NAPFAs new leaders are stressing new initiatives to expand the organizations education programs and its membership.
New education programs are being drawn up to augment the organizations annual spring and fall conferences, says Linda Leitz, the recently installed chairwoman of NAPFAs national board.
Virtual programs will become available to supplement conference sessions, both before and after members attend in person.
Theres so much happening at the conferences, and people make contacts and take notes about what they want to do when they get home, but then get overwhelmed and forget about what they wanted to do, says Leitz, the founder and co-owner of the Colorado Springs advisory firm Its Not Just Money. We want to give people tools to support and continue what happened at the conference.
The organization will hold its second virtual annual Forbes-NAPFA iConference online on Dec. 4 and 5.
Geof Brown, who has been NAPFA chief executive since May after a background as an association service manager and consultant, describes the new programs as a variety of different delivery vehicles that doesnt just push education out to members but actively engages them.
MEMBERSHIP PUSH, GEN Y OUTREACH
NAPFA also hopes to expand beyond its current 2,500 members beginning next year, Leitz and Brown say.
Outreach efforts will be made to financial firms with different business models, and new platforms will set up to reach out to different affinity groups with the profession, according to Brown.
Attracting young people to fee-only financial planning and investment advisory services also continues to be a priority, Leitz says.
The NAPFA Genesis program for members under age 33 is likely to be enhanced next year, Leitz says, adding that the organization plans to directly address concerns that young people have about financial planning in general and the fee-only model specifically.
We know theres an issue around the pay gap between the fee-only and commission-based models, she notes, and weve heard loud and clear from Generation Y that they dont want to sit in a back room with a calculator for five years without seeing a client.
NAPFAs spring conference next year is set for Salt Lake City on May 13 through 15.
Its fall conference will be held in Charlotte, N.C., from Oct. 21 to 24.
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