The May 2024 Financial Counseling call with AFCPE and FPA will be held on Thursday, May 16th at 12 pm ET.
Guest speaker Vanessa Alanis and Kedisha Ebanks will be presenting, "Education Planning: Student Loans and Beyond."
In an increasingly competitive economic environment, pursuing post high school education is viewed by many as a requirement for success. Even while many families view follow-on education as a “must-do”, many are not fully understanding the financial impact of funding a child’s education or creating a plan to manage it. Often, families are reacting to a fire that is starting to burn instead of creating a strategic plan for success. This webinar will describe the varied ways families can pay for education expenses, provide the pros/cons of each way, and provide a framework for how counselors and planners can navigate educational planning discussions with their clients.
Vanessa Alanis, CFP®, ChFC®, AFC® currently serves as a fee-only planner with Chisholm Financial Planning and Investments and as an independent financial counselor in the Finance marketplace. Her previous experience includes working as a financial counselor to the United States Armed Forces and running her own business creating and delivering personal finance education materials for clients that include small businesses and schools. She has over 15 years of experience providing financial education, counseling, and planning services. Married to a recently retired service member, Vanessa’s frequent moves reinforced for her the importance of flexibility, resiliency, and humor in life. She understands firsthand the importance of creating financial plans for clients that allow them to achieve their financial goals while also remaining flexible enough to handle whatever life inevitably throws at them. Vanessa’s extracurricular interests include horseback riding, physical therapy (because of the horseback riding), and embarrassing her children (according to them).
Kedisha Ebanks, CPA, MCLC, brings her extensive expertise to her role as a client services specialist at Global Advisor Group, where she dedicates herself to providing exceptional financial planning and wealth management services. With over 23 years of experience in the Financial Services industry, she has collaborated with Senior Executives to address a diverse array of complex business challenges and objectives. Driven by her own journey, Kedisha deeply values the transformative power of education, professional opportunities, and financial empowerment in breaking the cycle of poverty. This conviction fuels her commitment to serving others. For the past five years, she has devoted her time to mentoring and coaching individuals, aiming to equip them with the knowledge, resources, and encouragement needed to realize their fullest potential. Recently, she embarked on her own venture as a Life Coach, leveraging her unique blend of coaching, counseling, and consulting (3Cs) to guide individuals towards personal growth and goal attainment.
Beyond her professional endeavors, Kedisha actively contributes to her community as a Board member of a local non-profit organization. Family holds a central place in her life, as she enjoys sharing adventures with her spouse and two children, whether it's exploring new destinations, bonding over board games, or giving back to their community.
Continuously dedicated to her professional development, Kedisha is currently pursuing her CFP designation, further enhancing her ability to serve her clients with excellence and integrity.