Delaware will soon be home to the first accredited trust and wealth management minor in the nation thanks to an agreement between the Delaware Financial Education Alliance (DFEA) and the Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics at the University of Delaware.

The agreement, formally commemorated at a signing ceremony on Thursday, May 26, at Wilmington’s University and Whist Club, establishes the Trust and Wealth Management minor in the Lerner College.

The new first-of-its-kind minor will provide an accredited program comprised of up to 13 courses on taxation and estate planning. By providing students with comprehensive skills grounded in these subject areas, the program will establish a pipeline of experienced candidates for employment by banking and trust companies and law firms in Delaware.

“We're excited about our partnership with Lerner College and the University of Delaware,” said Sarah A. Long, DFEA president. “The Trust and Wealth Management program is a great step forward for the trust industry in Delaware.”

"This program will provide employment opportunities in well-paying jobs, which will help increase the state's tax base,” Long continued. “We thank all our founding program partners, corporate and individually, who have made this a reality."

Corporate founding partners include Wilmington Trust; Bank of America; Christiana Trust Company; Commonwealth Trust Company; U.S. Trust Company of Delaware; Gordon, Fournaris & Mammarella, P.A.; Morris, Nichols, Arsht & Tunnell LLP; Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A.; Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor, LLP; Reliance Trust Company of Delaware; Brandywine Trust Company, LLC; Bryn Mawr Trust Company of Delaware; Cooch & Taylor, P.A.; TD Bank; Wells Fargo & Company; Gawthrop Greenwood, PC; PNC Bank and the Delaware Economic Development Office. Individual founders are David Diamond, Daniel Hayward, Elizabeth W. King, Anne Schumeyer and Lynn and David Watson.

“The uniqueness of this program, coupled with the internships that will be available to UD students in a state where there are 43 trust-based companies, will gain national attention and allow us to attract the best and brightest to Delaware,” said Bruce W. Weber, dean of the Lerner College.

The new minor will not officially become part of the Lerner curriculum until after Faculty Senate approval; however, some courses will begin to be taught experimentally as early as next year. Internships are also expected to begin by spring 2017.

About the Delaware Financial Education Alliance

The Delaware Financial Education Alliance (DFEA) is a 501(c)(3) organization that provides financial literacy education targeted to persons of low- and moderate-income in the state of Delaware through a variety of educational programs designed to promote economic development and stability. The DFEA is also a provider of quality training programs available to employees of member banks in the financial services industry in Delaware.