Month: May 2025

The specialized certification program gains academic recognition, furthering its mission to support military members and their families with expert financial guidance. 

ATLANTA, May 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Dalton Education, a CeriFi company and leading provider of education solutions for financial services professionals, announced today a strategic partnership with Wake Forest University to offer an accredited Certified Military Financial Advisor^® certification program. This partnership marks a significant advancement for the certification, which has seen substantial industry adoption since becoming available to all qualifying financial advisors in June 2024. 

The CMFA^™ certification, developed with industry experts and military financial specialists, provides financial advisors with specialized training that addresses the unique financial planning needs of active-duty service members, veterans, and their families. Through the new partnership with Wake Forest University, the program now offers accredited certification, enhancing its value and recognition within the financial services industry. 

“This partnership with Wake Forest University represents a pivotal moment for the CMFA^™ certification,” said James Dalton, Chief Product Officer at CeriFi. “By offering an accredited program, we’re not only elevating the standard of education for financial advisors serving the military community but also addressing a key need within the industry for recognized, specialized training in this important area.”

With approximately 2.1 million active-duty service members and family members, plus 8.6 million employed veterans representing one in every 20 civilian workers, there’s a significant need for advisors who truly understand the unique financial planning requirements of this community. 

“Our partnership with Dalton Education aligns with the Wake Forest University School of Professional Studies’ commitment to providing financial planners and students with the knowledge and skills they need to thrive and grow professionally,” said Kerry Shronts, Executive Director for Executive Education at Wake Forest University. “Dalton Education will provide the broader financial planning community with access to cutting-edge educational and certificate options, preparing them for career growth and important industry recognition.”

The accredited CMFA^™ program maintains its comprehensive curriculum focusing on the benefits, resources, and life circumstances unique to military personnel. The program typically requires 22 hours of study and complements CFP^® certification by covering military-specific content not included in other financial planning programs. 

Trailblazing firms like Thrivent Financial and Ameriprise are setting themselves apart by taking proactive steps to meet a critical need for service members and their families by investing in specialized education for their advisors.

Ameriprise Financial, which partnered with Dalton Education to develop the certification, has already trained hundreds of advisors through the program and reports positive client outcomes.

“Many companies say they’re supportive of veterans, but there are companies that set themselves apart. In my experience with Ameriprise Financial, the company took huge steps to help create a wholistic system to support and education for the service member/veteran and their family members that support their service” said Myke Sampayo, former sergeant in the U.S. Army and Field Training Manager and Instructional Design Manager at Ameriprise Financial. “Being a veteran myself, I’ve personally seen the sacrifices my family members, friends, and employers have made to ensure that I was able to serve my duties in the military. I’m very happy to have helped do my little part at Ameriprise to help bring the CMFA™ to life with Dalton Education.”

CMFA^™ program features: 

• Self-paced learning designed to accommodate busy professionals
• Engaging, multi-modal content including on-demand instruction and case studies
• Client meeting checklists and practical resources for immediate implementation
• Qualifies for 22 hours of CFP Board approved CE for CFP^® certification
• Certificate of program completion now available as an accredited program through Wake Forest University
• Program investment of $1,495

Financial services firms interested in learning more about the accredited CMFA^™ certification for their advisors can visit https://dalton-education.com/certified-military-financial-advisor or contact Dalton Education directly. 

About Dalton Education 

Dalton Education, a Leeds Equity Partners and CeriFi portfolio company, is a leading provider of education solutions for financial services professionals. Dalton has the highest CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER^® exam pass rates and has trained over half of all CFP^® professionals in the country. Through partnerships with elite universities, Dalton delivers customizable programs for individual learning styles, with options including the industry’s only 100% money-back Guarantee to Pass^™ and course completion in as little as 9 months. Dalton also provides courses for CFP^® exam review, Capstone requirement, and continuing education. For additional information on Dalton Education, see http://www.dalton-education.com/. 

About Wake Forest School of Professional Studies

Wake Forest University School of Professional Studies (SPS) provides innovative, cutting-edge and market-relevant programming built upon Wake Forest’s legacy of quality and excellence. With 100% online graduate degrees and certificates, and non-degree programs, including certificates and other credentials, SPS offers an accessible, educational experience focused on providing today’s working professionals with the skills and knowledge to take their careers to the next level. 

Based in Charlotte, N.C. and serving students around the world, SPS is designed to address growing sectors in the economy of the future and the increased demand for professional and corporate education in Charlotte and beyond.

CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER^® and CFP^® are trademarks owned by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. Certified Military Financial Advisor^® and CMFA^™ are trademarks of Dalton Education. 

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SOURCE Dalton Education

Call Congress today and tell your Senators to keep America’s farming families strong and rural communities resilient by preserving the investment tax credits.

BOSTON, May 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Lightstar reaffirms its unwavering commitment to America’s farming families as federal proposals threaten to undermine a vital farm viability and succession planning tool for America’s farmers – the long-standing technology neutral investment tax credit (ITC).

Recent language passed by the House on Thursday May 22, including a 60-day construction requirement, would kill hundreds of solar projects, which many farming families rely on for retirement and financial independence. This move jeopardizes the financial stability and future of rural communities across the nation, undermining a proven model that supports productive agriculture and energy independence.

“Our farmers rely on the financial stability of solar projects to keep their land productive, diversify their income, and future-proof their businesses against growing economic uncertainties,” said Lucy Bullock-Sieger, Chief Strategy Officer at Lightstar. “Stripping the ITCs away is more than policy change. It’s a direct threat to American livelihoods, our food system, and energy security. Lightstar stands united with our landowners across the country — do not jeopardize their futures.”

For years, the ITCs have empowered family farms to adopt agrivoltaics, a dual-use agricultural-solar model that allows continued farming while generating local renewable energy. This innovation enables farmers to steward their land, weather unpredictable markets, and support new generations in farming, all while delivering over $600 billion in private investment and supporting 270,000 jobs nationwide. The ITCs have a demonstrated 400% return, projected to expand the U.S. economy by $1.9 trillion over the next decade, according to the American Clean Power Association.

Tom Brown, CEO of Lightstar, emphasized, “If the United States wants to ensure a secure American energy pipeline – the Senate must safeguard current solar investments which have already drawn down significant capital expenses. Abruptly cutting off the investment tax credits undermines the stability of a high-performing industry, jeopardizing hundreds of thousands of jobs and billions in private investment.”

Lightstar’s mission is rooted in supporting rural property rights, fostering long-term partnerships, and promoting responsible land use. Lightstar is committed to designing solar projects that operate in harmony with agricultural activity, ensuring that land remains in agricultural operation through innovative agrivoltaics. Without the investment tax credit these projects cannot move forward.

“The Senate must act to protect responsible solar and block the House ITC provisions,” added Bullock-Sieger. “Canceling the investment tax credit in 2025 means canceling the futures of thousands of farming families and jeopardizing our energy security as a nation. We need more food and energy, not less – and farming families should be able to deliver both for America.”

Tell Congress to keep American Energy Incentives in place for America’s farmers. Act now! You can support America’s farming families, visit:

For Farmers:
Farmers in Support of American Energy Incentives

Add your company to the sign-on letter today to help defend Solar and storage tax credits:

For Farming Organizations:
Farming Organization Letter – Defend Clean Energy Incentives

About Lightstar
Lightstar develops, builds, and operates community solar projects that deliver lasting benefits for landowners, their land, and local communities. With a focus on environmental stewardship and long-term partnerships, Lightstar empowers America’s rural families to thrive in a changing world while protecting the legacy and productivity of their land.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lightstar-stands-with-americas-farming-families-to-defend-rural-property-rights-agricultural-resilience-and-american-energy-independence-302465916.html

SOURCE Lightstar Renewables, LLC

NEW YORK, May 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — 

CALL TO ACTION:
Horizons NYC is actively seeking referrals of rising kindergarten and first-grade students who are struggling in school with suspected learning disabilities and qualify for free or reduced lunch. Families, schools, and community organizations are encouraged to contact Macy Stockton, Executive Director, at mstockton@horizonsnewyorkcity.org, or visit horizonsnewyorkcity.org/horizons-gateway to learn more.

The Gateway School and Horizons New York City are proud to announce the launch of Horizons NYC at The Gateway School—a first-of-its-kind summer program offering early, tuition-free intervention for children from systemically under-resourced communities who are struggling in school with suspected language-based learning disabilities.

This groundbreaking initiative is the first to pair a nationally recognized summer enrichment model with the deep expertise of a school that specializes in language-based learning differences. It is designed to reach students before formal diagnoses are typically made, when the proper support can make the most significant impact.

Launching this summer for rising kindergarten and first-grade students, the program will grow over time to serve grades K–8. Combining Gateway’s 60 years of experience in specialized education with Horizons NYC’s proven out-of-school model, it delivers critical literacy instruction and social-emotional support during a vulnerable time for young learners.

“This is a truly unique collaboration with the potential to change lives,” said Joseph Auteberry, Gateway educator and Program Director. “We’re meeting students at the moment they begin to struggle and offering the tools and confidence they need to succeed.”

The initiative has drawn strong support from education leaders. Former NYC Schools Chancellor Carmen Fariña supports the program for providing learning opportunities to students who may not otherwise have access, helping to change the trajectory of their lives and create generational impact for families.

Assembly member Robert C. Carroll ’97, a Gateway alumnus and author of the Dyslexia Task Force Act, also champions the effort as a model for literacy equity and early intervention.

To refer a student or learn more, visit: https://www.horizonsnewyorkcity.org/horizons-gateway

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/first-of-its-kind-summer-program-launches-for-struggling-young-learners-in-nyc-302465934.html

SOURCE The Gateway School of New York