Shares

In this episode, Eric Ludwig, PhD, CFP®, Retirement Income Certified Professional® (RICP®) Program director at The American College of Financial Services, speaks with Tax Planning Certified Professional™ (TPCP™) Program director Sophia Duffy, JD, CPA, AEP® about the possible tax policy changes contained in the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” currently making its way through Congress. In addition to making many of the changes put in place in the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) permanent, they discuss some exciting possibilities for tax-informed financial planning, including new exemptions and deductions for business owners (such as financial advisors!), expanded uses for 529 and HSA accounts, cap changes for state and local taxes, and more. Find all episodes at TheAmericanCollege.edu/Shares.

In this special episode recorded live at The College's Horizons 2025 conference, Lindsey Lewis, MBA, CFP®, ChFC®, managing director and chair of the American College Center for Women in Financial Services, speaks with healthcare professional turned financial educator Carolyn McClanahan, CFP® on how financial professionals can work with clients to maximize their healthcare benefits and avoid costly mistakes. They also discuss the unique challenges facing women in situations where spouses require long-term care or other financial considerations, as well as important elements to focus on in planning with clients such as Medicare/Medicaid, deductibles, tax implications, and more. Find all episodes now at TheAmericanCollege.edu/Shares.

In this episode recorded live at The College's Horizons 2025 conference, Professor of Wealth Management Michael Finke, PhD, CFP® speaks with Fiona Greig, PhD about the current complexities of plan design for employee benefits. They focus on how financial professionals and employers can work with employees and clients to create strategies and solutions to help. Find all episodes at TheAmericanCollege.edu/Shares.

In this episode, Retirement Income Certified Professional® (RICP®) Program Director Eric Ludwig, PhD, CFP® welcomes Steve Parrish, JD, RICP®, CLU®, ChFC®, AEP®, a fellow professor at The College and retirement planning expert, discuss recent shockwaves across financial markets and how financial professionals can best respond — especially when talking with their clients nearing or in retirement. They explore strategies to ensure clients' assets are secure, put them at ease with historical context, and more. Find all episodes now at TheAmericanCollege.edu/Shares.

Michael Finke, PhD, CFP® speaks with Scott Lincicome, JD of the Cato Institute about the market uncertainty spurred by recent shifts in tariff policy, including the pros and cons of tariffs historically and their potential impacts on businesses, financial professionals, and consumers. They explore how tariffs may have unintended consequences for protected industries, as well as other important information advisors should know when talking with clients. Find all episodes now at TheAmericanCollege.edu/Shares.

In this special episode recorded live at The College's Horizons 2025 conference, Professor of Practice Steve Parrish, JD, RICP®, CLU®, ChFC®, AEP® speaks with author David McKnight about the ubiquitous nature of financial planning “gurus” in the media today and how their advice, while it may give your clients comfort, may not always be in their best interest. They talk about how to differentiate sound advice from sound bites, and why financial professionals should keep open dialogues with clients about things they hear and what's backed up by the facts. Any views or opinions expressed in this podcast are the hosts' and guests' own and do not necessarily represent those of The American College of Financial Services. For more episodes, visit TheAmericanCollege.edu/Shares.

Michael Finke, PhD, CFP® joins Jean Chatzky for a conversation on how financial professionals can specifically tailor their client approach to suit women at any stage of life, including planning with their spouse, as single individuals, or in divorced or widowed situations. In addition, they examine how making financial planning more personable and making client goals central to the planning process can create better outcomes for both advisors and clients while building more trusting planning relationships. Find all episodes at TheAmericanCollege.edu/Shares.

Host Steve Parrish, JD, RICP®, CLU®, ChFC®, AEP® welcomes Jason Fichtner, PhD, an expert on Social Security and retirement policy, for a conversation on the current status and future of the popular and cornerstone benefit program. They cover the impact of the latest regulatory updates on Social Security, what may happen to benefits in the future, and how financial professionals can work with their clients to secure their retirement planning. Find all episodes at TheAmericanCollege.edu/Shares.

Retirement Income Certified Professional® (RICP®) Program Director Eric Ludwig, PhD, CFP® speaks with Meb Faber, chief investment officer of Cambria Investment Management, for a historical look at the ups and downs of stock and investment markets, as well as their impacts on tax and retirement planning. Find all episodes now at TheAmericanCollege.edu/Shares.

Chief Marketing and Strategy Officer Jared Trexler and College President and CEO George Nichols III, CAP® sit down for a wide-ranging discussion on The College's major accomplishments in 2024, how the financial services industry and higher education are changing, and how The College is moving to meet the moment in 2025 and beyond. Find all our episodes at TheAmericanCollege.edu/Shares.

Host Joellen Meckley, JD, MHS, ChSNC® joins Andrew Tudor, CFP®, RICP®, CAP® for a conversation on the options that exist today for powering philanthropic planning including donor-advised funds (DAFs), and the importance of adding charitable giving to your client conversations. Find all our episodes at TheAmericanCollege.edu/Shares.

Michael Finke, PhD, CFP® joins Alan Gassman, JD, LLM, AEP® — one of the many thought leaders from The College's new Tax Planning Certified Professional™ (TPCP™) Program — for an in-depth discussion of tax law and planning, as well as the impacts tax can have on all stages of a client's life. They examine the connections between taxes and family expenses, small business growth, retirement and legacy planning, and more to show how tax-informed planning can take your practice to the next level. Find all episodes now at TheAmericanCollege.edu/Shares.

Lindsey Lewis, MBA, CFP®, ChFC® speaks with Padric H.B. Scott, AEP®, CFP®, ChFC®, CLU®, WMCP®, CCFC, CAP®, MSFP, founder and CEO of Crossroads Capital Partners and a member of The College's FinServe Network and NextGen Advisory Task Force, about his philosophy of coordinated planning. They discuss Scott's background in the NFL and transition to financial services, as well how he has adapted the strategies of a winning football team to a new approach toward managing client relationships. Find all episodes at TheAmericanCollege.edu/Shares.

Host Lindsey Lewis, MBA, CFP®, ChFC® welcomes the creators of the SER Latin@ Summit – Anna N'Jie-Konte, MBA, CFP® and Vanessa Martinez – for a celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month and a conversation about how their event brings financial professionals from the Latino community together. They also discuss how cultural norms and understanding can be used to bridge divides between advisors and clients. Find all episodes at TheAmericanCollege.edu/Shares.

Host Eric Ludwig, PhD, CFP® talks with retirement planning experts Daniel Crosby, PhD, and Jamie Hopkins, Esq., LLM, CFP®, ChFC®, CLU®, RICP® to examine the latest in behavioral finance knowledge and insights present in Crosby's upcoming book, The Soul of Wealth. They discuss how to ensure your clients' happiness and wellbeing in retirement, the power of psychology in financial planning, the importance of understanding clients' money stories, and more. Find all our episodes at TheAmericanCollege.edu/Shares.

In this special episode of our Shares podcast recorded at The College's 2024 Military Summit in Philadelphia, PA, host and military veteran Chet Bennets, CFP®, ChFC®, CLU®, RICP®, CLF® speaks with Lacey Langford, AFC®, founder of MILMO® and MilMoneyCon™ and an expert on navigating financial topics within the military community. They discuss the dual issues of how the financial services profession can better serve military members, veterans, and spouses in times of transition, as well as why those transitioning from military service into civilian careers are well-suited for positions in the industry. Find all episodes at TheAmericanCollege.edu/Shares.

In this special episode of our Shares podcast recorded at The College's 2024 Conference of African American Financial Professionals (CAAFP), senior reporter for ThinkAdvisor John Manganaro speaks with President Nichols about his background at New York Life, his roles as the first Black president of The College and insurance commissioner for the state of Kentucky, and how his experiences working with diverse communities power his commitment to applied financial knowledge. Find all episodes at TheAmericanCollege.edu/Shares.

In this special episode recorded August 13 at The American College of Financial Services' 2024 Conference of African American Financial Professionals (CAAFP), senior reporter for ThinkAdvisor John Manganaro speaks with Raphael Bostic, president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta. They discuss the importance of diverse representation in policy making, views on contemporary markets, and how to navigate making financial decisions that affect Americans' lives. Find all episodes at TheAmericanCollege.edu/Shares.

Host Eric Ludwig, PhD, CFP® joins Denise Appleby – creator and CEO of Appleby Retirement Consulting and a preeminent retirement planning thought leader – for an in-depth look at new RMD regulations and what they mean for retirement planning, including new SECURE 2.0 updates to beneficiaries and more. You can also find more specialized knowledge from Appleby on retirement planning through The College's subscription platform, Knowledge Hub+! Find all episodes now at TheAmericanCollege.edu/Shares.

Host Lindsey Lewis, MBA, ChFC®, CFP® speaks with Valencia Gabay, program director for financial educational and wellbeing at The College and one of the many minds behind Know Yourself, Grow Your Wealth®: a non-credit certificate program that helps improve financial decision-making, increase financial security, and put into practice strategies to achieve financial goals. She discusses the ideas and goals behind Know Yourself, Grow Your Wealth® and how the program is fundamentally engineered to help learners take control of their financial future. Also featured is Tony Sanchez, a community affairs specialist at OneAmerica in Indianapolis and graduate of the program, to speak about the program benefits he has seen personally and in his capacity as a mentor for others. Find all episodes now at TheAmericanCollege.edu/Shares.

Host Joellen Meckley, JD, MHS, ChSNC® joins Ramsey Alwin, president and CEO of the National Council on Aging (NCOA), for a candid conversation on how older Americans – especially women – often face increasing financial challenges as they age. They also discuss new research from NCOA on economic stress among seniors and their caregivers, including saving for retirement, diminishing decision-making capacity, and more. Find all our episodes at TheAmericanCollege.edu/Shares.

In this episode recorded on the floor of AICPA Engage 2024, host Michael Finke, PhD, CFP® welcomes fellow College professor and former podcast co-host David Blanchett, PhD, MSFS, CFA, CLU®, ChFC®, CFP® to the hot seat for a discussion on one of their favorite topics: comparing what's good and bad about various retirement income planning strategies. Listen as they explore the differences between fixed and flexible approaches, and the best ways to address risks. Find all episodes at TheAmericanCollege.edu/Shares.

In this episode recorded on the floor of AICPA Engage 2024, Michael Finke, PhD, CFP® engages thought leaders and financial professionals in attendance to discuss the impact of The College's upcoming Tax Planning Certified Professional™ (TPCP™) Program. He talks specifics about the content of the program and dives deeper into the value of specialized tax planning knowledge for advisors in all areas of financial services. Find all episodes at TheAmericanCollege.edu/Shares.

Technology, especially artificial intelligence (AI) is making increasing inroads into the day-to-day of financial services professionals. How will this shift impact the future of the industry? Host Jared Trexler speaks with Derek Notman, CFP®, founder and CEO of fintech company Couplr.AI. Couplr recently announced a partnership with The College to offer free access to its platform – which endeavors to match advisors to their ideal clients – to College alumni. Trexler and Notman discuss their respective visions for where the profession is headed and the role of technology in making The College's mission of benefiting society a reality. Find all episodes at TheAmericanCollege.edu/Shares.

Women are taking control of their financial futures more than ever before, but the financial services industry often fails to meet their unique needs or address their specific planning concerns. We host a candid conversation in this episode of our Shares podcast. Join Lindsey Lewis, MBA, CFP®, ChFC® and Alanah Phillips, MBA as they speak with Cary Carbonaro, CFP®, an award-winning thought leader and advocate for women, on how far the industry still has to go to make women feel welcome. Learn the secrets to success and satisfaction in a largely male-oriented profession – including important insights for men, as well as women, to take away. Find all episodes at TheAmericanCollege.edu/Shares.

Many financial professionals say annuity products can make sense as one part of a comprehensive financial plan; however, they can also be extremely complex and difficult to use effectively. We get an expert opinion in the latest episode of our Shares podcast! Our host Michael Finke PhD, CFP® welcomes Bobby Samuelson, executive editor of The Life Product Review, for an in-depth look at FIAs, RILAs, and other products that can assist in planning for a diverse client base for life insurance, retirement planning, and other concerns. Find all episodes at TheAmericanCollege.edu/Shares.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly a fundamental part of our business and personal lives – and the financial services profession is no exception. But how can financial professionals leverage AI effectively without compromising the quality of their advice? Our host Chet Bennetts, CFP®, ChFC®, CLU®, RICP®, CLF® speaks with Eric Ludwig, PhD, CFP® about their shared experience working extensively with AI platforms such as ChatGPT. They'll revisit key takeaways from The College's 2023 Retirement Income Literacy Study and how it relates to AI use in financial services, as well as how the emerging science of “prompt engineering” can help. Learn more and find all episodes at TheAmericanCollege.edu/Podcasts.

Planning for retirement has never been more important – but as The College's recent Retirement Income Literacy Study proves, a majority of older Americans still fail a test of basic financial knowledge needed for sound planning. In this episode of our Shares podcast, host Eric Ludwig, PhD, CFP® speaks with fellow researcher Chet Bennetts, CFP®, ChFC®, CLU®, RICP®, CLF® about some of the 2023 study's most important takeaways and how advisors can use these insights to better partner with their clients for critical retirement planning conversations. Learn more and find all episodes at TheAmericanCollege.edu/Podcasts.

In celebration of Tax Day, we commemorate the occasion with an episode dedicated to all things taxes – including one of the top minds in tax planning today. Join our host Michael Finke, PhD, CFP® and Jeffrey Levine, CFP®, CPA, PFS, CWS, AIF, RICP®, ChFC®, BFA™, Chief Planning Officer at Buckingham Wealth Partners, for a detailed conversation on what financial advisors get right and wrong when thinking about tax planning, as well as key strategies to help your clients keep more of their hard-earned money. Learn more and find all episodes at TheAmericanCollege.edu/Podcasts.

It can be hard to thrive and survive as an advisor in the financial services industry – but it's even harder to make it in Hollywood, and doing so requires skills that are universal: perseverance, dedication, and a commitment to following your dreams. Our host Eric Ludwig, PhD, CFP® is joined by his own martial arts instructor, small business owner, and actor Mike Moh – perhaps best known for his turn as legendary actor and martial artist Bruce Lee in Quentin Tarantino's 2019 film "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood." Moh details the challenges and triumphs of pursuing his acting goals and building a business based on community, as well as what financial professionals can take away from his journey to apply to their own career endeavors. Learn more and find all episodes at TheAmericanCollege.edu/Podcasts.

Much has been written and said about the nonstop nature of the financial services profession – part of the reason many new advisors leave the business early in their careers. Is there a better way that can help advisors avoid burnout? Our host Alanah Phillips, MBA, co-chair of The College's Next Gen Advisory Task Force, sits down with Libby Greiwe, ChFC®, RICP®, FIC® of The Efficient Advisor for a conversation on how to onboard and introduce professionals new to financial services into the industry, and how sound practice-building steps can reduce stress, lead to better business outcomes, and ultimately benefit advisors and clients alike. Learn more and find all episodes at TheAmericanCollege.edu/Podcasts.

In a recent episode of his own podcast, financial guru Dave Ramsey touted an 8% withdrawal rate for assets as his advice to those at or near retirement – and decried those who might disagree as “goober supernerds.” To assess the validity of Ramsey's claims, our host Michael Finke, PhD, CFP® assembled The College's resident retirement supernerds – adjunct professor of wealth management David Blanchett, PhD, MSFS, CFA, CLU®, ChFC®, CFP® and professor of practice Wade Pfau, PhD, CFA, RICP® – to discuss their printed response to Ramsey, optimal withdrawal rates, sequence of returns risk, and best-practice retirement planning. Learn more and find all episodes at TheAmericanCollege.edu/Podcasts. Any views or opinions expressed in this podcast are the hosts' and guests' own and do not necessarily represent those of The American College of Financial Services.

Welcome to Shares! Featuring the thought leaders of The American College of Financial Services along with subject matter experts and rising stars from across the industry, this podcast explores the personal, conceptual, and practical sides of financial services with powerful, actionable insights in three strategic focus areas: specialized knowledge, retirement planning, and representation. Learn more and access all episodes at TheAmericanCollege.edu/Podcasts.