Working to Elevate Financial Planner Competency, Voices, and Visibility
This year, we are honored to celebrate a remarkable milestone: the 25th anniversary of the merger between the International Association for Financial Planning (IAFP) and the Institute of Certified Financial Planners (ICFP) that resulted in the formation of the Financial Planning Association. As we celebrate the progress we’ve made as an Association, we’re also raising a bold flag for the future with the launch of the FPA® Competency Model™.
The FPA Competency Model is a powerful new framework that supports every planner, no matter their career stage. It’s intentionally focused on the behaviors and interpersonal skills that define excellence in financial planning — the traits that drive connection, leadership, and real-world impact.
This model doesn’t just acknowledge technical proficiency; it emphasizes the human side of planning — how we show up, how we lead, how we think, and how we care for our clients and communities.
The FPA Board of Directors approved the launch of a Competency Model Task Force, comprising practitioners and academics representing a wide range of experiences and backgrounds, who conducted interviews, held focus groups, and reviewed data. What resulted was a framework rooted in six core behavioral domains: interpersonal impact, professionalism, leadership, critical thinking, client communication and care, and advancing the financial planning profession.
We have launched a dedicated landing page with additional information, and a full rollout is scheduled to take place this summer. You'll have access to a self-guided assessment that'll help you better understand your current strengths and areas for growth. What’s even better is that we’re aligning all FPA’s content — from the Journal of Financial Planning to on-demand learning, live webinars, conferences, and more — to the Competency Model, so you can see exactly how the content provided through your membership aligns with areas of focus.
The FPA Competency Model will equip you with the tools to lead with purpose and impact for the next 25 years and beyond. Stay tuned; there’s much more to come.
Refreshing FPA® MediaSource™
One of FPA’s ongoing priorities is helping our members elevate their voices and showcase their expertise to the public. That’s why I’m excited to share some important updates we’re making to FPA MediaSource, our automated media platform that connects participating members with journalists. More than 9,200 journalist queries have been sent to FPA members since inception!
In the coming weeks, we will reveal a fresh new look and feel that is modern, intuitive, and designed to enhance the overall user experience for both members and journalists. But beyond design, we’re adding functionality that reflects the needs of our community. Participating members will be able to access and review their past submissions, which is a helpful improvement for compliance tracking and personal reference for upcoming interviews.
These updates are just the beginning as we continue to strengthen FPA MediaSource as a key member benefit and a powerful tool to amplify the voice of financial planners.
Updating FPA PlannerSearch™
In support of our mission to elevate the profession and connect financial planners with those who need them most, work is well underway to update and improve FPA PlannerSearch—our consumer-facing tool that helps them find and engage with CFP® professional members of FPA.
FPA PlannerSearch showcases the value of financial planning and connects qualified professionals with those seeking trusted guidance. In this next iteration, we’re streamlining the user experience to make it easier than ever for consumers to search, find, and contact planners. The updated site will feature a cleaner, simplified design, with a stronger emphasis on the search function, which is the primary reason people visit the site.
These enhancements, along with integrated lead generation and some behind-the-scenes improvements, will help strengthen the connection between planners and the public while reinforcing the visibility and credibility of our CFP® professional members. We’re targeting a late summer or early fall relaunch and look forward to sharing more details soon.
As I mentioned in the CEO Update last quarter, these are just a few examples of the work we are doing to bring the Association’s long-term strategic plan to life. Our team is committed to the vision embraced by the FPA Board of Directors and will continue its efforts to help you realize maximum value in your membership.
In case you missed it.
- We were delighted to announce the availability of the 2024 Annual Report of the Financial Planning Association at the "State of FPA" Virtual Member Update on June 25. The report is a recap of the Association's effort last year to serve the needs of our members and further advance the financial planning profession. As is always the case, the report comes out in the summer to follow the completion of the preceding year's audited financial statements.
- FPA NexGen Gathering 2025 will be held August 26-28 at the Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista! This one-of-a-kind event is designed by and for the next generation of financial planners, and we are delighted to say that the event has officially sold out! That is a testament to the passion of our NexGen community and the outstanding impact that Gathering has been having on attendees. If you're attending, I look forward to seeing you there!
- Speaking of events, don’t miss FPA Annual Conference 2025, November 3-5 in Las Vegas! This is where financial planners come together to connect, collaborate, and shape what’s next. And with FPA’s 25th anniversary, we expect it to be quite the party! Register by July 28 to take advantage of early-bird pricing!
- We were proud to announce that we renewed our partnership with Dr. Brad Klontz, CFP®, and Dr. Charles Chaffin, to continue providing you access to the Psychology of Financial Planning Specialist™ program. This 9-hour program qualifies for nine CFP® CE credits and provides financial planners with a structured approach to understanding client behaviors, money beliefs, and communication strategies.
- We also announced the availability of the newly updated Cybersecurity for Financial Planners Certificate Program, developed in partnership with FCI and Buckler. Through this self-paced, six-module course, you’ll earn 3.5 CFP® CE credits while strengthening your firm’s compliance and resilience.
As I conclude, I want to personally thank everyone who played a role in bringing the IAFP and ICFP together to create FPA 25 years ago. Their leadership and vision were instrumental in making FPA a reality. I’m grateful for all that has been accomplished over the past 25 years and am excited about what’s in store for our Association in the next 25 years.
Thank you for making FPA your professional home and allowing us to be your partner in planning.
Sincerely,
