Complaint Review: Frank Parks and The Future Investor Clubs of America - New York New York

Kevin have been going around on the internet erroneously and making false complains about our outstanding camp because we denied him a refund after their kids Jesse and Cody graduated from the FICACAMP.  Bottom line these parents wanted to try and get an undeserved Free Camp and we said no because it violated our Terms of Service Agreement.  

The video below of their kids Jessie and Cody who 100%  completed the camp, graduated and received their Certificate of Completion.  Both providing a positive testimonial about how much they learned and enjoyed the camp. 

Below is the link to their video for you to watch the Youtube Video of Jesse and Cody saying good things about the FICACAMP see for yourself.

https://youtu.be/WurqfDnZ2-0

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www.ficacamps.com

Folks,

If  you are considering Frank Parks FICA camp.  Read the above.  We had a dis-organized, unprofessional experience.  We documented it here.

You can see just how un-hinged this man is by the volume of his crazy response.  He accuses us, a typical American family, of going on a Holy war to crucify him.  He says we started a Jihad against him...! Again, read our statement and his response.  He made up all sorts of statements from my son having some serious stomach virus requiring medical attention to comments from his staff stating my kids were receiving texts all day from me. Simply, untrue. Again, his staff are his family, his kids, who were bored and staring at their own phones according to my very responsible, honest kids.  The level of exaggeration and volume of his rant is dangerous.  He shouldn't be driving kids around in a van in my opinion.

My kids went with an open mind, found the guy to be a BS artist who would pose kids and video tape kids while prompting them to say something positive about himself and the experience.  As opposed to his statement that 99% love his camp, we had other families here in NYC  who also found him to be flim flam man...If it smells like 3 day old fish, it probably is.  Learn from our families experience.  Again, buyer beware.

Kevin McKiernan

FICACAMPS, DELIVERED 100% of the Services and Training paid for by Valerie Carnevale-Kevin McKiernan.  Therefore, we rightfully denied their request for a FREE CAMP and Refund per our Terms of Services Agreement.  Because of our refund denial; they threaten our business and made numerous false accusations to try and justify their erroneous position.  Their kids participated in ALL the FICACAMPS training sessions, several field trips and both scored 82% competency on the final exam.  Both students graduated and received their Certificates of Completion. 

Below is very detail outline of our position and experience in dealing with this family.  See Below.

FICACAMPS explained to this family that we had delivered 100% of the subscribe services, plus endured their daily religious complaining. So, their response was to declare Jihad and a Holy War.  It was sent to us via email by Kevin and Valerie:

Once the camp was completed we received an email with the following from Kevin and Valerie;

 "Please be advised. We require a full refund our any fees paid to you for the participation of Jesse & Cody McKiernan. We will instigate legal proceedings along with developing an accurate series of YouTube videos we will publish and promote in which both boys share their experience of Frank Parks and FICA camp and we will be reporting your business to the Better Business Bureau and the New York Consumer Affairs Department. We will also re-visit both Universities to alert them of this action."

Ridiculous and Shameful!

Frank Parks FICACAMPS-Re: Valerie Carnevale-Kevin McKiernan.  The following is a factual detailed analysis of the FICACAMP NY program held July 24th-28th, 2017:

Monday Day 1. Training: Dream Plan Design and Financial Terminology Valerie Carnevale, Kevin McKiernan, Jesse McKiernan and Cody McKiernan are all from the same family that has Declared Jihad and Holy War against Future Investor Clubs of America, Frank Parks and FICACAMPS a good American company and project that helped thousands of students increase their financial education. This all started the first day of class when their kids showed up and discovered that their FICA Certified instructor was an African American male. Right after that, the phone calls started coming in from Kevin complaining. Lunch that day was at the Cheesecake Factory https://www.thecheesecakefactory.com; which is noted on our website as the type of luncheon establishments we visit. Kevin didn't like it and asked why we are going to sit down restaurants instead of a Deli type food establishment.

The instructor explained, that "parents don't send their kids to our programs for them to get deli meals and that those places in NY are crazy packed during lunch. Plus, our lunches are also designed to be an etiquette teachable moment and classmate networking experience. It works." Kevin would text his kids and have them ask the instructor questions throughout the entire day about the training. Normally kids have questions, but they would say my dad wants me to ask you a specific question about asset allocation.

This was designed by Kevin to test the knowledge of a 25-year veteran former financial advisor/instructor. In other words, even though FICACAMPS had been providing this training for 20 years and the curriculum was fully displayed at (http://www.ficacamps.com/curriculum.html); they were planning to cause a problem about every little thing. They did. Our field trips that day were to Columbia and New York Universities two prestigious institutions. We have visited and toured these campuses for 20 years; they know us without incident. In addition to touring part of the campus, students visited the business schools; and gathered considerable information to carry with them to their parents. They (Valerie Carnevale-Kevin McKiernan); complained we were only at each school location for 5 minutes and that we visited only the libraries. Ridiculous.

We were in fact at each campus location for approximately 45 minutes-1 Hour. Each business school library had over 100 plus students studying during the summer at each university. That was a great learning experience, but not for these parents. They complained about the kids visiting the college library. There was a total of six kids in that class including theirs. We only take up to 12 students per class during the summer sessions. Smaller classes allow us to give students individualized attention because the curriculum is very comprehensive.  

An overwhelming majority 99% of parents and students love that about our camps. (https://youtu.be/nQs79xSTVjY). Not these parents; they complained we should have more students. Several students registered for that week switched to another week because of a conflict. That’s allowed. Regardless, we don't cancel the camps if we have five or more students; our company showed up and delivered the services as subscribed. These were the only two parents during the entire summer camp season religiously causing issues every single day of the camp.

Tuesday Day 2. Training: Insurance and Banking-Financial Planning The following days only got worse. We have a set BFIT curriculum (http://www.ficacamps.com/curriculum.html ) that must be strictly followed if the kids are to pass their exam at the end of the week. Kevin sent in his own curriculum that he found on the Internet. Our instructor explained that we can't use random curriculum or documents. For lunch we went to Eataly (https://www.eataly.com ); they complained about the menu and cost when each parent is told to send their kids with $20.00 daily to cover meals and tip. Many of our students come from many different cities and countries. We provide positive classroom learning, lunch, tours and field trip experiences to all our students. Regardless of parentage and have done so for 20 years. Thousands of our parents and student’s testimonials, pictures and videos bare out these facts (https://youtu.be/sW0BDyz6VF). We explained to Kevin that it works, and it didn't matter; because he had a hidden agenda. See below.

They complained about our adult staff, calling them kids; Tech Support Age 31-year-old Male and Social Media Specialist Age 23-year-old Female. Complaining about phone usage. We reasonably try to limit phone activity during lunch time, but it is lunch time, that’s normal. We also understand that parents are reaching out to their kids as did Kevin and Valerie. They text their kids every 10 minutes even during class time. During class time we strictly limit phones and texting. That afternoon the Financial Field Trips were to 3 Banks; Citibank, TD Bank and Chase. The students met and talked to the branch Executives. Great learning experience right. Not for these parents, they (Valerie Carnevale-Kevin McKiernan) complained we were only there for 5 minutes and talked to tellers. In fact, we visited each bank for 30-40 min and spoke with management. More than enough time for the kids to learn about that banks history, products, services and career/internship opportunities. Plus ask questions. This is a basic learning class, so the field trip experiences fit that training level. Again, that was the perfect chance for them to just leave the camp program.

They did not do it but kept up the daily complaining.

Wednesday Day 3. Investment Terminology and Investing in Stocks Here we go again. Cody and Jesse show up again after two solid days of camp training, lunches and field trips. Their classmates are learning and enjoying their experiences. Each morning students are asked to share what they learned during class, lunch and field trips. The other kids talked about their entire prior day experience and loved it. However, Jesse and Cody stated that they no longer wanted to participate in lunch or the afternoon field trips with their classmates. Our corporate response was failure to participate in all training and activities would end their class participation. In addition, you will not receive a Certificate of Completion. It’s like regular school you don't participate in all mandated training and activities you don't graduate.

They contacted Kevin and Valerie and was told to continue in the class training and to participate.  So, we thought. Lunch was held at the world-famous Juniors at Time Square (https://www.juniorscheesecake.com/blog/restaurants/times-square/). What happened that afternoon was disrespectful.  

For the Financial Field Trip students visited Charles Schwab and Fidelity Investment Brokerages that afternoon. Cody the youngest son of Kevin and Valerie suddenly declared a Medical Emergency; complaining about a leg injury and therefore both he and his brother Jesse needed to leave the camp early and not participate in the field trip. They complained that the walking to the field trip locations was aggravating his injury. We let them leave so that we could provide the experience for the other students; as we should have (youtube.com/watch?v=cS26_lVO2yc).

Thursday Day 4. Investing in Stocks, Annuities, Bonds and Mutual Funds: This training day was once again with issues surrounding this family and students. Each week during the training session we host a training directly on Wall Street. Located at 60 Wall Street, Atrium (https://www.pinterest.com/pin/213639576048295138/) building which is less than half a block from the front of NYSE. It's also a tourist attraction. All meals and field trips that day is on Wall Street. Once the class got going, Cody, declared another Medical Emergency complaining of having a serious stomach virus and needed to use the restroom. He was given permission to go promptly to the restroom and class continued. This happen 3 times within the first hour. So, the instructor advised his brother that maybe he should get some Pepto Bismol to help. Jessie, stated that he did not have enough money....

The instructor, reached in his pocket and gave Jesse $10.00 to go across the street to the Duane Reade Pharmacy. He returned with the medication. Once Cody took the medication he said that he felt better. We took him at his word that this was a legitimate medical issue. This training location takes the students out to the conference/classroom and places them right on Wall Street. Awesome experience right, the training is provided in more of an open environment. The kids loved it. But not Kevin and Valerie, they complained that the open location on Wall Street with the students seating at tables going through the curriculum was horrible and no training occurred at all. Pure fiction.

Pizza Working. Lunch was sponsored by FICACAMPS and held at the 60 Wall Street, Atrium Building location. It was a working lunch to make sure we were caught up on all the curriculum because the FICA BFIT exam would be the following day on Friday.

The Financial Field Trip for that day was held at the American Museum of Finance, 48 Wall Street (https://www.moaf.org) and Federalist Hall 55 Wall Street(https://www.nps.gov/feha/index.htm), all students participated in these awesome field trips and learning experiences including both Cody and Jesse. You would think that finally these parents saw the light. No of course not, both Kevin and Valerie complained about the camp location, field trips and never said thanks for buying their kids some medication. Just made the staff wonder ....

Friday Day 5. Training: Online Trading and Financial Web-Sites, Career and Credit Management, and Starting an Investment Club: Last day of camp! Despite the constant issues with parents Kevin and Valerie, both Cody and Jesse had responded well during the class training; when allowed to just concentrate on learning the training without parental distractions. This was evident by their passing of the BFIT Examination. As a matter of fact, all camp participants passed their exams. Cody and Jesse both. respectively scored an 82% competency rating earning their Certificate of Completion.

Both Cody and Jessie both stated on video just how much they enjoyed the camp and how much they learned. Much to the displeasure of their parents Kevin and Valerie. So, what did the parents do as punishment for Cody and Jesse; they made both kids record videos denouncing the FICACAMPS, Frank Parks and Future Investor Clubs of America and posted it on YOUTUBE along with their own. Finally, in conclusion:

What was this all about? Kevin and Valerie Wanted a Free Camp and ask for a Refund after their kid’s graduation and Certificates of Completion were delivered. You may ask why these parents Kevin and Valerie did all this petty complaining day after day even when seeing all the Training, Lunches and Financial Field Trip experiences. The fact is that Kevin and Valerie Wanted a FREE CAMP and ask for a Refund after Graduation and the Certificates of Completions were delivered. They said that they would declare Jihad and Holy War against our company if we didn't honor their request. FICA sent a detail corporate response to answer each one of their complaints and referred them to our Terms of Service Agreement. We also recommended that they search their spam folder for any other information sent to them by us that may have be blocked by their Internet service provider. Their response was to Declare Jihad and a Holy War against our company. A company that provided their kids all that financial training that they lacked; like most American students. If they didn't need the training, then why would they have registered them for the camp.

FICA explained that we delivered 100% of the subscribe services, plus endured their daily religious complaining. Jihad and Holy War Declaration sent by Kevin and Valerie: Once the camp was completed we received an email with the following from Kevin and Valerie; "Please be advised. We require a full refund our any fees paid to you for the participation of Jesse & Cody McKiernan. We will instigate legal proceedings along with developing an accurate series of YouTube videos we will publish and promote in which both boys share their experience of Frank Parks and FICA camp and we will be reporting your business to the Better Business Bureau and the New York Consumer Affairs Department. We will also re-visit both Universities to alert them of this action."

Amazing, where do these people come from this is un-American!

FICA's Corporate Response:

This in part was sent to Kevin and Valerie to address their declaration: "Regardless, based on the Absolute Undeniable and Indisputable Provable Facts that your students participated in 100% of the July 24th-28th New York FICA Young Investors Wall Street BFIT summer camp training program, attended multiple Financial Field Trips events and Business lunches; as well as successfully completed/passed the BFIT Examination and thereby earning and receiving BFIT Certificates of Completions.

Therefore, as per our Terms of Service Agreement (http://www.ficacamps.com/terms.html) you are Not Eligible for a Refund, discount or any other financial consideration. Our position is that ALL services were 100% delivered as outlined below in our online and emailed descriptions of the program." Frank Parks-FICACAMPS