Dr. Stefanie Davis Kempton is an Assistant Professor and Program Coordinator of Journalism at Florida Gulf Coast University. She holds a Ph.D. in Mass Communications from Penn State’s Bellisario College of Communications, where she also earned her M.A. and B.A. Her award-winning research has been published in top academic journals, including Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly and Newspaper Research Journal. A respected media expert, Dr. Kempton has been featured in USA Today, Slate Magazine, and other national outlets. In addition to her academic work, she is a two-time Emmy-nominated broadcast professional with on-air experience at ABC News, Fox Business, Bloomberg TV, and the Big Ten Network. Prior to joining FGCU, she served on the faculty at Penn State Altoona. With a unique blend of scholarly rigor and real-world media experience, Dr. Kempton is passionate about preparing the next generation of journalists for a rapidly evolving media landscape.

Kelli Grant is the Senior Personal Finance Editor at CNBC, where she leads coverage on money management, financial planning, and consumer spending. A Certified Financial Planner® professional—one of the first working journalists to earn the designation—she plays a key role in CNBC’s financial literacy efforts, including leading the CFP® Circle and teaching high school students. Grant has held multiple editorial roles at CNBC, including Deputy Personal Finance Editor and Senior Editor at Grow, in partnership with Acorns. Prior to CNBC, she was a Senior Consumer Reporter at MarketWatch and SmartMoney. Her work has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Kiplinger’s, and more. A frequent media guest, she has been featured on TODAY, Nightline, NPR, and CNBC programs like Squawk Box and Closing Bell. She serves on the board of SABEW and holds degrees from Kansas State University (M.S., Personal Financial Planning) and Ithaca College (B.A., Journalism and Anthropology).

Ben Lewis is the Chief Communications Officer at the Financial Planning Association (FPA), the country's largest membership organization and trade association for CFP® professionals and those engaged in the financial planning process. With 30 years in financial, political, and non-profit communications, he has forged relationships with journalists, organizations, and other professionals that help me as a communications professional.

Robert Powell, CFP®, RMA®, is a dedicated advocate for retirees and those nearing retirement, committed to equipping individuals with the knowledge and tools needed for financial confidence in later life. With deep roots in the financial industry, Bob has held diverse roles—from Co-founder of FinStream, an innovative platform for financial education, to Editor & Publisher of TheStreet's Retirement Daily. Bob's insights reach a broad audience through retirement columns in MarketWatch, Investor’s Business Daily, and USA TODAY, and as host of the Exceptional Advisor podcast. Powell serves as Editor of the Retirement Management Journal, Director of Retirement Education at Sensible Money, and Instructor in the FPA Online Elder Planning Specialist program. He is also the founder of Parting Glass Productions, currently co-producing a film exploring themes of aging and resilience. Across all these efforts, his mission remains the same: to empower others with accessible, trustworthy retirement guidance.