Fernando Diaz serves as the Chief Financial Product Officer for Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs. Under this role, he leads the teams overseeing the Secure Choice Retirement Savings Program, the ABLE Program (Achieving a Better Life Experience), and the 529 College Savings Programs: Bright Start and Bright Directions.

Prior to joining the Office of the Illinois State Treasurer, Fernando spent over 10 years in higher education; specifically focusing on Enrollment Management and Student Affairs initiatives.

Born in Chicago, he grew up in the Little Village and East Side neighborhoods.  He is a proud alumnus of the Chicago Public Schools system.  He completed his bachelor’s in Political Science and master’s in Educational Leadership and Administration with a concentration in Higher Education Administration from Chicago State University.  He also earned an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

Fernando currently lives in the Bronzeville neighborhood in Chicago with his wife and two teenage children.  When he is not helping people work on their financial independence, he is coaching a youth soccer club.