American Portfolios Mentors Long Island Students Through Internship Program with Virtual Enterprises International (VEI)

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HOLBROOK, N.Y. (Sept. 20, 2022) — American Portfolios Financial Services, Inc. (AP)—an independent broker/dealer which provides services and support to financial advisors throughout the country—sends off the summer by marking its sixth year hosting the 2022 AP-VEI Internship Fellows Program for the purpose of developing the next generation’s workforce. A long-time supporter of Virtual Enterprises International (VEI)—a nationally recognized non-profit offering in-school experiential learning programs in which high school students form entrepreneurial, start-up business within a live global, simulated setting—AP was pleased to host six participants from VEI over a span of six weeks.  With the institution in January of a hybrid work schedule for AP employees, this was the first summer since the COVID health crisis in 2020 where AP offered both in-person and remote internship opportunities.

“This was our sixth-year ushering in a new group of high school students selected to enroll this summer in the AP-VEI Fellows Internship Program,” said Melissa Dolber-Grappone, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Corporate Communications. “What has become an important part of AP’s culture to be mentors for the next generation of working Americans, it has been a privilege to have the opportunity to play a part in helping these aspiring, young people prepare for their futures.”

Over the course of the internship, the interns worked with their respective supervisors on projects tied to both broker/dealer operations, as well as supporting AP initiatives to foster awareness on business solutions and best practices for AP’s affiliated financial professionals. Of the six interns, four worked within marketing and corporate communications, one in human resources and one in information security.

About the program, VEI intern Ethan Han said, “My experience as a supervisory intern and my first time entering the financial workforce sector with American Portfolios has been nothing short of an enlightening journey. I truly enjoyed being surrounded by supportive mentors and creative peers who utilized an unparalleled work ethic and created an atmosphere of inclusivity in a highly demanding workspace.”

The firm has enjoyed its involvement in several VEI events this year, which started with the judging of online regional business plan competitions in February, hosting the Long Island semi-finals for the VEI National Business Plan Competition in March, engaging senior management team members in a six-week mentorship program in April for VEI Students at William Floyd High School in Mastic Beach, N.Y., and, lastly, the AP-VEI Internship Fellows Program this summer. AP will finish out the year of support by participating in brand marketing/sales presentation judging and trade show events this fall.

 

About American Portfolios

Headquartered in Holbrook, New York, American Portfolios Financial Services, Inc. (APFS) is a full-service, independent broker/dealer and member firm of FINRA and SIPC, offering a complete range of financial services, including personal financial and retirement planning, securities trading, mutual funds, access to investment research, long-term care planning, insurance products and tax-free investing. Fee-based asset management is offered through its sister subsidiary, American Portfolios Advisors, Inc., (APA), an SEC Registered Investment Advisor. Both entities, along with technology entity American Portfolios Advisory Solutions, LLC, collectively reside under the legal entity American Portfolios Holdings, Inc. (APH). Full-service securities brokerage is available through a clearing firm relationship with Pershing, LLC, a BNY Mellon firm, the securities of which are held on a fully disclosed basis. The company currently supports 830 independent investment professionals—inclusive of registered assistants—and more than 375 non-registered associates, located in 384 branch locations throughout the nation.

American Portfolios has numerous recognitions by a number of industry publications and organizations. Such acknowledgment includes: Broker-Dealer of the Year* (Division III) by Investment Advisor magazine for six consecutive years (2015-2020); multiple 2021 ThinkAdvisor LUMINARIES Awards**; a WealthManagement.com Industry Award Finalist*** in multiple categories (2019-2022), and 2020 winner in the service category of B/Ds under 1,000 representatives for its Virtual Administrative Services (VAS) program and 2021 winner in the leadership category of B/Ds under 1,000 representatives for Chief Executive Officer of the Year; a 2021 Corporate Citizen of the Year by Long Island Business News; one of the Best Companies to Work for in the state of New York for seven consecutive years (2016-2022) by the New York State Society for Human Resources Management (NYS-SHRM) and the Best Companies Group (BCG); and one of the Top Long Island Workplaces for 2018-2020 by Newsday.

* Based on a poll of registered representatives conducted by Investment Advisor magazine. Broker/dealers rated highest by their representatives are awarded “Broker/Dealer (B/D) of the Year.”

** ThinkAdvisor LUMINARIES are selected by a distinguished and diverse panel of judges from across the advice industry, as well by the Investment Advisor editorial team.

*** Wealthmanagement.com Industry Award finalists are selected by a panel of independent judges made up of subject matter experts in the industry. Award is based on support provided to AP’s affiliated people and does not reflect public customers nor their account performance.

 

About Virtual Enterprises International
​​VEI is a non-profit organization that provides experiential learning programs to schools across Long Island, the nation and beyond. Through their live global business simulation, students are offered a competitive edge through project-based collaborative learning that allows them to create and operate every facet of a virtual business. This program helps students develop 21st-century skills in entrepreneurship, global business, problem solving, communications, personal finance and technology.

 

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