Tools & Techniques of Financial Planning

Find practical financial advisor tools and resources to support your practice and enhance your client communication and relationships, developed by FPA and dedicated association members.

*All links require a member login. 

General Planning Issues

• Planner Q&A for Challenging Times: Prominent Planners Share Ideas (PDF | 29KB), NOVEMBER 2009, posted by Bruce Most
• FPA's 2008 Market Volatility Study of Financial Planners, JANUARY/FEBRUARY 09, posted by FPA Practice Management Solutions
  • How Is Market Volatility Affecting You? Findings from FPA's 2008 Market Volatility Study of Financial Planners (PDF | 129KB)
• Market Crisis Piece for Clients (PDF | 294KB), OCTOBER 08, posted by Christine Fahlund, Ph.D., CFP^®
• Market Downturn Piece for Pre-Retirees (PDF | 99KB), OCTOBER 08, posted by Christine Fahlund, Ph.D., CFP^®
• Behavioral Finance Piece for Clients (PDF | 66KB), OCTOBER 08, posted by Christine Fahlund, Ph.D., CFP^®
• New York Times Article: Those with a Sense of History May Find It's Time to Invest (PDF | 52KB), OCTOBER 08, posted by Norman M. Boone, MBA, CFP^®
• The Post-binge World (PDF | 42KB), OCTOBER 08, posted by Norman M. Boone, MBA, CFP^®

Client Skills

• Sample Client Letter: Acknowledgment of Client Fears/Market Turbulence (Word Doc | 25KB), NOVEMBER 08, posted by Martin Siesta, CFP^®
• Sample Call Script: Informal Market Update (Word Doc | 42KB), NOVEMBER 08, posted by Harold Evensky, CFP^®
• Client Communication Tips in Challenging Times (PDF | 56KB), OCTOBER 08, posted by Jennifer James, Ph.D.
• Sample Client Letter: Trying to Stay Rational in Very Irrational Times (PDF | 81KB), OCTOBER 08, posted by Marc Freedman, CFP^®
• Talking Points: Addressing Client Concerns — Emotions Drive Investors; Retiring in a Down Market; Crises and Bear Markets (PDF | 374KB), OCTOBER 08, posted by Christine Fahlund, Ph.D., CFP^®
• CFA Institute: Client Communications (PDF | 66KB), OCTOBER 08, posted by Harold Evensky, CFP^®
• Sample Client Letter: Thoughts on State of Economy (Word Doc | 525KB), OCTOBER 08, posted by Harold Evensky, CFP^®
• Sample Client E-mail — Sharing Relevant Reading Material/Check-in (Word Doc | 30KB), OCTOBER 08, posted by Dave Yeske, CFP^®
• Client E-mail — Check-in Re: Down Market (Word Doc | 33KB), OCTOBER 08, posted by Dave Yeske, CFP^®
• Sample Client Letter — Timeless Principles for Turbulent Times (Word Doc | 34KB), OCTOBER 08, posted by Michael L. Jones, ChFC, CFP^®, MSFS
• Client Weekly Letter — Thoughts on Diversification (Word Doc | 39KB), OCTOBER 08, posted by Ross Levin, CFP^®
• Sample Client Weekly Letter — Thoughts on Impact of Markets on Business Failures / Opportunities (Word Doc | 27KB), OCTOBER 08, posted by Ross Levin, CFP^®
• Sample Client Weekly Letter — Thoughts on Impact of Debt and Bailout (Word Doc | 27KB), OCTOBER 08, posted by Ross Levin, CFP^®
• Sample Client Weekly Letter — Check-in Re: Tactical Reallocation (Word Doc | 34KB), OCTOBER 08, posted by Ross Levin, CFP^®

Compliance

• FPA "Best Practices" Tools for Financial Planners: Guidance in Complying with the CFP® Board's Rules of Conduct, DECEMBER 2008, FPA Best Practices Task Force

Marketing

• What is Genuine Financial Planning? (PowerPoint | 119 KB), NOVEMBER 2009, posted by Giorgio Canella    

Operations

• Thoughts on Managing Your Firm in a Tough Market (PDF | 307KB), OCTOBER 08, posted by Gary D. Davis, Jr., Ph.D.

Feedback

Tell Us: Share your feedback on FPA's tools & techniques of financial planning.  Tell us what financial advisor tools and resources you need during these challenging times or submit an original tool or template that you'd like to share with your fellow FPA members.