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Ep. 41: Retirement Income Bracketology

There’s no worse feeling than finding out your bracket is busted in the first round. That’s why the first five years of your clients’ retirement planning are so important. 
In this special episode of our Shares podcast, Eric Ludwig, PhD, CFP®, RICP®, and Zach Morley, RICP®, talk hoops, retirement income planning, and more as they place contenders for the top retirement strategies into a head-to-head bracket and debate which one is best at helping your clients retire like a champion. 
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Ep. 40: Addressing Social Security Myths

Is Social Security going bankrupt? Is it a mistake not to claim benefits early? And how should you factor it into your retirement planning with clients? In this episode of the Shares podcast, Michael Finke, PhD, CFP® and Martha Shedden, CRPC®, president and co-founder of the National Association of Registered Social Security Analysts (NARSSA), look at the myths surrounding Social Security as well as some foundational and advanced concepts for including it in your clients’ retirement planning strategies.
Want to learn more about Social Security planning? Visit TheAmericanCollege.edu/RSSA.
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Ep. 39: How AI Can Jump Advisor Productivity

Can artificial intelligence help you get MORE personal with your clients? Eric Ludwig, PhD, CFP®, and Liam Hanlon of Jump AI discuss artificial intelligence use cases in financial services, the opportunities it provides for those in the industry, and the benefits it offers to advisors and clients who are able to save time on the tedium of meeting prep, notes, and more — all in the service of recommitting that time to the development of deeper client relationships. 
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Ep. 38: Building Expertise For Every Stage

In this special year-in-review episode, President and CEO George Nichols III, CAP®, and Chief Marketing Officer Jared Trexler look back on 2025 and discuss where they see The College moving in 2026 and beyond, including new and upcoming educational partnerships, expectations for the twentieth anniversary of the Conference of African American Financial Professionals, and more.
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Ep. 37: Leadership Traits You Can Trust in Financial Services

In this special Veterans Day episode of our Shares podcast, Managing Director of The American College of Financial Services Center for Military and Veterans Affairs, Phil Easton, CMSgt, USAF (Ret.), speaks with the 2025 Soldier-Citizen Award Recipient, Vice Admiral James Zortman, USN (Ret.), on how military experience can prepare individuals for a successful career in financial services.
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Ep. 36: Taxes, Estate Planning, and the OBBBA: What You Need to Know

In this episode, College Professor of Practice Steve Parrish joins fellow instructor Mark McLennon for a deep dive into the tax planning and estate planning implications of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). They cover the see-sawing history of tax policy in legislation, what provisions are out and in this time around, and the at times profound financial planning impacts that this latest incarnation of tax policy can have on estate planning and other elements of planning impacted by tax laws.
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Ep. 35: Continuing the Representation Conversation in Financial Services

Join Lindsey Lewis, MBA, CFP®, ChFC®, managing director of the American College Center for Women in Financial Services, and Sheena Gray, CAMS, MBA, CEO of the Association of African American Financial Advisors (AAAA), for this special episode recorded live at The College’s 19th annual Conference of African American Financial Professionals (CAAFP) about how those in financial services, especially women and others from underserved communities, can continue to move up in the profession, along with how established leaders can support them and advocate for their success.
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Ep. 34: Working With Clients on Retirement Income Strategies

Join Chief Marketing and Strategy Officer Jared Trexler and FinServe Network ambassadors Terrell Dinkins, ChFC®, RICP®, and Angie Ribuffo, CFP®, RICP®, ChFC®, CDFA®, CLTC®, WMCP®, from the Conference of African American Financial Professionals (CAAFP) as they discuss how advisors can help clients open up about their goals for retirement and what they can do to help them get there.
 
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Ep. 33: How to Talk to Your Clients About Retirement Income Planning

Eric Ludwig, PhD, CFP®, director of the Retirement Income Certified Professional® (RICP®) Program, hosts a conversation with Justin Fitzpatrick, PhD, CFA, CFP® of Income Lab, on the best ways to address retirement income planning in client discussions. They talk about how to improve your individual focus, steer clear of common industry jargon, and ensure clients feel heard as you assist them in planning out their future with confidence.
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Ep. 32: Tax Policy Proposals and Impacts

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.