Derek R. Lawson, Ph.D., CFP®, assumes a key volunteer editorial role with the Journal effective immediately.
DENVER (January 11, 2024) – The Financial Planning Association® (FPA®), the leading membership organization and trade association for CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professionals, is pleased to announce that Derek R. Lawson, Ph.D., CFP®, will serve as the new volunteer academic editor of the award-winning, peer-reviewed Journal of Financial Planning. Lawson's new role is for two years and is effective immediately.
For nearly 45 years, the Journal of Financial Planning has been published monthly. It focuses on expanding the body of knowledge in the financial planning profession. Launched in 1979, the Journal features thought-provoking articles, interviews, columns, and peer-reviewed technical contributions that benefit financial planners and their work.
As academic editor, Lawson will serve as an important member of the Journal of Financial Planning's advisory team by supporting the efforts of the Journal editorial staff and peer reviewers by participating in desk reviews of research submissions.
"Derek has been a valued member of the Association and the financial planning and academic communities where he has helped shape today’s students who will be the financial planners of tomorrow," said Patrick D. Mahoney, FPA chief executive officer. "He has personally contributed to the Journal’s outstanding thought leadership over the years through writing and research. I know his background and passion for research and teaching will further position the Journal as an indispensable resource for financial planning practitioners."
Lawson is an assistant professor and undergraduate program director for the Department of Personal Financial Planning at Kansas State University. He is also a partner and chief compliance officer at Priority Financial Partners in Durango, Colo.
His academic research is practitioner-focused, allowing him to combine his past and present experience as a financial planner with his research interests. Lawson's research focuses on relationship dynamics, physiological stressors, financial anxiety, behavioral finance, and consumption decisions, primarily focusing on younger adults not near retirement. His work has been published in the Journal of Financial Planning, Journal of Financial Counseling and Planning, Financial Services Review, Journal of Financial Therapy, among others. One of his research pieces, "Integrating Behavioral Finance, Financial Psychology, and Financial Therapy Theory and Techniques into the Financial Planning Process," was recognized by the Journal of Financial Planning with the 2018 Montgomery-Warschauer Award.
“I am very excited to have been appointed academic editor of the Journal of Financial Planning. This Journal has been pivotal in my endeavor to bridge the gap between research and practice, a primary reason for leaving practice full-time and pursuing a research degree and academic position,” said Derek R. Lawson, Ph.D., CFP®. “Now, I look forward to being on this end of the spectrum, helping the Journal to review and evaluate the articles that will continue to bridge this gap to push our profession forward.”
Lawson has previously served as secretary for FPA NexGen, director of NexGen for FPA of Greater Kansas City, treasurer of the Financial Therapy Association, among other volunteer roles.
"Derek is a respected researcher and educator. We're thrilled to work with him on the Journal's efforts to bring groundbreaking and actionable research to financial planning professionals,” adds Danielle Andrus, Journal of Financial Planning editor.
Lawson follows Inga Timmerman, Ph.D., CFP®, who has been academic editor since December 2021.
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About the Financial Planning Association
The Financial Planning Association® (FPA®) is the leading membership organization for CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERTM professionals and those engaged in the financial planning process. FPA is the CFP® professional’s partner in planning by helping them realize their vision of professional fulfillment through practice support, learning, advocacy, and networking. Learn more about FPA at financialplanningassociation.org and on Twitter at twitter.com/fpassociation.
About the Journal of Financial Planning
First published in 1979, the mission of the Journal of Financial Planning is to expand the body of knowledge in the financial planning profession. With monthly feature articles, interviews, columns, and peer-reviewed technical contributions, the Journal's content is dynamic, innovative, thought-provoking, and directly beneficial to financial planners in their work. Learn more at www.fpajournal.org.