Prof. Michael Finke
As Professor of Wealth Management at the American College for Financial Services, I hold the Frank Engle Distinguished Chair in Economic Security and serve as Director of the O. Alfred Granum Center for Financial Security. I remain active in various outside roles, but education remains my primary focus.
I'm passionate about the role of high-quality research in financial planning. I've published nearly 100 peer-reviewed articles and dozens of white papers for companies that translate research into evidence-based practice. I also create popular content for financial advisors and consumers through my work as a contributing editor for ThinkAdvisor magazine, author of the Money Management Skills Great Courses curriculum, and interviews with the media.
‣ Multiple years, Investment Advisor’s IA25 (most influential people in investment advising)
‣ Two-time recipient of the Montgomery-Warschauer Award for the most influential article in the Journal of Financial Planning
‣ Ph.D in Finance from University of Missouri
‣ Fellow at the Retirement Income Institute
■ IN THE NEWS
Featured quotes from the financial and consumer press
01
ThinkAdvisor: Finke Warns of Two Portfolio Risks Stalking Retirees
I think the risk has never been higher that retirees are not going to earn the returns that they hope to get to be able to generate the amount of income that they expect to receive from their investments.
02
Kiplinger: The Best Retirement Advice of All Time
We often approach retirement like a math problem, focusing on how much we need to save and how much income we can safely withdraw from our investment portfolio. But I think retirement planning places too much emphasis on the numbers, when the ultimate goal is satisfaction. Nobody gets happiness from money. Money is a tool; it’s a way to do things that make you happy.
03
The New York Times: When Moving in Retirement Becomes an Expensive Reality Check
Parts of the United States are going to experience losses that affect the cost of insurance and even livability. Not paying attention to the impact of climate change on things like insurance and home price appreciation and depreciation can blow up a retiree’s budget.
04
US News and World Report: A Surprising Key to a Satisfying Retirement
It takes some combination of money and relationships and health to be able to produce a truly satisfying retirement... Children are not a significant source of life satisfaction in retirement. That has implications if you are thinking of moving closer to your kids.
05
Wall Street Journal: Even Rich Retirees Fear Outliving Their Money
Spending below one’s means is especially prevalent among wealthier Americans. Retirees in the top 20% of the wealth distribution could safely spend an estimated $773,000 to $1.165 million more over a 30-year retirement, depending on how their money is invested, while also setting aside 40% of their initial wealth for emergencies or bequests.
Testimonials
Dr. Michael Finke’s cutting-edge research is extremely timely as we see the first generation of retirees retiring largely without pension plans. The challenges and risks associated with retiring in this day and age makes his research invaluable.
If you’re serious about creating and implementing sound and prudent retirement income plans for your clients there is no better person than Michael Finke to help you learn what it takes to create those plans, plans that will provide your clients income for life, and plans that will address the risks your clients will face in retirement, including longevity and cognitive decline.