.png)
Free Webinar!
Join the NPhA New Practitioner Network for an enriching multi-part financial series! In Part 1, we delve into the essentials of budgeting and Debt Management. Whether you're a new practitioner seeking to build a solid financial foundation or an established professional in need of expert guidance, this session is designed to equip you with valuable insights and strategies for financial success.
Panelists:
Bilal Afolabi was born in Togo, Africa, and moved to Hartford, CT, when he was eight years old. Growing up in a Ghanaian & Nigerian household, his parents instilled the value of hard work, education, and perseverance into him. Bilal learned his third language, English, as he journeyed into his new world. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Finance and economics while on the Dean’s List and playing Division 1 soccer at Central Connecticut State University. Bilal started his wealth management journey at 19 through a nationally ranked top 10 internship program at Northwestern Mutual. He found great success in the internship program. He was the number one intern in the East and ranked Top 10 nationally out of 2,500+ interns. Today he is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, a Chartered Financial Consultant, and a Wealth Management Advisor/Founder of Chosen Advisory Group. —a Wealth management firm specializing in working with pre-retirees/retirees and the emerging affluent.
Bilal is a nationally recognized speaker on the topic of financial planning. He educates thousands of his peers annually at annual & regional conferences nationwide. He has been a speaker at the Annual Medical Education Conference (AMEC) and featured articles with the Certified Financial Planning Board, Vault, Firsthand, University of Washington, and Denison University, to list a few. He currently serves on the Goodwin University School of Business Advisory Board to assist in shaping their curriculum and improving enrollment for new students. For his hard work, Forbes recognized him as Best-In-State Top Financial Security Professional for 2023, and the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA) awarded Bilal as the youngest ever 4 under 40 in the state of Connecticut.
Bilal splits his time between Hartford, CT, and Pittsburgh, PA, while his Fiancé Aaliyah completes her Residency training as an Otolaryngologist (Ear Nose Throat Surgeon) at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. They enjoy traveling, trying new restaurants, yoga, and spending time with their rescue cat Princess. Additionally, Bilal joined an adult league soccer team in Pittsburgh and helped them win their first-ever trophy.
Anthony Williams, a proud New Yorker hailing from the Bronx, embarked on his financial planning career during his college years at the esteemed Howard University. His journey began in the Summer of 2014, when he secured a coveted internship with Northwestern Mutual, a role that would shape his future in the industry.
While in the internship program, he achieved many milestones, including being recognized as the top college financial advisor on the East Coast and among the top 10 in the country during his senior year.
Anthony's unwavering dedication and exceptional expertise propelled him to a leadership position at Northwestern Mutual. Within a remarkably short span of time, he transitioned from a full-time advisor to a Field Director, leading a team of five advisors. Their collective mission is to enhance financial literacy in their community, a vision that Anthony passionately champions.
In 2020, he helped found NM Harlem, an office focusing on serving the underserved community with their financial planning needs and seeking to attract more people of color into the financial planning profession.
Anthony's commitment to financial security extends beyond his professional endeavors. He actively collaborates with various organizations, including Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, the National Association of Black Nurses, and the National Medical Association. His group involvement reflects his passion for inspiring others to achieve their personal, professional, and financial goals.
Anthony holds series 7, 6, and 63 investment licenses and insurance licenses, which help his clients with life, disability, and health insurance.
He runs a national practice that serves clients in California, Illinois, Texas, DMV, and the Metropolitan NYC area.
He is also a board CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, the gold standard of the financial planning industry where only 29% of financial advisors are certified, and only 2% of advisors of color hold the certification.
In his free time, Anthony enjoys journaling, meditating, browsing YouTube, and spending time with his family and friends.
When he is not busy with financial planning, Anthony is busy planning social events that connect like-minded individuals in the New York City Area.
