About AFS

Our Mission

AFS continues to focus on building value for its members through seminars addressing today’s relevant issues and exclusive meetings with business and industry leaders. Our members are interested in pursuing career and business opportunities related to finance and the Asian business markets. In addition, the diverse backgrounds and business directives of AFS members bring a rich blend of experiences and interests together from which many international and intercultural business and professional advancements are made possible. As of our latest tally, in 2013, AFS has more than 4,000 listed members.

The founding of the Asian Financial Society (AFS) was buoyed by the second wave of new Chinese immigrants with higher education and better assimilation into US society starting in the 1970’s. Incorporated in 1984, AFS’s membership and activities has ebbed and flowed with the tides of history.

The 1997 Asian Financial Crisis slowed down AFS’s activities. As part of the revitalization effort, AFS initiated several Special Interest Groups in the late 90’s: Trading SIG, Investment SIG, Real Estate SIG, Enterpreneurship SIG, Risk Management SIG, and the China Business SIG. The idea was to coordinate the talents and creative energies of the membership by sponsoring smaller, more focused meetings. These SIG generated varying levels of excitements and longevity. The China Business SIG and the Investment SIG continue to grow to be pillars of the organization today. Since 2004, however, a third wave of students and professionals from China have injected new energy to revitalize the organization.

AFS Organization Structure

Learn more about AFS through our organization structure charts

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AFS Mission Statement

The Asian Financial Society (AFS) is dedicated to advancing the financial careers of our members through excellence in networking, education, and mentoring. As a distinguished 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, we unite professionals, thought leaders, and innovators in the financial sector to foster collaboration, share knowledge, and drive impactful changes. We benefit from the experience, leadership and wisdom of our organization’s pioneers who are trailblazers in the business world and inspire the next generation of financial executives to reach for ever-higher successes.

The following points further amplify our believes:

Fostering Connections: We serve as a pivotal platform for professionals in the Asian financial community to forge meaningful connections, facilitating collaborations that drive progress, innovation, and mutual success. We endeavor to help members develop personal relationships with other professionals, and to help each other.
Empowering Education: Through a robust array of educational initiatives, we equip our members with innovative knowledge, insights, and skills necessary to navigate the dynamic and evolving financial landscape.
Mentoring Younger Professionals: Assist the next generation of financial executives to overcome obstacles and accelerate their progress to success through formal programs and informal discussions.
Showcasing Excellence: We curate premier conferences and events that spotlight the latest trends, technologies, and best practices in finance, creating spaces for idea exchange and industry recognition.
Promoting Diversity and Inclusion: We champion a diverse and inclusive financial community, recognizing that a plurality of perspectives leads to more innovative solutions and a stronger, more resilient industry.
Cultivating Ethical Practice: We uphold the highest standards of integrity, ethics, and professionalism, instilling a culture of responsibility and integrity within our membership.
Driving Social Impact: We leverage our collective expertise to address pressing financial challenges in U.S., Asia, and other areas of the world, contributing to the broader global community, working towards a more equitable and prosperous future for all.

By uniting our strengths, knowledge, and resources, the Asian Financial Society is committed to shaping a vibrant and resilient financial ecosystem in the U.S., Asia and beyond. Together, we lead, learn, and innovate for a brighter financial future.

Notable Speakers

Throughout this time, there have been luminaries who’ve shared their insights with us. Here is a partial list of notable speakers:

Charles Schumer, Senator, New York state Ernest Liu, Partner (retired), Goldman Sachs Oscar Tang, Chairman, Presidet & CEO, Reich & Tang Sir Q.W. Lee, CBE, JP, FCIB, LLD, Chairman, Hang Seng Bank BJ Henry Tang, Founder, Committee of 100 David Chu, Founder, Nautica James Lebenthal, Chairman, Lebenthal & Co. Andrew Silberstein, COO, Moergan Realty Professor Thomas Ho, creator of Ho-Lee interest rate framework Savio Tung, Sr. Partner, Investcorp. Shang Ming, former deputy governor of People’ Bank of China Samson Wong, President, Beacon Capital Management Michael Chu, CFO of Pace Industries, Inc. Leonard Wang, Esq. Branch chief. Div of enforcement, SEC Ted Shen, Chairman of Capital Markets Group of DLJ Roderick Chu, Partner, Andersen & Co. Former Commissioner of Taxation and Finance of NYS Victor Fung, Chairman & CEO, Prudential Asian Capital Ltd. Charles Wang, Founder of Computer Associates Lilia C. Clemente, Chairman & CEo, Clemente Capital, Inc. Mee Seen Loong, Co-Director, Chinese Departmen, VP Sotheby. Alair Townsend, Publisher, Crain’s NY Business Xinhua Wu, CFO, China Pharma Holdings, Inc. Dr. David Zhou, Chairman, American Union Securities, Inc.. Donghai Yu, CFO, China Carbon Graphite Group Chou Weimin, Deputy Director General, Beijing Investment Promotion Bureau Yang Shujian, Board secretary, Bank of Beijing Liu Xiuchen, Deputy General Manager, Corporate Banking Hua Xia Bank Yu Yuan Deputy General Manager International Business, Beijing Rural Commercial Bank

Join AFS

Experienced members are invited to become an AFS Premium Member. AFS Premium Members have access to discounts to all AFS events and invitations to exclusive events open only to Premium members. Such events include small scale meetings with influential thought leaders and senior leadership designed to allow for more intimate interactions with industry leaders.

Premium Members are expected to have a certain level of experience so that they will be able to contribute knowledge and expertise at a professional level. Detailed qualifications and application process can be found here. The annual membership dues is $100. Renewing premium members dues is $80.

More than a few AFS Presidents and members have moved on to substantive achievements on their own:

Noland Cheng
MD, Morgan Stanley
SIFMA Operations Committee
Previously EVP & Chief Operating Officer, US Trust

Thierry Ho
Managing Director, Lightyear Capital, Lightyear Investment Committee.
Previously, VP of Strategic eFinance in the Office of the Chairman, Paine Webber

Cheryl Lobell
VP, Colgate-Asia Pacific

Eugenie Shen
General Counsel, AIG Investments Asia ex Japan
Previously Assistant Director at HK Stock Exchange

Fred S. Teng
Chief Executive Officer News China China Newsweek Corporation

Board Members

AFS is chartered as a (501)(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation in the State of New York. It is supervised and operated by the Board of Directors elected on an annual basis. The Board is composed of Board officers (Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary General and Treasurer) and other board members.