Advisory Board Member Dorenda Monique Clink
Illinois Financial Educators Council
Dorenda Clink was chosen to serve on the distinguished IFEC Advisory Board due to her background, advocacy, and contributions to the financial wellness movement in Chicago and around the state of Illinois. Clink began her professional career in public service as a Deputy County Sheriff for Cook County. Since then she has earned an MAFM in Finance and Accounting and an MBA in Project Management from Keller Graduate School of Management at DeVry University; certification as an Insurance Producer; and an Illinois Substitute Teacher License. Dorenda has been a member of the United for Financial Literacy Advocacy Committee – convened by the National Financial Educators Council, the IFEC’s parent organization – since December 2024 and earned the Certified Financial Education Instructor® (CFEI®) designation through the NFEC in 2025.
Advisory Board Member Dorenda Monique Clink meets the stringent benchmarks for the IFEC board seat in outstanding fashion. Criteria for selection include professional-level financial services experience, dedication to financial literacy, and a strong history of social impact. Dorenda currently leads Vested Interest Financial Group, LLC, where she serves as Director of Community Outreach & Education. She also exhibits a passion for volunteer work, donating time as a presenter for CARE Chicago – a nonprofit providing free financial literacy presentations to schools and community organizations. The Illinois Council anticipates a lasting and productive relationship with Dorenda Monique Clink as we pursue our financial wellness mission together.
Financial Empowerment as a Standard for All: Dorenda Monique Clink
I began my career in public service, working with the Cook County Sheriff’s Office in departments such as child support, warrants, juvenile detention, and criminal courts. During that time, I had countless conversations with inmates that shaped my view of poverty and opportunity. Nearly every story they shared was rooted in lack – lack of financial resources, lack of community support, lack of opportunity, and sometimes even lack of consistent love and guidance. Those moments ignited my passion to help people break free from poverty in every form: financial, spiritual, mental, and emotional.
That passion led me into the financial services industry and to create Vested Interest Financial Group, where I serve as Director of Community Outreach & Education. At VIFG, my work is not about selling products. Instead, I focus on financial education, coaching, and empowerment – practical guidance that helps people shift their mindset, build healthy financial habits, and move from surviving to thriving.
I am proud to have been selected as an Advisory Board Member for the state of Illinois. It is both an honor and a responsibility that I take seriously. I am especially dedicated to having an impact on Black and Brown communities in and around the greater Chicago metropolitan area, where disparities in access to financial literacy have long held back families and communities from achieving lasting stability.
I would also like to extend my gratitude to the National Financial Educators Council (NFEC). NFEC has been a pillar for financial education, and I am proud to align with an organization that shares my values and vision. Together, we are working toward a future where financial empowerment is not a privilege, but a standard for all.
As an Advisory Board Member, I will contribute my experience in public service, community engagement, and financial empowerment to help shape programs that are practical, culturally relevant, and accessible. My goal is to bring real solutions and lasting impact to the communities that need them most.
Illinois Financial Educators Council Board Details
The Illinois Financial Educators Council Advisory Board Members drive our push to build sustainable, scalable economic empowerment programs that affect people’s lives at the community level. Our Advisory Board Members share their knowledge and expertise to guide financial wellness programs and donations to community members.
Our Board Members are professionals who have successfully passed a rigorous selection process and have proven their commitment to supporting the growth of sustainable financial wellness programming in their communities. Board members possess these traits:
Enthusiasm
A true sense of enthusiasm and passion for improving financial wellness, promoting the financial literacy cause, and making communities and individuals stronger through financial education and empowerment.
Involvement
Organizations and individuals who have time available to commit toward financial wellness efforts and to participate actively in Board communications.
Principles
Individuals selected to the Advisory Board are dedicated to serving their communities and have strong reputations for integrity, ethics, and honesty in their respective professional arenas.
