Dr. Daralee Barbera is passionate about the importance of financial literacy, comprehensive financial planning, personal and business development, and the critical role of leadership. She is a certified business coach, international speaker, professor, author, and consultant.

Dr. Barbera is a professor of leadership at The American College.

Daralee is a veteran of the financial services profession, retiring as Managing Principal after a distinguished 34-year career at Waddell and Reed. She was Executive Vice President of GAMA International. She is co-Principal and President of Diversified Professional Coaching (DPC) LLC.

Dr. Barbera holds an EdD in Leadership and Organizational Change from The University of Southern California (USC), a BA in Mathematics (summa cum laude), and a MA in Secondary Education from California State University Long Beach (CSULB).

In addition to serving on The American College’s Board of Trustees, she served on the advisory board of The Northwestern Mutual Granum Center for Financial Security. She is past President of the GAMA International Board of Directors and is Chairman Emeritus of the Orange County California Chapter of the FPA (formerly IAFP). She is a member of FINSECA, FPA (Financial Planning Association), PBCA (Professional Business Coaches Alliance), WIFS (Women in Insurance and Financial Services), and NAIFA (National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors). Among other prior professional associations are Women in Film (executive member) and Filmmakers’ Alliance.

Areas of expertise include Business Coaching, Leadership and Personal Development, Financial Advisory, Higher Education, Women in Business, Goal Setting, Communication, Change (organizational and individual), Diversity and Inclusion (for advisors and leaders), Recruiting and Retention (Advisor and Client), Financial Literacy for Women, and the Role of Financial Education and Advisors.

In 2023 Daralee became the 70th recipient of the Will G. Farrell Award. Presented annually by NAIFA LA and FSP LA, it honors a member of the life insurance industry in California who has given distinguished service to others in and out of the industry.

She started her career at Waddell and Reed as a financial advisor followed by 30 years in leadership, primarily as a Managing Principal with offices throughout Southern and Central California.

Her numerous awards include Platinum Member of Chairman’s Cabinet (7 times), Leadership Council (4 times), Leadership Council Chair, Waddell & Reed’s prestigious and exclusive 7 C’s Award, and the unique Crystal Plate Award.

She qualified for Circle of Champions 28 times, Crest 16 times, and received the GAMA Diamond International Management Award for Financial Planning.

Her division received 35 Gold, Silver, and Bronze level Awards based on sales production.

She was “Woman of the Year” for WIFS (Women in Insurance and Financial Services) and was previously named as one of the “20 Women in Insurance You Need to Know”  by Life Health Pro.

Dr. Barbera has co-authored two books: Women Matter – The Why and How of Gender Diversity in Financial Services and What You Can Do…When You Can’t – 21 Days to Personal Success. Her doctoral dissertation addressed Financial Literacy for Women and the Role of Financial Education. She is a contributing author to The Experience of Leadership – Proven Examples from Successful Leaders, by Fred Stuvek, Jr.

Dr. Barbera is a member of Life Happens, FINSECA, and DPC Speakers Bureaus and has addressed thousands of financial services professionals, both domestically and internationally. She has been featured in Forbes.com, California Broker, FA Magazine, GAMA International Journal, National Underwriter, Life Health Pro, Advisor Today, The Wall Street Journal, Business Wire, Yahoo Finance, MarketWatch, The Wealth Channel, World News, International Business Times, GAMA’s “Best Ideas” series, Orange County Register, The Buffalo News, Financial Planning, Investment News, Insurance News Net Magazine, Find Bob, and KPPC and KNX Radio in Los Angeles