by Tom L. Potts, Ph.D., CFP®
FPA is a diverse patchwork of communities-a place for all generations and types of financial planners to gather, learn, connect and leverage the expertise of one another. More than that, FPA has a shared sense of dedication to supporting and advancing our profession. Education and change play an important role in our development as financial professionals, and it is for this reason that FPA's communities have been created-to help each of us thrive and prosper.
Throughout my year as FPA president, I've enjoyed the opportunity to spend time with our future leaders. I've met with some of the profession's brightest young planners and thrived on conversations consisting of great ideas, concerns and visions of the future of financial planning. It is truly a community of rising stars.
As anybody discussing generational differences would say, the next generation of financial planning professionals thinks differently than its predecessors. As their supervisors, mentors, teachers, peers and fellow chapter members, I think it's important to be aware of what's on their minds so that we can support this group in their growth and their visions for the profession.
This group is focused on finding ways to serve the underserved. Many of us have participated in discussions about finding ways to do this, but this group is highly focused on sharing ways to be financially stable while serving clients in need.
Openness to all kinds of practices and methods of providing competent, ethical financial planning is top-of-mind with this group. FPA is the home for the financial planning community, and this group's openness and curiosity about different kinds of practices is inspiring.
An encouraging focus on creating their professional path is also evident. FPA's young planners have tremendous respect for the people who have paved the way in this profession. They ask how individuals attain professional success, and also what other options exist. They're seeking ways to take what works from the existing professional structure and incorporate it into their vision of what their careers could look like. It's fun watching a group of talented professionals be informed by the past but still focused on making their own future.
FPA's young planners are a tight community focused on collaboration and success for all. It's a safe place for people to ask questions, seek guidance and share great ideas. Membership in FPA NexGen, the community for young planners, grows monthly. The members of this generation are highly engaged. The difference is that they might not be engaged in the ways that we assume they will be.
I'm glad to have the opportunity to work with many inspiring, young colleagues who will play a major role in advancing the vision and mission of FPA and the profession. While there is no doubt we owe immense gratitude to the thousands of FPA members who, over the years, have shaped and transformed our profession, our future lies in the hands of our young leaders. They will continue to address how we evolve as a profession and an organization to respond to the needs of clients, practices and society. Working with our current leadership, they will help ensure the legacy of our profession.
Together, we can lead financial planning into a new and exciting place. We have great aspirations and expectations for our future leaders, and with your help and involvement, I am confident we can continually expand our FPA community of up-and-coming leadership talent.
