Chet Bennetts, an Assistant Professor of Financial Planning, serves as the Program Director for the CFP®/ChFC® programs at The American College of Financial Services. His journey of service began with an honorable 8.5-year tenure in the Marine Corps, both active and reserve, culminating in a medical discharge after a tour in Iraq in 2004 and 2005.

Transitioning into the financial services industry, he has amassed over two decades of experience, demonstrating versatility in roles as he progressed from 401(k) customer service, to financial planning and asset management with $400 million of AUM, to managing a team of 80 advisors across five states. His credentials include CFP®, CLU®, ChFC®, RICP®, CLF®, and an M.S. in Family Financial Planning.

He recently earned his Ph.D. in Personal Financial Planning at Kansas State University while also imparting his knowledge on financial planning to undergraduate students as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln and graduate students at Columbia University. His research, primarily centered on behavioral finance, explores the intersection of financial, physical, and psychological well-being, and how consumer’s choices surrounding their finances impact them.

Bennetts’ scholarly contributions span a diverse range of topics, including the application of AI in financial planning, the influence of behavior on investment allocations during volatile markets, and the positive impact of bequest intentions on retirement satisfaction.

His influential work on the necessity of financial planning/counseling in PTSD treatment for Veterans has been recognized and utilized by Congress and White House staff. During a legislative fellowship he was awarded in 2023, this advocacy led to his involvement in Congressional hearings and assisting in the drafting of legislation. These efforts resulted in the VA creating FINVET which is a no cost, robust informational portal that also allows veterans and caregivers the ability to meet with an Accredited Financial Counselor (AFC®).

His commitment to his field and his passion for advocacy underscores his dedication to the financial well-being of individuals and communities.

Cheryl L. Evans is a Director in MI Finance at the Milken Institute. She leads the Lifetime Financial Security Program. Evans frequently discusses a variety of issues related to financial security and retirement savings and she has been cited in publications such as U.S. News and World Report, Yahoo Finance, Bloomberg News, MarketWatch, CBS News, Pensions & Investments, McKnight’s Senior Living, and TheStreet. Her program is focused lifetime income, financial education, retirement plan structures, early wealth building, how AI and FinTech are shaping long term saving, and the financial security of women, among other issues. She is the co-author of Shifting the Retirement Paradigm: Moving Towards Lifetime Financial Security. She has also written for the Work Megatrends Section of AARP’s International Website.  Evans has worked at CFA Institute where she worked in its enforcement program, helped lead the research for its Future of Finance global initiative, and worked in its educational programs area where she also spoke on issues faced by women in finance and law. Evans worked as special counsel at the US Chamber of Commerce. She was a part of the Chamber’s economic crisis working group, contributed to two capital markets studies, and led a large economic study. She spent over 11 years at the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).  At the SEC, she worked in the Division of Enforcement where she was a member of the WorldCom case team, and she worked in the division of Trading and Markets and the division of Examinations. She was appointed to work as a special assistant US attorney in the Eastern District of Virginia prosecuting general criminal cases. Evans also served as a trial attorney in the Commercial Litigation Section of the US Department of Justice, and she served as a judicial law clerk at the US Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims. Evans holds BA, JD, and LLM degrees. She is a member of the Pennsylvania Bar. 

Hossein Kazemi, Ph.D., CFA, is a managing director at KSG Capital Management, LLC.  Before KSG Capital Management, he was a Senior Adviser to the CAIA Association, where he founded its financial data science program.  He was a partner at Alternative Investment Analytics, LLC and Quantitative Investment Technology, LLC, helping these firms develop investable hedge fund indices, systematic commodity trading strategies, and alternative investment replication and benchmarks.  Hossein is Michael and Cheryl Philipp Professor of Finance at the Isenberg School of Management, the University of Massachusetts-Amherst.  He is the Director of the Center for International Securities & Derivatives Markets, a nonprofit organization devoted to research in alternative investments, which is home to the CISDM Hedge Fund/CTA Database.  Hossein is on the Journal of Alternative Investments and the Journal of Financial Data Science editorial boards.  He has over 30 years of experience in the financial industry and has worked as a consultant to major financial institutions.  His research has been on equity and fixed-income securities valuations, asset allocation for traditional and alternative asset classes, and evaluation and replication of active management investment products.  He has a Ph.D. in finance from the University of Michigan.

Lindsey Lewis has built a career around women and money. As a Chartered Financial Consultant® (ChFC®) and CFP® Professional, she empowers women to take control of their financial futures. In her role as Managing Director and Chair of the American College Center for Women in Financial Services, she champions diversity within the financial services industry. 

In 2024, Lewis was honored with the Female Trailblazer of the Year award by InvestmentNews, recognizing her significant contributions to financial education and her efforts to change the demographics of client-facing advisors in finance. Additionally, she was named one of Aspioneer’s Inspiring Leaders in Finance for 2024, underscoring her leadership and influence in the sector. 

Lewis led the Women Working in Wealth® initiative, which included a community, podcast, and exclusive events aimed at supporting and advancing women in the financial sector. Her dedication has previously earned her a place on InvestmentNews’s 2021 40 Under 40 list and the Excell Represents Rising Star Woman in Wealth Management award. 

Beyond her professional endeavors, Lewis volunteers with $AVVY Ladies, a pro-bono financial planning nonprofit organization. She holds dual degrees in Personal Financial Planning and an MBA from Utah Valley University. Outside of her professional commitments, she enjoys practicing yoga, staying active through regular workouts, and cherishing time with her family as a mother of two.

Karin is an accomplished marketing leader and Global Head of Financial Services Marketing at LinkedIn. In her role, she leads the development and execution of marketing strategies aimed at building the LinkedIn value proposition for financial services marketers through actionable thought leadership and compelling go-to-market activations. With her expertise as an executive strategist, industry thought leader, and C-suite advisor, Karin has established herself as a trusted advisor to many leading brands. Her prior work experience includes Mastercard, JPMorgan, Allianz, Deutsche Bank, and NY Life Insurance.

Beyond her professional achievements, Karin also serves on the board of directors for The Family Center, a Brooklyn-based non-profit organization. She is a proud alumna of Syracuse University, her dog aptly named Carmelo Anthony.

Darren Tedesco has a proven track record for transforming the financial advisory landscape. With a deep understanding of the industry’s challenges and opportunities, Darren has led Advisor360° to the forefront of technology-driven solutions for advisors. He is known for his innovative approach to client-centric strategies and his dedication to empowering advisors with the leading-edge tools they need to thrive in an ever-evolving market. Darren began his career at Commonwealth Financial Network in 1994, starting as a member of the finance team and transitioning to the company’s newly formed technology department in 2000 where he became Managing Principal of Innovation and Strategy. He regularly speaks at conferences and is often quoted in industry publications for his WealthTech expertise in the financial advisor community. Darren received his MBA from Bryant University and a BS from the University of Connecticut. 

Dr. Brian A. Thompson is a Clinical Professor of Economics at DePaul University and serves as the Director for the Economics Undergraduate program. Dr. Thompson has held varying roles across the financial industry, including his experience as a securities trader and investment advisor.

Dr. Thompson is often invited to speak at industry conferences and deliver training workshops for companies and organizations on decision-making and business strategy. His areas of research interest include judgement and the influence of cognitive biases on risk-based decision-making.

He received his Master of Science in Finance from the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago, and his MBA & Doctorate in Business Administration from DePaul University in Chicago.

Kara Valentine is a Managing Director at The Rudin Group, responsible for HNW and RIA marketing strategy. Kara’s extensive career spans from wirehouse to bank wealth management to family office, and the independent RIA channel. The brands Kara has helped build include Morgan Stanley, Bank of America’s Global Wealth and Investment Management Division – Merrill Lynch and U.S. Trust, Dynasty Financial Partners, Rockefeller Capital Management, Cary Street Partners, and Transcend Capital Advisors prior to joining The Rudin Group in 2023.

Kara’s marketing acumen consists of strategy and tactical execution for brands, creative design, storytelling, lead gen, internal/external communication, and MarTech platforms.

Kara serves on the Executive Board for the Center for Marketing and Consumer Insights at the Villanova School of Business. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration/Marketing from Villanova University.