2025 Report to Founding Partners
Center Overview
Founded in 2020, the American College Center for Economic Empowerment and Equality (CEEE) is dedicated to narrowing the wealth gap by advancing economic justice and preparing the next generation of leaders to diversify the financial services profession. Grounded in the belief that access to financial knowledge and opportunity is foundational to long-term economic mobility, the Center for Economic Empowerment and Equality works to strengthen representation, leadership, and trust across the profession.
CEEE advances The American College of Financial Services’ mission by making applied financial knowledge more accessible, developing recruitment and training initiatives to promote professional equity, delivering robust executive education experiences for Black professionals, and producing actionable research and thought leadership. Its work is seeded within the Four Steps Forward® initiative, which promotes upward mobility and wealth-building in Black America through the advancement of financial knowledge and the cultivation of partnerships to uplift communities and drive collective impact.
The Center’s primary focus is to address systemic barriers within financial services by supporting talent at multiple stages of the pipeline—from early exposure and career exploration to executive leadership development. Through programs combining education, mentorship, professional networking, and community engagement, CEEE equips individuals with the tools needed to succeed while strengthening the profession as a whole.
What distinguishes CEEE within The College and the profession is its integrated approach. Rather than treating education, leadership development, and research as separate efforts, the Center intentionally weaves them together to create sustained impact. Its programming is designed not only to support individual advancement, but also to influence organizational practices and industry culture in ways to foster inclusion, accountability, and long-term change.
In September 2025, Valencia Gabay assumed the role of managing director of the Center for Economic Empowerment and Equality. An academic professional, learning experience designer, and organizational leadership scholar, Gabay brings a multidisciplinary perspective to the Center’s work. Since joining The College in 2020, she has contributed to several cornerstone initiatives, including Know Yourself, Grow Your Wealth®, The College’s premier consumer financial education program. In her current role, Gabay is focused on expanding the Center’s reach, strengthening strategic partnerships, and advancing CEEE’s mission to build a more equitable and representative financial services profession.
Valencia Gabay, PhD, CFEI®, Managing Director, American College Center for Economic Empowerment and Equality
Center Highlights & Key Activities
Conference of African American Financial Professionals (CAAFP)
The Conference of African American Financial Professionals (CAAFP) remains the Center’s premier event and central driver of its national visibility. Designed to support representation within the financial services profession, CAAFP fosters professional development, leadership dialogue, and meaningful connection across generations of financial professionals.
The 2025 conference was held at the Signia by Hilton Atlanta Georgia World Congress Center and centered on three strategic themes: Wealth Life Cycle, Scalable Sustainability, and Leading Forward. 697 participants attended and the event was supported by 20 sponsors, generating $761,000 in sponsorship revenue. The conference amplified the CEEE NextGen Program by connecting scholars directly with industry leaders and professional networks. CAAFP also marked the official launch of the CEEE Online Community, which introduced 669 users and achieved a 10% activation rate during the event.
Photo credit: The Cork Brothers
CEEE NextGen Program
Now in its fourth year, the CEEE NextGen Program continues to serve as a critical entry point for African American/Black undergraduate students interested in careers in financial services. Launched in 2023, the program offers students from historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and other colleges the opportunity to attend CAAFP at no cost, removing financial barriers to early professional exposure and network-building.
Aligned with CEEE’s pillar of recruiting and training Black professionals, the program integrates four key components designed to motivate and support students: financial literacy, career development, mentorship, and participation in a major industry conference. In 2025, CEEE continued to expand partnerships and strengthen institutional support for the NextGen Program. For the second consecutive year, the Financial Alliance for Representation and Empowerment (FARE) sponsored 25 students, covering expenses of up to $30,000 and providing dedicated mentorship opportunities. The Center also partnered for a second year with Reimagine Talent Co., reinforcing its commitment to career development and early professional exposure. In addition, the Coalition for Equity in Wholesaling (CEW) committed to offering Securities Industry Essentials (SIE) license preparation and exams for all 50 CEEE NextGen Scholars.
The 2025 cohort demonstrated strong engagement and outcomes. A total of 117 students were nominated, with 50 accepted into the program, including six returning participants. 46 students attended CAAFP in 2025, representing 16 colleges and universities. Scholars participated in three virtual mentorship sessions with FARE, three dedicated workshops, and a special on-site workshop during the conference. 11 corporate sponsors supported the initiative, reinforcing the program’s growing visibility and credibility across the industry.
Know Yourself, Grow Your Wealth®
Know Yourself, Grow Your Wealth® (KYGYW) remains the Center’s flagship consumer financial education program and a cornerstone of its efforts to broaden access to financial knowledge.
The program consists of four 90-minute digital badges, which incorporate pre- and post-assessments, video lessons, interactive activities, discussion prompts, and supplemental resources. Participants who complete all four badges earn a Know Yourself, Grow Your Wealth® Certificate of Completion. Since 2022, the KYGYW community has recorded 7,829 enrollments and 15,036 badges and certificates earned, including 1,794 enrollments in 2025 alone.
In 2025, the Center reached a significant milestone by expanding KYGYW access through a partnership with Comercio, making the program available in Spanish. This initiative broadened the program’s reach within diverse communities and advanced The College’s mission to deliver applied financial knowledge for the benefit of society.
The Center also continued its long-standing partnership with OneAmerica Financial, leveraging philanthropic support to strengthen financial education delivery in Central Indiana. Together, KYGYW and OneAmerica introduced a Radical Access Network approach focused on integrating financial education into community programming, employee wellness initiatives, and early talent development efforts. This framework has proven to be a critical factor in removing barriers and democratizing financial education.
In 2025, the Center expanded its visibility through strategic leadership engagement and collaboration. Gabay represented CEEE at Cetera’s Connect 2 Impact Conference in Austin, Texas, participating in a fireside chat on curiosity-driven leadership with Lindsey Lewis, Managing Director of the Center for Women, and Kyle Herndon, Vice President for Business Development. Gabay and Lewis also co-led a pre-conference leadership lab, Evolving as One: A Leadership Lab for the Next Era of Financial Services, using storytelling as a tool for inclusive leadership. In addition, CEEE collaborated with the Center for Women on a Limited Leadership Series for Cetera, combining practical learning, storytelling, and leadership approaches to advance inclusion across financial services.
Scholar Impact Story
Randolph Love III, ChFC®, CLU®, CPCU®, AIRC, RICP®
Randolph Love III is the founder and president of ShieldWolf Strongholds, a wealth protection company specializing in business exit planning, retirement income planning, and tax-advantaged life insurance education for business owners, franchise owners, and retirees. He also serves as a partner and consultant with The Franchise Consulting Company, one of the leading American-owned franchise consulting firms in the world.
In 2025, Love earned his Retirement Income Certified Professional® (RICP®) designation through a scholarship at The American College of Financial Services. His engagement with the Center reinforced both his technical expertise and his commitment to delivering client-centered financial guidance rooted in trust and long-term impact.
“I am truly grateful to the Center for Economic Empowerment & Equality,” Love shared. “I know with the knowledge gained I’ll be a better advisor for my customers with a much more positive impact on their lives.”
Love’s journey reflects the Center’s commitment to supporting professionals who are positioned to expand access to high-quality financial guidance. Through its programs and partnerships, CEEE equips advisors like Love with the education and confidence needed to address complex financial challenges while building lasting client relationships. His success underscores the ripple effect of the Center’s work, advancing individual careers while elevating the standard of service across the profession.
Upcoming Plans
In 2026, the Center for Economic Empowerment and Equality will build on current momentum through expanded programming, deeper partnerships, and continued investment in community and research initiatives.
The CEEE NextGen Program remains a top priority, with plans to strengthen career development offerings for undergraduate participants by leveraging CEEE’s extensive professional network. In anticipation of the 20th anniversary of CAAFP, the Center will focus on promoting intergenerational dialogue and expanding industry exposure for the NextGen Scholars.
Another key focus for 2026 is the continued development of the CEEE Online Community. Funded by Securian Financial and launched at CAAFP 2025, the platform will expand to offer educational resources, discussion forums, live engagement opportunities, and networking for CEEE NextGen students and alumni, CEEE Executive Leadership Program participants, and CAAFP attendees. This digital hub is designed to strengthen alignment with the Center’s four pillars and The College’s broader Representation Strategy.
The Center will also advance its research agenda, expanding on the inaugural Black Women and Trust in Financial Services study conducted in 2021. Additionally, the fifth cohort of the CEEE Executive Leadership Program (formerly the Black Executive Leadership Program) will launch in April 2026 in Chicago, continuing the Center’s commitment to accelerating diverse leadership through its distinctive fellow/sponsor model.
2025 Financial Snapshot
Total 2024 Center Expenses: $2,213,275
A Legacy of Industry Leadership
Founded in 1927, The American College of Financial Services is the nation's largest nonprofit educational institution devoted to financial services professionals. Holding the highest level of academic accreditation, The College has educated over 200,000 professionals across the United States through certificate, designation, and graduate degree programs. Its portfolio of applied knowledge also includes just-in-time learning and consumer financial education programs. The College's faculty represents some of the foremost thought leaders in the financial services industry. Discover all the ways you can expand your opportunities with us.
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The American College of Financial Services is committed to equal access to its educational programs, facilities, and employment for all persons, regardless of race, color, sex, disability, age, religion, national or ethnic origin, or any other protections afforded by applicable laws. Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, CFP® (with plaque design) and CFP® (with flame design) in the U.S., which it awards to individuals who successfully complete CFP Board's initial and ongoing certification requirements.
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