Linda S. Need, MSFS, CAP, FSA, CFA, CFP, will receive the 2018 Solomon S. Huebner Gold Medal from The American College of Financial Services in recognition of her leadership in the financial services industry and her dedication to furthering the mission of The College. The Huebner Gold Medal, the institution's highest honor, will be presented during the annual President's Dinner in New York City on October 26, 2018.

Awarded annually since 1975, The Huebner Gold Medal honors the special individuals whose support of The College and its programs, and whose dedication to education and professionalism, have been of particular meaning to the mission and progress of the institution. It is named for Dr. Solomon S. Huebner, who founded The American College in 1927.

After a 40 year career with major financial services firms, Need started a consulting firm that primarily supports banks, broker-dealers and insurance companies with insurance product and distribution strategies and expert witness services. Before establishing her consulting firm, Need led the life insurance product and distribution arms of both Wells Fargo and Bank of America and represented Bank of America's financial advisors and clients during the broker-dealer merger with Merrill Lynch. Previously, she managed life, annuity and estate planning distribution for Morgan Stanley Dean Witter; designed, managed and wholesaled annuity products for Allstate; and provided actuarial consulting on product development through Tillinghast. She started her career as an actuary, learning the basics of the life insurance business at Northwestern Mutual.

"I am honored, and greatly humbled, to be receiving this award from The College," said Need. "The American College was founded almost a century ago and its mission of enhancing professionalism in financial services is more important now than ever."

Need was the first woman, and first banker, to serve as Chair of The American College's Board of Trustees. She served on The College's Board from 2006-2017. While on the Board, Need chaired the Technology, Finance and Executive Committees. During her 2014-15 term as Board Chair, The College gained reaccreditation, hired a new President, embarked on a new long-term strategy that embraced a broader definition of financial services, committed to moving its campus and completed a $50 million capital campaign.

Need has been a long-time advocate of women's leadership initiatives, including the Girl Scouts, where she served on the Board of the Hornets' Nest Girl Scout Council in Charlotte, NC and continues to serve as a member of the council's Audit Committee. This council produces a wide scope of leadership programs for 15,000 girls and 5,000 adult volunteers in eight counties. Recently, Need was also named to the Board of The Pines at Davidson, a continuing care retirement community.

Need's professionalism, leadership and commitment to excellence makes her a worthy recipient of the 2018 Solomon S. Huebner Gold Medal.

ABOUT THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF FINANCIAL SERVICES The American College of Financial Services was founded in 1927 and is the nation's largest nonprofit educational institution devoted to financial services. Holding the highest level of academic accreditation, The College has educated one in five financial advisors across the United States and offers two master's degrees in management and financial services and prestigious financial planning designations such as the Retirement Income Certified Professional® (RICP®), Chartered Life Underwriter® (CLU®), Chartered Financial Consultant® (ChFC®), Wealth Management Certified Professional® (WMCP®) and education leading to the Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®) certification. The College's faculty represents some of the foremost thought leaders of the financial services profession. For more information, visit TheAmericanCollege.edu.