Meet Our Team

I Believe in the Transformative Power of Financial Education

Hi, I'm Donna Cirillo and my journey from Financial Professional to Financial Educator has been driven by a deep-seated passion for empowering others through financial literacy education. With a B.S. in Finance and M.B.A. from St. John’s University, I honed my skills over 14 years at U.S. Trust and J.P. Morgan Chase in roles such as Second Vice President, Bank Officer and Manager within Investor Services and Operations. There, I witnessed firsthand the critical gap in financial literacy among professionals and the general public.

To address this gap, I developed comprehensive financial education training programs for Investor Service Representatives, which significantly improved service quality and boosted employee confidence in managing their own finances. This transformative experience inspired me to pursue further qualifications and certifications in financial education.

I Believe You Deserve Only the Most Qualified and Passionate Financial Educator

Achieving the Accredited Personal Finance Instructor (APFI) designation represents the highest level of qualification for a personal finance instructor.

Driven by this experience, I transitioned into a role as a Certified Financial Education Instructor (CFEI) and later earned my Certified Financial Literacy Professional (CFLP) and the prestigious Accredited Personal Finance Instructor (APFI) designations. These credentials enabled me to expand my reach beyond corporate settings and to dedicate myself to teaching across diverse demographics, from youth just starting out to divorced and widowed audiences needing to start over financially.

As a CFEI, CFLP, and APFI, I meet the standards outlined in the Framework for Teaching Personal Finance and have demonstrated my competency in teaching methods ( pedagogy, teaching techniques, and educational best practices) and content knowledge of personal finance topics. Additionally, I have earned over 100 Professional Development credits in Finance and Economic Education from Next Gen Personal Finance (NGPF) and the Council for Economic Education (CEE).

Volunteering in my community is very important to me. I have provided financial education to elementary and middle school students in New York City through Junior Achievement and other initiatives. I am currently serving as a member of the New York Financial Educators Council Advisory Board. Being appointed to the New York Financial Educators Council Advisory Board is a great honor and I am deeply committed to this role. I am delighted for this opportunity to help New York's citizens achieve greater financial wellness. In addition, I am honored to contribute to the educational development of young students as a member of the Board of Trustees for a private parochial academy in Queens, New York.

I Believe Smart Money Changes Everything

Your level of financial literacy affects all aspects of your life, including your anxiety levels, health, lifestyle, and dreams. Regardless of income level or life stage, you need financial education to navigate an increasingly complex world. Financial illiteracy is a societal problem that crosses all demographic groups, causing stress. A systemic lack of financial education early in life is a major root cause of this stress.

Financial education is a lifelong journey.

I firmly believe that financial education is transformative—it unlocks opportunities, reduces anxiety, and empowers individuals to achieve their dreams.

Using the proven and successful curriculum of the National Financial Educators Council, together we can customize a financial education program tailored to your unique circumstances. No matter your unique life stage, Smart Money Changes Everything can customize a solid, quality financial education to kickstart the fulfillment of your dreams and secure your successful future.

Join me in embracing the transformative power of financial literacy. Together, we can build a future where financial literacy empowers us all and tranforms lives because smart money really does change everything!