As a member of FPA, you will gain access to a combination of the best networking opportunities, peer-reviewed publications, and benefits and services in the business. Through FPA, you'll connect with your colleagues, influence regulatory initiatives, and take advantage of an array of benefits including:

• A strong network of nearly 30,000 financial planning professionals
• CFP^TM certification support
• Career development assistance
• Outstanding continuing education programs
• Strong legislative advocacy and public awareness efforts
• Nationally recognized conferences
• Research and practice benchmark information
• Online information and networking services
• Business and marketing tools

Conferences 
One of the best ways to further your professional development and connect with colleagues from across the U.S. and around the world is to take part in conferences sponsored by the Financial Planning Association.

FPA conferences are developed to meet needs expressed by our members and are presented by your peers and other high-profile experts in their fields. As an FPA member, you will attend these conferences at substantial discounts. For dates and locations of upcoming conferences, click here.

Publications 
Keeping up with new developments in the field is essential for your growth. FPA's publications make sure you stay informed about your profession.

An annual subscription (12 issues) to the award-winning Journal of Financial Planning magazine is included free with your membership in FPA. The Journal of Financial Planning offers readers the best current thinking from prominent writers and financial planning experts on topics ranging from portfolio management and international investing to financial planning software and compliance issues. Visit the Journal Web site's Best Practices section for a variety of practice management articles from industry experts.

FPA Flash  is a weekly e-mail newsletter about current news, upcoming events and other happenings at FPA. 

"The brief weekly updates I get via e-mail from FPA Flash are a great service.  That alone may well be worth the annual membership fee! Thanks for keeping me up to date."

Reginald W. Burroughs Neptune, New Jersey 

Practice Management and Business Tools 
Managing a growing practice can take as much of your time and effort as working with clients. FPA has the tools and resources that can help you run your business more efficiently and profitably.

As a member, you can use FPA's research findings to plan your business and marketing strategies. Professional members of FPA will also receive FPA's quarterly benefit mailings that keep you abreast of current FPA benefits and services. Each mailing contains a free practice management audiotape, which includes the latest ideas on enhancing your practice.

"The information FPA provides is always uplifting and positive. It makes me proud to be a member." 

Member responding to an FPA member benefit mailing survey

Career Development 
Whether you are building your own practice or are part of an established firm, the Financial Planning Association can help you advance your career.

CFP^TM Certification Support 
FPA is continuing to explore ways to support FPA members seeking to become CFP^TM certificants. Assessment or diagnostic tests evaluating members' strengths and weaknesses in their financial planning knowledge are available at reduced prices. CFP^TM certification exam review materials are also available at reduced prices for FPA members.

Online Career Center 
Our Online Career Center can help you find a position with a financial services firm or hire a planner. As an added bonus for new members, FPA offers a free posting of your résumé on the Online Résumé section of the Career Center.

FPA Residency Program 
Throughout the year at geographically diverse locations, FPA offers week-long intensive programs designed for newly certified CFP^TM professionals and CFP^TM candidates who have successfully completed the CFP^TM Certification Examination. The CFP^TM Board has approved 30 continuing education credits for this program as well as three months' work experience.

"Participation in FPA at the national and local levels has proved to be invaluable for our students. Not only has it resulted in numerous employment and internship placements, but students who actively participate in FPA leave the university as more confident young professionals, empowered by a shared enthusiasm for financial planning." 

Ruth H. Lytton, Ph.D.
Virginia Tech Blacksburg, Virginia

FPA Local Chapters 
A nationwide network of local chapters forms the backbone of FPA and attracts the best in the financial planning community.

As a member of your local FPA chapter, you'll connect with the top financial planning professionals in your area, share ideas and come away with techniques you can put to work in your own business. You'll have access to convenient continuing education classes and seminars. You'll take part in public relations and consumer events. And you'll hear the latest news about legislative and regulatory issues that affect your career. In short, you will take an active part in building the financial planning community in your part of the world. Some FPA chapters may charge an additional fee for local membership.

Service to Members 
The Financial Planning Association is available to help you with your questions, concerns and needs. We exist because of our members and for our members. Let us know what we can do to assist you. Our member services specialists are available to answer your questions from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. EST, Monday through Friday. They can help you apply for membership, place an order, register for an event or help with any of your membership needs. Call 800.322.4237 or contact us via e-mail at membership@fpanet.org. International members, please call 404.845.0011 or e-mail FPA at international@fpanet.org.

Public Relations 
As the voice of the financial planning profession, a key mission of the Financial Planning Association is to promote the value of financial planning to the public. FPA members benefit directly from these public relations initiatives.

Each day, FPA receives calls from the media for help with financial planning stories. FPA responds with objective, reliable information for national news outlets that include The Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Fortune, Money, USA Today, CNBC, the "Today Show," CNNfn, "Fox on Money," "NBC Nightly News," and "ABC World News Tonight."

Our Web site has an extensive section devoted to providing consumers with objective, interactive, easy-to-understand information about the financial planning process and the benefits of working with a CFP^TM professional. Consumers who wish to take advantage of the services of a CFP^TM practitioner can use FPA's PlannerSearch to locate a certificant in their area.

"FPA's public relations efforts enhance the image of our profession in ways that a planner could never accomplish alone. Without FPA, I would not be as well-known or as well-thought-of in my community."

Percy Bolton, CFP Pasadena, California

Community 
FPA has a network of chapters, study groups, national and regional meetings, town hall gatherings, Web discussion forums and communities of practice designed to help build a sense of community among its diverse membership.

At FPA's Web site you'll find opportunities to discuss issues, articles, conference educational tracks and more. There are discussion forums built around practice management and technology issues, Journal of Financial Planning articles, FPA educational program discussions, future of financial planning discussions and CFPTM Board and FPA membership issues.

FPA Dialogue: Shaping the Future of the Financial Planning Profession  This initiative includes town hall meetings, online discussion groups, audioconferences and focus groups to foster communication between members about the future of the profession. This dialogue is an ongoing process providing members a forum to work together to create the future of the profession. 

"FPA is the community for our profession. At FPA's town hall meetings, for example, the diverse opinions of our peers and their collective thinking are striking at the root of the most important challenges of our profession. FPA is opening the way for a creative transformation to meet those challenges." 

J. Jeffrey Lambert, CFP Sacramento, California

Continuing Education 

Continuing education is more than a requirement for maintaining your professional credentials. It's also essential to keep pace with rapidly changing developments in the financial planning profession.

FPA makes available more than 300 continuing education credit hours each year to members holding a variety of designations and at all levels of experience. As a member, you can take advantage of lower member rates to obtain continuing education credits through FPA conferences, publications, and other resources, including Web-based CE opportunities. Plus, members receive three free Journal of Financial Planning CE exams each year!

Government Relations 

As a member of FPA, you will benefit from our legislative involvement in four ways.

• You will be the first to learn about new and pending state and federal legislation and regulatory initiatives that could affect the way you do business.

• You will have an advocate in federal and state government.

• You will have a voice in shaping FPA positions on various government initiatives.

• You will have the opportunity to participate in FPA's Political Action Committee (U.S. members only).

"FPA's government relations efforts benefit members in a number of ways.

First, FPA is the voice that advocates to legislators and regulators on critical issues to financial planners and their practices. Second, FPA helps planners comply with current regulations. And third, FPA unites our voices to support legislation that members believe will benefit our clients." 

Sheri Robinson, CPA, CFP Birmingham, Alabama

- Information and benefits provided by the Financial Planning Association, www.fpanet.org