Ross Riskin

Ross Riskin set the curve for hybrid learning before the coronavirus pandemic hit.

At the American College of Financial Services, he led the redesign of both the certified financial planner and chartered financial consultant programs, transforming the curriculum from print to online-first.

“The way seasoned advisors learned is not the same way that the up-and-coming advisor today expects to learn,” Riskin said. “Delivering educational experiences that are supportive of different learning preferences accommodates a diverse group of advisors.”

Transforming content to a hybrid model involved a lot more than posting videos of lectures. Riskin reconceived the design of the courses and integrated online forums for ongoing discussion among instructors and students.

“Delivering education online is very different from delivering it in the classroom,” Riskin said.

Last year, Riskin, 32, became the chief learning officer at the Investments & Wealth Institute, where he runs three certification programs. A “pracademic” who combines a practitioner’s understanding of the real world with an academician’s imagination, Riskin created the certified college financial consultant credential to help advisors see the big picture of higher-education financing.

He also founded visiWealth, a fintech company that creates one-page visuals to convey the essence of complicated financial planning and wealth management concepts.

—Mark Schoeff Jr.