Ms. Da Park Finished Third in Society for Financial Education and Professional Development Contest

On 04/23/23, the Society for Financial Education and Professional Development (SFEPD) is teaming up with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Investor Education Foundation to provide financial tools for students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) that will strengthen their financial knowledge about the securities industry.

As part of the partnership with the FINRA Foundation, SFEPD Student Ambassadors at two HBCUs – Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) and Alabama State University – are being trained on how the capital markets ecosystem works and the financial industry regulatory requirements needed to take FINRA’s Securities Industry Essentials® (SIE®) Exam. The SIE Exam is a test for prospective securities industry professionals. Passing this exam can lead to competitive employment opportunities and careers in an array of jobs, including working as a stockbroker, financial analyst, investment banker, asset management manager, and more.

According to Zippia.com, fewer than 6% of workers in the financial services industry are African Americans. “Through our partnership with the FINRA Foundation, we are opening doors to support HBCU students who pursue careers in the financial securities industry, where people of color are vastly underrepresented,” said Ted Daniels, SFEPD’s founder and president. “Partnering with the FINRA Foundation to prepare HBCU students for the SIE Exam is a great tool because this test gives students strong foundational knowledge about capital markets.”

In 2017, SFEPD started the Student Ambassador Program to train college students to teach their peers about financial education. The program targets students at historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) many of whom are first-generation, to help them manage their finances better and build wealth. Currently, SFEPD has Student Ambassador Programs at 25 colleges and universities with more in the pipeline.

SFEPD trains Student Ambassadors in personal finance concepts to enable them to lead and teach engaging classes to fellow students. HBCU business school professors and SFEPD’s financial educators mentor the ambassadors and help them to create innovative workshops and presentations. In this way, the students develop leadership skills and act as champions of financial literacy on their college campuses.

Student Ambassadors coordinate educational events, teach financial classes and develop programs to reach their peers. Financial workshops include saving, investing, banking, budgeting, credit, debt, student loan management, and financial goal-setting. Through this unique learning initiative, college students gain financial knowledge and skills that give them a foundation for economic success.