American Portfolios Financial Services Supports Non-Profit Organization Virtual Enterprises International and the Next Generation of Big Thinkers

HOLBROOK, N.Y., March 28, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- American Portfolios Financial Services, Inc. (APFS) is pleased to announce its official support of Virtual Enterprises International (VEI), a non-profit organization offering an in-school experiential learning program for high school students to form entrepreneurial, upstart businesses within a live, global simulated setting. 

Said VEI's Executive Director Iris Blanc of the relationship, "We are thrilled to have American Portfolios as a partner and look forward to a long and fruitful relationship.  Our students need mentors and industry professionals like those at APFS to connect them to the real world of business and the expectations of the workplace."

What started with two APFS senior managers being invited to judge 29 student-run companies across 28 high schools in VEI's Fourth Annual Long Island Business Plan Competition this past January at Farmingdale State College, evolved into APFS hosting the semi-finalist competition for the seven selected virtual businesses at its Holbrook headquarters on Feb. 26 to offer students the backdrop for a true corporate experience when presenting their business plans.  Students anxiously awaited their turn to present and vie for the three winning slots that would take them to the National Business Plan Competition, to be held during VEI's 2014 Youth Business Summit from Tuesday, April 1, through Thursday, April 3.

Among judges from academic circles were also APFS Vice President of Human Resources Lisa DiBella and affiliated financial advisors Richard Cross and Robert Clayton.

"The business plans prepared and presentations given were so well executed you would have thought these were coming from first-year graduate students," remarked DiBella.  "It was as if we were witnessing the emergence of a new generation of entrepreneurs."

Students, supported by their teachers, administrators and parents were also given an opportunity to tour the company, meet APFS CEO Lon T. Dolber, and network with staff and advisors at the firm.

'It was an eye opening experience to see such professional and poised young men and women crafting their skills as tomorrow's potential business owners and leaders," commented Dolber.  "Through VEI, American Portfolios is dedicated to playing a part shaping these futures in any way that it can."

American Portfolios congratulates and wishes the best of luck to the three virtual businesses from Hewlett and West Hampton Beach High Schools, who will be making their way to the National Business Plan Competition on Wednesday, April 2.

About American Portfolios

Headquartered in Holbrook, NY, 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 adviser. Both entities, along with technology division American Outsources, LLC (AO) collectively reside under the legal entity, American Portfolios Holdings, Inc. 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 serves 826 independent investment professionals located in 393 branch locations throughout the nation.

About Virtual Enterprises

With an emphasis on college and career readiness, VEI is an in-school, live, global business simulation that offers students a competitive edge through project-based, collaborative learning and the development of 21st-century skills in entrepreneurship, global business, problem solving, communication, personal finance and technology. It Is part of a global network of student-run businesses in over 40 countries, transforms high school students into independent-thinking business professionals and their classrooms into offices. The program was initially spearheaded through the New York City Department of Education as the first and only program of its kind in the U.S after observing the European apprenticeship style and experiential learning models used in Vienna, Austria's educational communities. Since its formation, VEI has implanted the program in 500 secondary and post-secondary schools nationwide, serving over 10,000 students annually.

CONTACT:
Melissa Grappone, Director of Corp. Comm.
PHONE:    631.870.8208
E-MAIL: [email protected]  

SOURCE American Portfolios Financial Services, Inc.