King of Prussia, August 05, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) – The American College of Financial Services announced yesterday at the Virtual Conference of African-American Financial Professionals (CAAFP) that it will award 15 dedicated scholarships to students from historically black college and university level to help increase diversity and representation in the financial services profession.

One of the biggest problems facing the financial services profession is a profound lack of diversity. About 13 percent of the US population is African American, but among financial services practitioners, just under eight percent are of African descent. The College believes that the financial services profession must make a concerted effort to recruit, educate, place and support thousands of other black financial advisers.

“The financial services industry needs to catch up to make our profession more like the nation it serves. To help bridge this racial gap, the College has committed to awarding at least 25 African American scholarships, 15 of which are dedicated to students from historically black colleges and universities, ”said George Nichols III, president. and CEO of the American College of Financial Services. “The HBCUs have played a key role in the fight for racial equality and are stewards of black intellectuals and professionals. “

The College’s HBCU scholarship program provides students of historically black colleges and universities with the opportunity to learn about the financial services profession and provide a head start in their careers. Students who have completed their second year, are enrolled and have good academic results in any four-year HBCU bachelor’s degree program are eligible to apply for an HBCU scholarship. Full scholarships are available for the Retirement Income Certified Professional® (RICP®) designation, the Chartered Financial Consultant® (ChFC®) designation and the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER â„¢ (CFP®) training program.

“One of the ways the College can increase diversity in the financial services profession is to begin by inspiring the next generations of professionals,” said Deborah Eskridge Glenn, MA, MSM, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, vice president administration and head of human resources. Officer at the American College of Financial Services. “This type of engagement begins at the undergraduate level, when students are still considering their career options. Partnering with HBCUs can help us reach the next generation of black leaders. “

For more information on the College’s HBCU Scholarship Program and African American Advisor Scholarship Program, created for financial services professionals, and to submit a scholarship application, visit our website.

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ABOUT THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF FINANCIAL SERVICES
The American College of Financial Services was founded in 1927 and is the nation’s largest nonprofit educational institution dedicated to financial services. Holding the highest level of academic accreditation, the College has trained one in five financial advisers in the United States and offers two masters in financial management and services, as well as prestigious designations in financial planning such as Retirement Income Certified Professional® (RICP ®), Chartered Life Underwriter® (CLU®), Wealth Management Certified Professional® (WMCP®), Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy® (CAP®), Chartered Special Needs Consultant® (ChSNC®), Chartered Financial Consultant® (ChFC®) , and training leading to Certified Financial Planner â„¢ (CFP®) certification. The College’s faculty represent some of the greatest thought leaders in the financial services profession. Visit TheAmericanCollege.edu and connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.