Jim Petersen, PhD, MSM, MSFS, CFP®, CLF®, ChFC®, CLU®, CASL®, RICP®, WMCP®, CRPC®, CAP®, ChSNC®, AEP®, CPMBC, CPBC is The American College of Financial Services Roger Hull/James S. Bingay Chair of Leadership and the Chartered Leadership Fellow^® (CLF®) Program Director. Jim is a versatile teaching professor due to his extensive background in Financial Services and Military Leadership.

Petersen is the chief executive officer (CEO) and founding principal of Diversified Professional Coaching, LLC. He is committed to leading a company that coaches business executives, leaders, advisors, and clients to pursue their financial goals and lifetime dreams by bringing sound business acumen, financial knowledge, and trustworthy advice to a lasting relationship with each person he serves. In addition, Petersen is the president and owner of the Professional Business Coaches Alliance, LLC, which is committed to training and supporting the future of professional business coaches.

He entered the financial services industry in 1983 while continuing almost a twenty-two-year career in the United States Navy and United States Navy Reserve. He served as a submarine officer and retired with the rank of Captain (0-6).

At the end of 2018, Petersen retired from the financial services industry. A seasoned executive, he is an expert in the fields of financial planning, retirement planning, and leading large financial-planning organizations.

Petersen graduated from the United States Naval Academy with a Bachelor of Science degree, and he earned Master of Science degrees in Management and Financial services from The American College of Financial Services.

On June 1, 2017, he became the first financial services manager to be awarded a PhD in financial and retirement planning from The American College of Financial Services. As an Adjunct Professor, Jim became the Roger Hull/James S. Bingay Chair of Leadership in 2021 at The College.

He and his wife, Louise, have three children and two grandchildren.