BetterInvesting Names Wayne A. Thorp as New CEO to Lead Next Phase of Investor Education Growth

September 18, 2025- BetterInvesting announced today that its Board of Directors has appointed Wayne A. Thorp, CFA, a longtime nonprofit financial services executive and individual investor, as the Company’s new Chief Executive Officer, effective September 22, 2025. Mr. Thorp succeeds Lindsey Bell, who is Chair of the Board and acted as interim CEO while the organization conducted its CEO search.

Mr. Thorp has over 25 years of experience in investment education, research, analysis, and product development, with a focus on educating and empowering individual investors. Mr. Thorp spent the majority of his career at the American Association of Individual Investors (AAII), advancing from analyst to his most recent role as Head of Research & Analysis, leaving an impact on hundreds of thousands of individual investors.

Lindsey Bell, Chair of the Board, said, “The Board welcomes Wayne to the leadership team and looks forward to working closely with him at this critical time. Wayne’s passion for education, his tremendous respect for our legacy, and his vision for the future will help us expand our mission and purpose to serve the interests of individual investors. BetterInvesting has an important future, and we believe Wayne is the best person for the job.”

On his appointment, Mr. Thorp commented, “It’s an honor to join BetterInvesting, an organization with a legacy of empowering individuals through investment education and community. As we move forward, my focus will be on expanding our reach to younger and more diverse investors, delivering greater value to our members, and ensuring BetterInvesting remains the nation’s premier investment education nonprofit in a rapidly evolving financial landscape. On a personal note, returning to my Michigan roots to lead this organization feels like coming full circle, and I’m deeply grateful for the opportunity to give back where my own journey began.”

Mr. Thorp joined AAII in 1997 and was promoted through the ranks to Vice President in 2013, before becoming Head of Research & Analysis in 2021. He was awarded the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation in 2002 and earned his Bachelor of Science in Finance from DePaul University. Mr. Thorp has been frequently quoted in The Wall Street Journal and MarketWatch, and is a Top-Performing Stock Strategy Contributor at Validea.com. Originally from Michigan, he resides in the rural suburbs of Chicago with his partner, Kelly. Outside of work, he enjoys reading history and fly-fishing.