Greetings to our current and prospective Chapter Members and welcome to the American Financial Education Alliance (AFEA) chapter website for Greater Knoxville, TN #4751!

As an IRS approved, 501(c)(3) NonProfit Organization, our mission is to empower Americans to take control of their finances by providing local communities with objective financial education. It is our pleasure to educate our local communities and share how AFEA works to provide all Americans the education and experience they need to enhance their financial understanding and management.

AFEA specializes in providing high-level financial education classes and events at establishments of all types:

Libraries  ♦  Universities, Colleges, Junior Colleges  ♦  Businesses  ♦  Nonprofit and Fundraising Organizations

Class offerings include:

A Guide to 401k Rollovers  ♦ The ABCD’s of Medicare ♦  Advanced Estate Planning ♦ An Introduction to Annuities  ♦ Business Continuation Planning ♦ College Planning ♦ The Essentials of Estate Planning  ♦ Financial Planning Basics ♦ Investing for Women ♦ IRAs, Annuities, and Other Sources of Retirement Income  ♦ Living a Tax-Free Retirement ♦ Most Common Financial Mistakes ♦ Myths and Facts About Annuities ♦ Planning for Long-Term Care  ♦ Retirement Basics ♦ Retirement Income Planning ♦ Roth IRA Conversions ♦ Safe Money Principles of Retirement Planning ♦ Social Security Benefit Options  ♦ Special Needs Planning ♦ Understanding Your IRA ♦ Understanding Your Roth IRA ♦ Variable Annuities ♦ Women and Money ♦ Your Employee-Sponsored Retirement Plan

We invite you to attend our local workshops and become an active member by participating in our educational events throughout the community.

Thank you for visiting your local Chapter’s website; we look forward to seeing you in a class soon!

I started my financial planning career with Mass Mutual in Knoxville, TN. I was a career agent with them for five years. My specialty with Mass was family business succession planning. Just like I do today, I coordinated a team of advisors to help the family business with this vital planning. 

In 2000 I left Mass and became an independent insurance agent to better represent my clients by offering them many company choices rather than just one. I became registered to sell investments in 1998. In 2015, I formed my own Registered Investment Advisor firm to become an investment advisor or a fiduciary. I focus on teaching clients the wisdom of how money and retirement income streams work for better stewardship. 

To further my education, I received the Retirement Income Certified Professional (RICP®) certificate. The certification is awarded by The American College of Financial Services, candidates must:

• Complete RICP® coursework within five months from the date of initial enrollment.

• Complete three in-depth online courses.

• Meet the experience requirements: Three years of full-time business experience within the five years preceding the date of the award. An undergrad or graduate degree from an accredited educational institution qualifies as one year of business experience.

• Sign and agree to abide by a Code of Ethics.

• Pass an exam administered by Pearson VUE Testing Center. Minimum test score 70%.

• When you achieve the RICP® designation, you are subject to the PACE Recertification Program, either earning 15 credit hours of educational activities in subject matter that is acceptable to PACE Recertification for the reporting period January 1, 2014 through December 31, 2015, and for every two-year period thereafter.

With the emotional and financial stress to an entire family if a one member needs long term care, I added another certification to better advise my clients. I earned my Certification in Long Term Care (CLTC®). The CLTC is a designation that focuses on the discipline of extended care planning. It provides professionals the critical tools necessary to discuss the subject of longevity and its consequences on their Client’s family and finances. To earn the designation, the following must be completed: 

• Complete course outline including:

- Extended Care: Family vs. Statistics

- Extended Care Services

- What Pays for Extended Care-Long-Term Care Insurance

- Proper Implementation of Long-Term Care

- The Ethical Promotion of Long-Term Care Insurance

• Pass the certification examination of 100 multiple-choice questions accessible on-line.

• To maintain the CLTC designation, all designees are required to complete the CLTC renewal course biennially and make an annual renewal payment to support the continuing education.