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Frank C. Bearden, Ph.D.

Distinguished Core Part-Time Professor

Frank C. Bearden Photo

Areas of Expertise:

  • ​Leadership
  • Management
  • DBA and PhD doctoral dissertations

Education:

  • ​B.A. with Honors, University of North Texas, M.S in Mgr, Ph.D in Leadership Studies - 4.0 GPA.

Dissertation:

  • ​The Consequence of the Leadership Styoe of a Financial Planner's Most Influential Supervisor on the Planner's Perception of Conflict, as influenced by the Consanguinity of a Potential Client.

Research Areas of Interest:

  • ​Leadership
  • management
  • conflicts of interest

Certifications and /or licenses:

  • ​Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU), Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC).

Select Publications:

  • Bearden, F. C. A Question of Ethics: Hopefully, the beginning of the end of COV-19, Advisor Today, Feb. 2021. 
  • Bearden, F.C. Recognizing a Likely Conflict of Interest in Financial Planning Practice, Journal of Financial Planning 32 (8), 30-32, Aug 2019
  • Bearden, F. C. (2020). The ripple effect: Potential consequences of a conflict of interest. Journal of Financial Planning, 35(9), 33-34.
  • Bearden, F. C. (2020). A question of ethics: Regulation Best Interest and the change from a suitability standard to a best interest by Broker–Dealers and their Registered Representatives. Advisor Today (March/April 2020).
  • Bearden, F. C. (2018). Recognizing conflicts of interest in financial planning: A sequential study. Journal of Personal Finance, 17(1), 9-20.  
  • Bearden, F. C. (2015). A study of recognizing conflicts of interest in pending financial planning engagements. Journal of Financial Counseling and Planning, 26(2), 148-159.
  • Bearden, F. C. (2000). The fee-based adviser/client relationship. Journal of Financial Service Professionals, 54(6), 66-78. 
  • Bearden, F. C. (1991). Reexamining the boundaries of professional life insurance practice within estate planning. Journal of the American Society of CLU & ChFC, 45(4), 72.

Select Professional Experience:

  • Managing Member
    • Frank C. Bearden, LLC, October 2001 to present (revised entity to LLC February 2014)
    • Consulting and expert witness service (plaintiff and defense positions) for individuals and organizations, involving conflicts of interest, financial planning, insurance sales, and   employment discrimination/harassment, as well as consultations in organizational strategic alignment of mission and values statements with practice.
  • Regional Sales Vice President
    • MetLife Investors, National Accounts, New York, NY October 2005 to October 2007
    • Responsible for working with insurance consultants and financial advisors within Merrill Lynch in Texas and Louisiana regarding the use of advanced applications of life insurance.
  • Regional Vice President
    • Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, Minneapolis, MN January 2004 to October 2005
    • Responsible for training financial advisors in advanced financial planning applications of life insurance, disability income, long term care in TX, OK, LA, AR, NC, SC, FL, MS, TN, Al, GA, 
  • Regional Sales Director
    • Canada Life Variable Distribution, Atlanta, GA January 2002 to January 2004       
    • Trained financial advisors in the use of variable life/annuity products within complex personal  and business financial planning in TX, LA, OK, and AR.
  • Regional Vice President
    • CNA Investment Products Group, Chicago, ILL June 2001 to January 2002
    • Trained financial advisors in use of variable life/annuity products within complex personal      and business financial planning in TX and LA.
  • Regional Vice President 
    • ING Insured Investor Group, Denver, CO, June 2000 to June 2001
    •  Trained financial advisors in national/regional brokerage firms in the implementation of fixed and variable life and annuity products within complex personal/business financial planning in South TX. 
  • Registered Principal of Financial Planning
    • Prudential Preferred Financial Services, San Antonio, TX February 1998 to July 2000
    • Originated and led the Prudential fee-based financial planning office in San Antonio, TX, while leading existing staff of commission-based financial advisors and life insurance agents. 
  • Branch Manager, MetLife Financial Services, San Antonio, TX March 1990 to Feb. 1998
    • Managed a multi-line insurance/investment office and originated fee-based financial planning in South Texas.