a pathway for H.B.C.U. students into the financial services industry
Imagine a career as a successful financial advisor beginning while you are still in college
Our Team
Our History
Our History
Our operating board consisting of Rob Knapp, Chairman; Curtis Brown, Vice Chairman, Bill Towler, Treasurer; Cindy Beuoy, Secretary and members at large: Bruce Johnston, Nick Foulks and Dana Wilson, Our advisory board includes James Cadet, Bruce Dillard, Deborah J. Frazier, Keith Henry, Jairzinho (Jazz) Skair, Robert Ross, and William (Willie) Thomas.
Our History
Our History
Our History
Supernova Consulting was founded by Rob Knapp in 2006 to provide coaching for financial advisors looking to grow their practices. Curtis Brown joined the firm in 2010 and specializes in building diverse and collaborative teams that increase revenues. Together they founded Supernova Scholars, a nonprofit, that provides scholarships for HBCU students in order to prepare them for a career in the financial services industry.
Our Mission
Our History
Our Mission
Supernova Scholars is a trilateral partnership between Supernova Consulting, Wall Street investment firms, and H.B.C.U.s. The program provides African American college students the opportunity to have a mentor, summer internship, outside soft-skill training, and placement on an inclusive team dedicated to ensuring their success as a financial advisor. The combination of scholarship and training for H.B.C.U. students is the first program of its kind and aims to change the financial services industry by introducing more diversity and inclusion.
The Program and Curriculum
Requirements
Students will be recommended by historically Black college and university for inclusion into the program. Criteria will include grade point average, extra curricular activities, interest in entering this field of study, background check, and other characteristics.
Curriculum
The program and curriculum will be designed to provide coursework and modular training in pre-course work to pass the general securities exam, as well as their Certified Financial Planner Designation. In addition to an advanced understanding of the fundamentals of financial planning, Scholars will have a clear understanding of portfolio management. Behavioral training will involve coursework on client development, organization, obtaining referrals, working on a team, professionalism and business conduct. The program (outside of the required college courses) will be taught by Wall Street Executives and monitored by an expert in curriculum design.
FAQs
1. How does the training program work?
The program begins with Supernova training during your sophomore year of school. Training continues during your summer internship, throughout your time in school, and two years post-graduation. Training modules include a behavioral cultural component to ensure that Scholars are ready to "hit the ground running," including: securities-based training, product knowledge, wealth management strategies, and sales training.
2. What is the entity responsible for the overall management of the program?
The Supernova Scholars Board of Directors is responsible for management of the program. The program is a non-profit 501c3 entity.
3. What certifications will the Scholars receive?
Supernova Scholars will receive a CFP designation within approximately 1 year of graduation and securities licenses as required.
4. What additional training will be required?
Supernova Scholars will be placed, during their summer internship, on a team with a participating firm. That firm will provide training and licensing to comply with Industry standards and regulations.
5. How will the program be delivered throughout the year?
The college or university will provide the necessary curriculum in accounting, finance, and economics to be prepare Scholars for the financial services industry. Additionally, Supernova will provide a year-long 1-hour per week curriculum of additional financial skills necessary for success.
6. Describe the work study program.
The firms will compensate the students during the summer work-study program. Scholars will learn about the responsibilities of working in a branch office, the role of the financial advisor; they will attend meetings and events, and perform any work designed to improve their success as wealth management advisors. Firms will have flexibility with the work study program; however, minimal standards of excellence must be met along with basic requirements.
7. Tell me about the mentors.
Supernova Scholars will be mentored by the teams they ultimately work for, as well as a successful African American mentor within their respective organization. Supernova Consulting will provide training for the mentor/coaches.
8. How will you develop the teams the participants join?
Supernova Consulting will provide team training for each team that elects to work with a scholar.
9. Will scholars receive a stipend?
Supernova Scholars will receive a stipend each year based on maintaining grade point average and adherence to program guidelines. Payments will be sent directly to the universities to be parceled out to the students meeting the standards set forth during the program.
10. Will there be a central point of contact?
Supernova will establish an office with an executive director who will be responsible for managing the interface between the firms and the universities. The executive director will provide quarterly performance reports to the firms and universities participating in the program.
11. Please share more about the structure of the non-profit.
The Supernova Scholars advisory board will be responsible for program excellence and oversight. The operating committee will be responsible for executing the trilateral strategy and overall program excellence.
12. What will the training consist of?
The program modules will be taught from representatives of the investment firms, recorded, and the professors at the various participating universities. The program will be delivered virtually and/or digitally.
13. How much of the money raised will go to the students and the administering of the program?
While the pro-forma is being developed, it is estimated that 100% of the money raised will go toward the program, training, and development of the students. The balance will go toward the cost of administering the program.
14. Is there a next phase or future state of the program?
Yes. We anticipate expanding the program to African Americans at non-H.B.C.U.s. We call this the at-large phase of the program. The final phase will look at junior military officers separating from the military. The core program, however, will focus on the historically Black colleges and universities.