FPA in Conversation with CFP Board on Disciplinary Board Decisions
In response to last week’s resignations of volunteers from CFP Board of Standard’s Disciplinary and Ethics Commission (DEC), FPA President Mark Johannessen, CFP® said FPA had held informal discussions with CFP Board leadership over the incident. He said he and other FPA volunteer leaders had been assured that the integrity of the review process would not be impaired by the resignations of five members of the commission, which reviews ethics complaints against CFP® certificants.

"We respect the CFP Board of Directors' charge to make governance changes to fulfill the mission of the organization and serve the public interest,” said Johannessen. “We also understand that CFP® certificants are concerned about the impact of the decision to delegate oversight of the DEC to staff leadership. We will continue to engage in conversations with CFP Board leadership to be certain that the ethics and disciplinary process of CFP Board is constructive, meaningful and serves the interests of all stakeholders."

FPA's President and CEO Meet with Washington Powerbrokers
FPA President Mark Johannessen, CFP®, and Executive Director/CEO Marvin W. Tuttle, Jr., CAE, last week met with Members of Congress along with officials in the Treasury and Labor Departments. Over the course of the week, they also conferred with representatives from AARP and SallieMae.

"Dedicating a week to these types of conversations, affords us an opportunity to advance FPA's initiatives and goals," said Johannessen, who lives and works in the Washington, D.C. suburbs. "As an example, one senior staffer for a Senate Committee asked us to give the committee suggestions for legislation its members will soon be considering and that, more than anything, demonstrates the value of meeting with these key decision-makers."

In addition to meeting with government and industry leaders, the pair also met with influential journalists from Kiplinger's Retirement Report, AARP Bulletin and Financial Advisor Magazine.

"By meeting with reporters on a face-to-face basis, we can establish a beneficial relationship that is difficult to achieve during a telephone conversation," said Tuttle. "We have a symbiotic relationship with both the consumer media and the trade press and so we have to always make certain these journalists hear our voice." Top»

FPA Provides Financial Education to Pharmacists
Through FPA’s partnership with the American Pharmacists Association™ (APhA), FPA presented an educational seminar on how to cope in uncertain times at the APhA Annual Meeting and Exposition on March 16 in San Diego, Calif.

FPA provided tips to recent graduates on how to best utilize their money and manage debt during a recession. Special thanks to FPA of San Diego member, Christopher Rand, CFP®, for representing FPA at this event. Top»

FPA Retreat 2008: Register by March 28 and Save $100!
The FPA Retreat 2008 early-bird registration deadline is fast approaching – don’t miss this opportunity to register for the conference that embraces the art and science of the financial planning profession!

The last day to register for FPA Retreat 2008 at the discounted rate of $1,045 is March 28. Retreat will take place May 31-June 4 at the Hyatt Regency Bonaventure Conference Center and Spa in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.

Retreat is a unique planner-focused meeting that includes traditions like Under the Trees and a welcome circle gathering, as well as educational sessions that draw parallels between financial planning and everything from aviation to dentistry, as well as more traditional sessions that explore insurance, retirement, estate planning, globalization and communication. Conversations are the key to Retreat. Hallway conversations are just as important as the dialogue generated from expert panel discussions and networking is historically one of the best benefits of attending Retreat.

If you would like to be part of the discussion that sets the direction for the financial planning profession, check out the full FPA Retreat 2008 program online at www.FPARetreat.org. Register before March 28 to save $100 off the full registration rate! Top»

FPA Business Solutions 2008 Multimedia CD-ROM Available
For the first time, FPA’s advanced business management conference was recorded and is now available for purchase in multimedia CD-ROM format.

FPA Business Solutions 2008 featured a comprehensive format that addressed all the top business management needs: sales and marketing, human resources management, compliance, technology and leadership. Hot-topic sessions included “Adviser Acceleration: How to Build a Business with Multiple Advisers,” “Compliance Subtleties: You’re the CCO… Now What?,” “Behind the Numbers: Understanding the Financial Dynamics in Your Firm” and “The Loyalty Factor: How Client Loyalty Drives Growth” – as well as many others.

If you missed the event, you didn't necessarily miss the education available. For the first time, this conference was recorded and is now available in multimedia CD-ROM format, which includes audio and PowerPoint presentations from all recorded sessions. The multimedia CD-ROM is only $299 for FPA members; single track recordings are also available. Order your copy today! Top»

Try Financial Planning Perspectives Free for Three Months
If you have never subscribed to FPA's Financial Planning Perspectives (FPPs), now is your chance to receive a three month trial subscription absolutely free when you act before May 31.

FPPs are a series of four financial planning articles sent directly to your e-mail each month. Written for consumers, you can use the articles on your Web site, in client handouts or send them directly to local media outlets.

Visit https://www.FPAnet.org/Products/FPP_Subscrip_Trial.cfm to get started with your free trial or call member services at 800.322.4237. You must be logged into your FPAnet.org account to access the online form.

A regular FPP subscription of 48 articles for 12 months is $99 for FPA members and $199 for nonmembers.

View a sample article here. Top»

FPA Career Center Mentioned In InvestmentNews
The task for employers to find the best talent and for that talent to find the best possible employer can be arduous. InvestmentNews recently ran a story on that topic in an article entitled, “New Service Connects Advisers with Buyers, Hires”, in which FPA Career Center was mentioned.

FPA Career Center, unlike other online job recruiting resources, allows employers access to the most qualified pool of candidates and job seekers will find numerous opportunities, all exclusively within the financial planning profession.

Start your job or employee search the right way with  FPA Career Center – the perfect meeting of employers and soon-to-be-employed! Top»

Heart of Financial Planning Distinguished Service Awards Seeking Nominations
FPA is seeking nominations for the 2008 FPA Heart of Financial Planning Distinguished Service Awards, presented at FPA Boston 2008, October 4-7.

Consider nominating an FPA individual member, a financial planning firm, an FPA chapter, a professional (e.g. attorney, CPA, professor, journalist) or any other organization or individual that you believe has done extraordinary work to contribute or give back to our financial planning community and/or the general public.

FPA is at the heart of financial planning connecting those who deliver, support and need financial planning. Nominees should embody the heart of financial planning and should also represent FPA’s core values of competence, integrity, relationships and stewardship.

The deadline for nominations is June 16, 2008. Nominations should be in the form of a one- to three-page letter describing why your nominee should be considered.

Send nominations to:
Heart of Financial Planning Distinguished Service Awards
Financial Planning Association
Suite 400
4100 E. Mississippi Ave.
Denver, CO 80246 Top»

Spreading the Word about the Profession
A panel of 12 CFP® professionals from FPA of Puget Sound responded to readers’ questions about retirement in The Seattle Times on March 10. The Seattle Times reaches more than 400,000 readers with their Sunday edition.

FPA’s PlannerSearch™ referral program was featured in the Chicago Tribune’s “Two Cents Worth” column on March 10. FPA of Illinois member Jeff Cribbs, CFP®, answered a reader’s question about Health Savings Accounts, and PlannerSearch™ was featured as a resource for finding a planner. The Chicago Tribune reaches more than 550,000 readers daily. Read the article.

FPA also distributed two news releases this week:

• Economics Approach to Financial Planning Improves on Conventional Planning, Contends Journal Author
• FPA Seeks Nominations for Heart of Financial Planning Distinguished Service Awards Top»

Standards of Conduct and Elder Planning This Week in the VLC
FPA’s Virtual Learning Center (VLC) offers two online seminars this week:

On March 18, FPA chair Nicholas A. Nicolette, CFP®, FPA’s Washington D.C. office managing director, Duane Thompson, and Charlie Hughes, CFP®, will discuss the rationale, process and proposals set forth by the FPA Fiduciary and Standards of Conduct Task Forces.

They will directly address questions and comments posted in FPA’s Community Building discussion area. Attendees are invited to post questions by visiting http://community.FPAnet.org/cs/ and accessing the Standards of Conduct discussion in the Featured Community/Discussion Group.

On March 19, Cynthia E. Zalewsky, CFP®, CSC®, will present “Elder Planning in the New Era.” The Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 impacted the long-term care and elder care planning arenas dramatically. Two years later, some new guidance and precedent are available, yet elder planning still remains overwhelming and confusing. Join Zalewsky to examine options and opportunities for your clients’ elder care plans.

Visit www.FPAnet.org/VLC for complete session information and to register. Top»

VLC Tax, Estate Planning Archives On Sale Through March
Now through the end of March – just in time for tax season – select Virtual Learning Center (VLC) tax and estate planning session archives are on sale.

Sessions included in the sale:
Reviewing Estate Planning Documents: A Practical Approach
Presented by John Scroggin, AEP, J.D., LL.M.
Member: $45 $40  (Nonmember: $55 $50)

2007 Tax Round Up / 2008 Tax Tips
Presented by Cal Brown, CFP®
Approved for 1.5 CFP Board CE Credits
Member: $45 $40  (Nonmember: $55 $50)

Tales of a Tax Return
Presented by John P. Napolitano, CFP®
Approved for 1.5 CFP Board CE Credits
Member: $45 $40  (Nonmember: $55 $50)

Estate Planning for Resident Aliens
Presented by John Scroggin, AEP, J.D., LL.M.
Approved for 1 CFP Board CE Credit
Member: $45 $40 (Nonmember: $55 $50)
Visit ShopFPA.org or call 800.322.4237 for more information or to order. Top»

VLC – March Snapshot
FPA's Virtual Learning Center delivers quality education that you can access from your home or office. Upcoming March sessions:

Tuesday, March 18
Standards of Conduct
FPA Chair Nicholas A. Nicolette, CFP®, FPA Managing Director Duane Thompson and Charles Hughes, CFP®, will share the rationale, process and proposals set forth by the FPA Fiduciary and Standards of Conduct Task Forces.
Free for FPA members

Wednesday, March 19
Elder Planning in the New Era
The Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 impacted the long-term care and elder care planning arenas dramatically. Cynthia E. Zalewsky, CFP®, CSC®, will teach you what you need to know to ensure protection of your clients’ assets.
Pending approval for 2.0 CFP Board CE Credits
$89 for FPA members

FPA also offers an extensive catalog of archived virtual seminars in our Learning Library, many of which are available with CFP Board CE Credit.

Register for an upcoming session online at www.FPA.org/VLC or call a member service representative at 800.937.7726 for more information. Top»

May 31–June 4
FPA Retreat 2008

June 9
Submission deadline for the P. Kemp Fain, Jr. Award

June 16
Nominations deadline for the Heart of Financial Planning Distinguished Service Award

July 9
Deadline for 2009 Board of Directors nominations

October 4–October 7
FPA Boston 2008
Boston Convention and Exhibition Center
Boston, MA

October 6–October 12
Financial Planning Week

November 7–November 9
FPA Chapter Leaders Conference 2008
Omni Interlocken Hotel
Broomfield, CO

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