The Keys to Financial Wellness - a 5-part series

This 5-part course empowers participants with practical tools to manage money wisely—covering savings, debt, insurance, retirement, and more—so they can build lasting financial confidence and security.

About the event

This 5-part Financial Wellness course will cover the following topics. Because the material builds upon the knowledge learned in each class, it is recommended that you sign up for as many (or all!) of the classes to receive the full benefit of the course.

Monday, Oct 13 @ 7pm - Class 1: Introduction to Financial Concepts & Taxes - Learn the basics of interest, averages, and the effects of financial losses, plus strategies like dollar cost averaging. Explore the differences between ordinary income, capital gains, deductions, and tax credits to better understand your tax picture.

Monday, Oct 20 @ 7pm - Class 2: Account Types & Product Selection - Get familiar with different account types—qualified vs. non-qualified, IRAs, 401(k)s, and more—and why beneficiary designations matter. Review common financial products like savings accounts, CDs, mutual funds, and annuities.

Monday, Oct 27 @ 7pm - Class 3: Insurance Essentials - Understand life insurance for families and businesses, including coverage types and amounts. Learn the basics of liability insurance for home, auto, and umbrella policies.

Monday, Nov 10 @ 7pm - Class 4: Saving & Accumulation - Discover how to save for college using 529s and other accounts, and weigh the costs vs. benefits. Learn retirement savings strategies through employer plans and personal savings, including how much to save and ways to maximize growth.

Monday, Nov 17 @ 7pm - Class 5: Debt, Estate Planning & Choosing an Advisor - Build smart strategies for managing debt, protecting credit, and understanding reports. Gain insight into wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives. Finish with tips on selecting a trustworthy financial advisor.

This Financial Wellness course is taught by Tom Kestler. Tom has been involved in the financial planning field for over 45 years. He is a graduate of Millersville State University and the College for Financial Planning in Denver, Colorado (for which he has acted as an adjunct instructor) and carries the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) designation. He has also been awarded the Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU), Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC) and Chartered Mutual Fund Counselor (CMFC) designations from the American College in Bryn Mawr, PA.

He was the founder of Kestler Financial Group, Inc., a firm which specialized in the marketing of financial products and services to over 5,000 independent representatives throughout the United States. Kestler Financial Group was acquired by Highland Capital in 2018. Mr. Kestler carries Life, Health and Variable Products licenses in several states and provides consulting services to insurance companies on product design and development. He also acts as an expert witness in securities and insurance litigation cases

Prior to his retirement, Tom served as VP Advanced Sales at Highland Capital, and also CEO of Branch Development Partners, an Office of Supervisory Jurisdiction (OSJ) for Securities America, Inc. (now Osaic), an independent securities broker/dealer. Tom is grateful for the opportunity to use his experience to help people in the community.