsel, educate, encourage and motivate.   My favorite task is creating and leading financial literacy workshops.  My Roots: I was born and raised in the beautiful Spokane Valley...

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Financial Literacy Month Spotlight: Jerry Buchko, AFC®

My Work: I work with individuals & couples in a virtual office setting, supporting them in their efforts to become more effective managers of their finances and to realize the kinds of financial lives they want for themselves and their loved ones. My Roots: I came from a career Air Force family...

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3 Things to Consider for a Meaningful Practicum Experience

When I received the welcome into the FINRA Foundation Military Spouse Fellowship program I was excited about the opportunity to earn the career-enhancing AFC® certification mark. I felt proud and well on my way to achieving my personal and professional goals. But I also knew that I was just getting started and would have...

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Help Set The Highest Standard: Join our Diverse & Inclusive Community

As AFCPE membership continues to grow, so does the diversity and reach of our professionals. To ensure that the AFCPE Board of Directors is representative of the larger membership community, this Fall the Board voted to expand the current board constituencies. The new structure will better reflect and represent our...

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AFCPE: Advancing the Profession and Bridging the Gap Across Professionals and Communities

One of the things I love most about AFCPE is the diversity and depth of our professionals. Each one brings a different area of expertise and experience from across the field of personal finance, from research to practice. This connected, dynamic network is a hallmark of AFCPE. This year’s Annual...

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America’s Wealth Gap: What It Is and What We Can Do To Close It

On Monday, December 11, we hosted a #BridgingtheGap twitter chat. Special guests, Heather McCulloch, director of Closing the Women's Wealth Gap, and Tom Shapiro, author of Toxic Inequality and thought-leader on the racial wealth gap provided us with a deeper dive into America’s wealth gap and gave us a platform to discuss what...

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Starting A Client Conversation: It Doesn’t Begin with Finance

Personal financial can be a touchy issue for many individuals. Consider this scenario: A client makes an appointment for a financial-planning consultation. As an Accredited Financial Counselor (AFC®), you ensure the client that you do not endorse, sell or promote any financial product line. Yet, even with this disclaimer, your...

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AFCPE Welcomes 2018 Board Members!

AFCPE is excited to welcome four new Board members to the 2018 AFCPE Board of Directors. New board members were elected by AFCPE membership, ratified by the current Board of Directors, and will be sworn into their roles during the November AFCPE Board meeting, held in conjunction with the 2017 AFCPE...

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Living Out Your Why

We all love stories. They inspire. They motivate. They connect. In honor of National Financial Literacy Month, we asked AFCPE professionals to share their stories. To tell us their "Why". What inspired them to become financial educators, counselors or coaches. As the month comes to an end, the stories do...

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We Can All Change Our Stars

In the fall of 2008 I had just moved my small family across the country. We were 1,000 miles from anyone we knew, my wife was 8 months pregnant with our second daughter, I had no job and, after deciding not to go to medical school, no idea what I wanted...

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