About the Association

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» What is the Financial Planning Association?
» What is the financial planning process ?

What is the Financial Planning Association (FPA)? (top)
The Financial Planning Association is the membership organization for the financial planning community. It was created when the Institute of Certified Financial Planners (ICFP) and the International Association for Financial Planning (IAFP) unified on January 1, 2000. Members include individuals and companies who have contributed to building the financial planning profession and all those who champion the financial planning process.

FPA members are dedicated to supporting the financial planning process in order to help people achieve their goals and dreams. The FPA believes that everyone needs objective advice to make smart financial decisions and that when seeking the advice of a financial planner, the planner should be a Certified Financial Planner™ licensee.

What is the financial planning process? (top)
Financial planning is the process of establishing personal and financial goals and creating a way to reach them. The ongoing process involves taking stock of all your existing resources, developing a plan to utilize them, and systematically implementing the plan in order to achieve your short-and long-term goals. The plan must be monitored and reviewed periodically so that adjustments can be made, if necessary, to assure that it continues to move you toward your financial goals.

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