A Case for IAQFP as the Preferred Choice Over the FPA (Financial Planning Association)

We hold that the FPA does certain things well, for which we commend them, however, many changes are still needed. We are not convinced that the FPA is either interested in, or capable of, making these much needed changes. Is there a positive alternative?

We distinguish our organization from the FPA in many important ways, and we do this for the central purpose of helping our Members, financial planners generally, and the public know exactly how and why IAQFP really is the best choice for advocacy and support of both planners and the needs of the public, then any other group or organization. Furthermore, we offer the best place for the public to seek and acquire referrals to qualified & accredited financial planners.

The following is a partial list of positive aspects present within IAQFP that are either fully absent, or only partially found in the FPA:

• IAQFP has a proven and positive history of standing up for Certificants interests on all issues of controversy that have arisen since the Groups formation, and previously by the independent actions of the founders & past & present Board Members of the Group.
• IAQFP is the only Membership Organization actually approaching the CFP Board to attempt to openly work out and resolve issues of concern to its Members, as well as the broader Certificant & financial planner communities.
• IAQFP continues proving itself as the primary organization addressing and serving the more meaningful concerns and needs of all qualified & accredited financial planners.
• IAQFP has open nominations and elections of all of its Board of Directors, both nationally and locally, by all of its Members.
• IAQFP is a truly representative Membership Organization that proactively seeks the opinions and input of its General Membership on matters of importance to them and their practices, via frequent Member Surveys as well as open Voting.
• IAQFP has no financial or other ties to the CFP Board, and can therefore better, and more objectively, represent the concerns of Certificants and planners alike.
• IAQFP provides referrals not only to its own Members, but also to non-Member CFP^® Certificants & other qualified planners in geographic areas where there are no IAQFP Members.
• IAQFP Membership Dues were non-existent for the first 1 1/2 years of its existence as the Concerned Planners Group(sm), and became only $50 annually as of 01/01/2003, and later $75 -100 with the introduction of 2 levels of Membeship; namely, Basic and Premier. This makes the FPA more than 3-4x more expensive to professionals. IAQFP is therefore providing more affordable advocacy to potentially many more financial planners.