Whether you are planning for college, saving for retirement or dealing with debt, financial planners help you navigate your finances. They create a plan to meet your short- and long-term goals, reduce stress and prepare for the future.
The Financial Planning Association is a professional organization for financial planners that promotes education and professional ethics in the field. It also helps clients find qualified planners in their area.
Education
A financial planning association provides a variety of educational opportunities to its members, including webinars, seminars, conferences and other events. The association also offers its members discounts on tools and resources that can help them run their business more effectively.
A large part of the education provided by a financial planning association is related to professional ethics and best practices. This includes the ability to provide ethical and thorough advice to clients, disclosure of potential conflicts of interest, and other best practices that protect both the planner and the client.
The association also publishes and maintains a code of ethics that guides the behavior of financial planners in order to ensure their continued competency. This code is based on the concepts of integrity, objectivity, competence, confidentiality, fairness and professionalism.
In addition to promoting the education of its members. The association also helps educate the public about the importance of financial planning.
There are many different types of financial planning education available to members, including certificate programs and specialized certifications. The Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) program is one of the most popular and widely recognized, and it covers a wide range of financial planning topics, from investments and retirement to taxation and estate planning.
Similarly, the American College’s Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC) program is a valuable credential for financial planning professionals who want to enhance their skills and expand their knowledge base. It is also one of the most recognized and respected designations in the industry, and it has become increasingly relevant to corporate finance professionals.
Finally, the Psychology of Financial Planning Specialist Badge Program is a great way to learn more about the psychological aspects of financial planning and how to better engage clients.
In addition to providing the most advanced tools for its members, the association also advocates for policies that elevate and strengthen the financial planning profession.
Professional Ethics
Professional ethics are codes of conduct that define the standards of behavior that members of a profession should abide by.
Ethical standards in a profession are important, since they help maintain the reputation of that profession. A professional who does not abide by the ethics set out in his or her code may find themselves disbarred or lose their license to work within their profession.
The primary purpose of a code of ethics is to promote ethical decision-making by members of the profession. In addition, it helps the public identify a professional as reliable and trustworthy, and it may help protect members of the public from unethical behavior by other professionals.
In general, the most important ethical principles for all professions are honesty, trustworthiness and accountability. These ethics are essential to ensure that all people who work in these fields are following the same rules and avoiding harming any person.
These principles are the core of a professional’s duty to his or her clients, colleagues and the public at large. They are based on a foundation of philosophical and, in some cases, religious beliefs.
The Financial Planning Association (FPA) is a nonprofit organization that serves the financial planning community by offering a range of resources and education to its members. In addition to continuing education, the FPA publishes and maintains a professional code of ethics that members must adhere to in their dealings with the public.
Online Search Tool
There’s no shortage of financial planning associations vying for your business. However, FPA stands apart from the pack with a well-rounded lineup of resources spanning the gamut from industry leading consultants and top-notch education providers to exclusive member only discounts on high-tech software, hardware and insurance. In addition, FPA’s eponymous chapter boasts some of the nation’s most active and dedicated members with an array of philanthropic activities. This is a great way to network and learn from your peers.
The aforementioned association’s award-winning marketing department will also assist you in honing your game plan by providing you with the latest and greatest marketing strategies, tips and tricks. This is a win-win situation for you and your clients. This is a cost-effective way to stay one step ahead of the competition and keep your business thriving.
Membership
Whether you are just starting out in the financial planning profession or have been in the business for decades, the Financial Planning Association offers benefits designed to help you grow your practice and advance your career. Among the benefits of membership are professional development opportunities, access to top-notch publications, networking with fellow planners, and tools for building your brand and protecting yourself against liability.
Our public relations initiatives, including the FPA website, brochures and a national television ad campaign, help to educate consumers about the importance of planning their financial futures.
The Financial Planning Association provides support for the continuing education of its members through a variety of resources, including a free subscription to the Journal of Financial Planning magazine and six complimentary webinars each year for CFPTM professional members. Keeping up with the latest research and developments in your field is essential for growing your practice.
FPA also gives its members a powerful voice on issues that affect the profession through the political action committee (FPA-PAC), a registered PAC on Capitol Hill that represents the interests of FPA members and the financial planning industry. The FPA Job Board and PlannerSearch(r) are important career-building tools that connect you with a wide variety of potential employers, while the MediaSource section of the FPA Web site allows you to post your resume and gain access to a wealth of media coverage on topics affecting the financial planning industry.
