News Release

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (January 23, 2015) – BestPrep, a Minnesota-based nonprofit, will honor RBC Wealth Management-U.S. on Saturday, Jan. 24 with its prestigious Humanitarian Award, recognizing the company’s commitment to educating Minnesota students about business, career, and financial literacy skills, and to supporting BestPrep programming. The award will be presented to RBC Wealth Management at the annual Birdies for BestPrep fundraising event at the International Market Square in Minneapolis.

In 1991, RBC Wealth Management became one of three founding members who brought the Securities Industry and Financial Market Association’s (SIMFA) The Stock Market GameTM (SMG) to Minnesota under BestPrep’s operation. A dynamic program with a national reputation for its educational excellence, The SMG is an online simulation in which student teams in grades 4-12 invest a virtual $100,000 in stocks and mutual funds. While participating, students increase their knowledge of the American economy while learning about current events, saving, investing, and the business world.

Over the past 24 years, RBC Wealth Management has provided consistent financial and volunteer support for The SMG, enabling more than 350,000 Minnesota students to participate and practice critical real-world skills required for success in work and life, including research, teamwork, and decision-making. The firm has been instrumental in making The SMG one of BestPrep’s strongest programs, which has won the top Stock Market Game national award for excellence twice.

”RBC Wealth Management is honored to receive this award from BestPrep, a valued community partner of ours for more than 35 years,” said John Taft, CEO of RBC Wealth Management-US. “BestPrep and its many programs, including The Stock Market Game, help to educate Minnesota’s students and prepare them for a lifetime of success. Investing in our communities is an important value of RBC Wealth Management, and BestPrep embodies that ideal.”

RBC Wealth Management has also played a major role over the last 30 years in the development and success of other BestPrep educational programs and events, including the Educational Forum and eMentors, BestPrep’s fastest-growing program. Across the state, eMentors has reached 22,500 students since it was created in 2011, and provides guidance and encouragement as students work to prepare for college. More than 150 RBC Wealth Management employee volunteers have already mentored high school students, and will continue to do so in the coming year.

“We are indebted to RBC Wealth Management for their long-term commitment to educating Minnesota students. There are literally thousands of students who are now more prepared for success because of the firm’s involvement in our programs. We are delighted to recognize their commitment with the Humanitarian of the Year Award,” said BestPrep President and CEO, Bob Kaitz. 

BestPrep is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preparing students with business, career and financial literacy skills through hands-on experiences that inspire success in work and life. BestPrep offers six innovative programs including: Classroom Plus, eMentors, Financial Matters, Minnesota Business Venture, The Stock Market Game™, and the Technology Integration Workshop. For more information visit www.bestprep.org.

About RBC Wealth Management – U.S.
In the United States, RBC Wealth Management operates as a division of RBC Capital Markets, LLC. Founded in 1909, RBC Capital Markets, LLC. is a member of the New York Stock Exchange, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, the Securities Investor Protection Corporation, and other major securities exchanges. RBC Wealth Management has more than $281 billion of assets under administration and nearly 2,000 financial advisors operating in 200 locations in 41 states.

For more information, please contact:
Jonell Lundquist, RBC Wealth Management:
612-371-2239 or jonell.lundquist@rbc.com

Important disclosure information about Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) and RBC Capital Markets, LLC