Faculty Spotlight: Craig Lemoine

Dr. Craig Lemoine, CFP^®, is the director of The American College Granum Center for Financial Security.  He holds the Jarrett L. Davis Distinguished Professorship of Financial Planning Technology and his responsibilities include teaching a number of financial planning and case study courses at The American College of Financial Services. Dr. Lemoine is recognized as an industry thought leader on standards of care in the financial services industry.

His publications on financial software, life insurance, and the Department of Labor Conflict of Interest Rule have been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Investors Business Daily, the Journal of Financial Planning, the Journal of Financial Service Professionals, and other financial publications. He is currently working with insurance and brokerage companies to prepare for DOL rule changes.

Dr. Lemoine also volunteers with the CFP Board of Standards. He was the chairman of the CFP^® Council of Examiners in 2013 and continues to volunteer there as an item writer and subject matter expert on insurance and investments.

Get to know Dr. Lemoine a little better in this edition of Faculty Spotlight.

What brought you to The College?  

In the fall of 2007 I was a doctoral student at Texas Tech University. I attended an academic conference and, as teaching assistants do, was gathered around the free lunch buffet with my buddies. I noticed a man getting a big box of books together and looked like he needed help with the door. I opened it for him, walked to his car and helped him unload the books. A month later I got a call from Dr. Walt Woerheide (who was dean at the time) about a job at The College. I made an impression helping him out, and after an interview and opportunity to teach a class as an adjunct, I joined full-time in June of 2008. Eight years later I'm still here and love what I do.

What is your best memory or favorite part of your job from your time with The College?

I love being in the classroom, either live or online. Most of my favorite memories are teaching for our client companies in different parts of the world. I've also enjoyed speaking opportunities on a number of occasions. It's hard to pick just one, but I have an affinity for the south and midwest. I always joke with the class that I enjoy banana bread (which I do) and to bring snacks on days we don't have catering or food close by. Last year I was teaching our investments course with the Southern Farm Bureau in Alabama and spent a bit of time talking snacks — the next day two students brought in fresh baked, piping hot banana bread with honey and butter. It was so thoughtful and made me realize how much I love the students and my job. 




What is your favorite book?  

I'm a big sci-fi libertarian nerd, and proudly so. My reading choices reflect it. I grew up reading Douglass Adams and lately have enjoyed A. Lee Martinez. 

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?

I enjoy cities, food and culture when I travel. I haven't been to South America and would love to see Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Peru. I hope to get there when my daughter is a bit older.

What is something people would be surprised to know about you?

I love teaching and being in the classroom, but need to recharge with some quiet. I think students hear me teach for eight hours a day and may get the impression that I'm always on. I've been known to get room service in a hotel rather than see the sights after a day of teaching. 

What is your favorite quote?

I had this poster on my wall in college quoting Albert Einstein which still resonates with me. "Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited to all we now know and understand, while imagination embraces the entire world, and all there ever will be to know and understand." 

More About Dr. Lemoine

Dr. Lemoine serves as the champion and program director of The College’s CFP^® program and teaches a number of CFP^®courses and review sessions. His research interests include compensation conflicts in financial planning, education savings strategies and annuity use with clients. He developed and designed The College’s case study course, portions of the RICP® program, works in the MSFS program, and doctoral courses in financial planning.

When he's not in the classroom, Dr. Lemoine enjoys travel, cooking and trying to stay fit.