FPA and Its Members

FPA Profile Core Values FPA Aim and Objectives Who Are Our Members? Mission Statement Members’ Code of Ethics FPA Iowa Bylaws Benefits of Membership How to Contact Us

FPA - The Heart of Financial Planning™ : The community that brings together those who deliver, support and benefit from financial planning.

FPA Profile
The Financial Planning Association (FPA®) is the membership association for over 28,000 CFP® professionals, financial planners, specialists and organizations dedicated to advancing the financial planning process. FPA of Iowa is a dynamic association with over 180 members. FPA believes that everyone needs objective advice to make informed financial decisions and that when seeking the advice of a financial planner; the planner should be a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ licensee. Our members are committed to honesty, integrity, and open communication. Through the spirit of service, we foster stewardship and the development of recognized knowledge and competence.

Core Values
At FPA, our core values are who we are. They describe our intended state of being. They are so integral to our being that we would not abandon them even if we were penalized for holding them. They are values of FPA, and we want to attract as members those who share our values.

• Competence: Our dedication to competence requires not only lifelong learning, but also that we continually assess our ability to appropriately and effectively address the needs of those whom we serve.
• Integrity: We strive to have ever more congruence between our words and deeds, and to deliver genuine value to those whom we serve.
• Relationships: We are committed to open, inclusive and respectful relationships, including collaboration among diverse parties on common interests.
• Stewardship: We recognize our responsibility to act with vision, ever mindful of the effects of our actions on the future.
  

FPA Objectives
FPA's objectives are timeless end states we will strive for in order to achieve our primary aim.

• Facilitate the success of our members
• Cultivate the body of knowledge of personal financial planning.
• Grow the organization by bringing together those who champion the financial planning process.
• Unify the voice, focus and resources of the financial planning community.
• Advance brand awareness for professional financial planners, building the CFP certification as the hallmark of the brand.
• Define and effectively communicate a common understanding of the discipline of personal financial planning and the benefits of its use.

Who Are Our Members?
The Financial Planning Association members include:

• Financial Planners: CFP certificants and other professionals who have made a commitment to the financial planning process. All members are encouraged to pursue and attain the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER mark.
• Allied professionals include accountants, attorneys, bankers, charitable giving specialists, insurance agents, investment consultants and others who advance the financial planning process in their work with clients.
• FPA’s Corporate membership consists of firms who have products and services that are appropriate for financial planners as well as financial planning broker-dealers who find value in having access to other Corporate members as well as to FPA’s individual members.

Code of Ethics
This Code of Ethics is an expression of the financial planning profession's recognition of its responsibility to the public, to clients, to colleagues and to employers. These principles apply to all Financial Planning Association (FPA) members and provide guidance to them in the performance of their professional services.

Principle 1 - Integrity
An FPA member shall offer and provide professional services with integrity.
Principle 2 - Objectivity
An FPA member shall be objective in providing professional services to clients.
Principle 3 - Competence
An FPA member shall provide services to clients competently and maintain the necessary knowledge and skill to continue to do so in those areas in which the designee is engaged.
Principle 4 - Fairness
An FPA member shall perform professional services in a manner that is fair and reasonable to clients, principals, partners and employers and shall disclose conflict(s) of interest(s) in providing such services.
Principle 5 - Confidentiality
An FPA member shall not disclose any confidential client information without the specific consent of the client unless in response to proper legal process, to defend against charges of wrongdoing by the FPA member or in connection with a civil dispute between the FPA member and client.
Principle 6 - Professionalism
An FPA member's conduct in all matters shall reflect credit upon the profession.
Principle 7 - Diligence
An FPA member shall act diligently in providing professional services. Diligence is the provision of services in a reasonably prompt and thorough manner. Diligence also includes proper planning for and supervision of the rendering of professional services.

This abridged version of the FPA Code of Ethics was derived from the Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility © 2004 CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER Board of Standards, Inc. All rights reserved. For a complete version, please visit the FPA Web Site at www.fpanet.org.

Membership Benefits
FPA is a dynamic association with 33 years of experience. FPA offers:

• A network of over 28,000 financial planning professionals;
• Opportunities to develop relationships with colleagues and other financial experts;
• Monthly chapter meetings offering outstanding continuing education programs (Iowa insurance and CFP Board's CE, including Code of Ethics program);
• Nationally recognized conferences at substantial member discounts;
• Practice management and business tools including Journal of Financial Planning; and
• Advocacy and public awareness to promote the value of financial planning and the CFP mark.

To view the national Member Benefits, click here.
To complete an application to join, click here.

How to Contact Us
15130 New York Circle • Clive, IA 50325
515-987-8344
Fax: 515-987-2301
Email: office@fpaiowa.org