Written By: Rebecca Wiggins
It is hard to believe, but the 2019 AFCPE® Symposium is just around the corner. Mark your calendars and register soon to join us November 19-21 in Portland, Oregon. Please note, this year we start on Tuesday, November 19th.
The program theme is “Connect * Empower * Impact”, emphasizing the power of the AFCPE network and the profound impact of your work as a profession to help people achieve financial security, the foundation of social change and equity. General session speakers include:
- Harriet Dominique, The USAA Educational Foundation: Seven Leadership Principles for Financial Counselors, Coaches, and Educators
- Brunch and Budget, Dedrick Asante-Muhammad lead a panel discussion: Promising Practices to Close the Racial Wealth Divide
- Ellie Kay: The Science of Laughter
- Gary Mottola & Shay Cook, FINRA: The Financial Capability Gap — What is it and what does it mean?
- Stay tuned for more speaker announcements coming soon!
New this year:
Best Symposium Research to Practice Collaboration is available for this category and includes a monetary award up to $500 and up to 2 complimentary registrations to attend the 2019 AFCPE Symposium. This award is sponsored by the National Endowment for Financial Education (NEFE).
Community Outreach Event
AFCPE is also excited to work with Wells Fargo’s Hands on Banking to host a community outreach event on Thursday, November 21, following the 2019 AFCPE Symposium. In its fourth year, this event uniquely allows us to give back to the local community we are visiting. This year, we aim to connect 100 low- to middle-income members of the Portland community with 1:1 unbiased financial counseling, as well as tools and resources to help them achieve their goals. We invite all AFCPE certified professionals attending the Symposium, or who live in the Portland area, to participate!
Membership Resources
Don’t forget to share the exciting changes to AFCPE Membership with your colleagues! In addition to our research journal, newsletter articles, network of professionals, and award opportunities, now all AFCPE webinars are FREE to AFCPE Members! More information can be found in this Membership Packet.
In June, we also launched an AFCPE Membership Facebook group, as well as an online forum located in your myAFCPE dashboard. Both groups allow you to connect you with AFCPE members from across the country – to exchange ideas, share resources, and get to know others within the AFCPE community! Go here to join our Facebook Group.
New Essentials Programs!
AFCPE is working hard to deliver rigorous professional development trainings for our professionals, like our new Money Management Essentials program that provides a good entry point to the AFC program competencies. This year, we are working on three new courses: Military Essentials, Housing Essentials, and College Finance Essentials. Stay tuned for more information!
Events & Partnerships
We are excited to keep expanding our Statewide Investor Education Events in partnership with Investor Protection Trust. Last year we held an event in Atlanta, and this year we will bring the community engagement focus to Iowa! If you are in that area, we’d love to see you August 29th. These events are a great way to connect people with local resources, organizations, and of course AFCPE professionals!
In April, I had the pleasure of traveling to Washington D.C. to meet with the FEMA team and present a lunch and learn training on the importance of our partnership and financial disaster preparedness. While in town, I had the opportunity to schedule a few meetings on Capitol Hill to share the value of AFCPE Professionals, and advocate for more comprehensive student loan counseling, using the knowledge and expertise of AFC professionals.
Strategic Impact Fund
Last year, the AFCPE Board of Directors started a Strategic Impact Fund, quasi-endowment to ensure long-term sustainability and impact in our field. Thanks to the generosity of our members, we have already been able to use some of the funds to provide scholarships for the AFC®, Coaching Essentials, and Symposium! You can help us continue growing this fund by donating here: https://www.afcpe.org/support/. Any amount is greatly appreciated.
Thanks to each of you for your commitment to the highest standards of professionalism and your ongoing support and participation in AFCPE. We hope to see you soon on an AFCPE webinar, at a training, or in Portland in November!
Rebecca Wiggins, Executive Director, AFCPE