Career Development Resources

Financial Planning Organizations:
· FPA – www.fpanet.org - The largest network of financial planning professionals including allied professionals such as attorneys, accountants, and insurance agents. Has excellent career development information under “Career Center.”
· The CFP Board Website – www.cfp.net - The premier standard for the financial planning profession. Site contains consumer information as well as information on how to obtain the CFP® mark.
· NAPFA – www.napfa.org - The National Association of Personal Financial Advisors is the largest professional association of comprehensive, Fee-Only financial planners in the United States. Information for consumers and membership.
· Garrett Planning Network – www.garrettplanningnetwork.com - A network of fee-only financial planners that serve middle income client needs.
· Cambridge Advisors, LLC. – www.cambridgeadvisors.com - An alliance of fee-only financial planners serving Middle America.
· The CPA-PFS – www.cpapfs.org - The Personal Financial Specialist (PFS) is the financial planning specialty accredition held exclusively by certified public accountants (CPAs) who are members of the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA). A CPA must demonstrate experience and expertise in a wide range of personal financial matters before being awarded the PFS.

Books
Financial planners who have made the transition into financial planning as a new career have recommended these books:
· Getting Started as a Financial Planner – Jeffrey H. Rattiner
· Protecting Your Practice – Katherine Vessenes
· Deena Katz on Practice Management
· Best Practices for Financial Advisors – Mary Rowland
· The Wealth Management Index – Ross Levin
· Tools and Templates for your Practice – Deena Katz
· Asset Allocation – Roger C. Gibson
· Simple Asset Allocation Strategies – Roger C. Gibson
· The Simple Living Guide – Janet Luhrs
· The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People – Stephen R. Covey
· Who Moved My Cheese? – Spencer Johnson
· Making a Living Without a Job: Winning Ways for Creating Work that You Love – Barbara J. Winter

Magazines and Newsletters
There are numerous magazines that are dedicated to financial planners. Here are some of the best! Most require membership in their organization or by subscription.
· Journal of Financial Planning (Financial Planning Association) - www.journalfp.net
· Inside Information (Bob Veres) www.bobveres.com
· Investment Advisor - www.investmentadvisor.com
· Bloomberg Wealth Manager – www.bloomberg.com
· NAPFA Advisor – www.napfa.org
· Financial Advisor – www.financialadvisormagazine.com

And if you want to know what your prospective clients are reading:
· Money Magazine – http://money.cnn.com/
· Kiplinger Personal Finance Magazine - www.kiplinger.com
· Time – www.time.com
· Newsweek - www.msnbc.com/news/NW-front_Front.asp

Articles on Financial Planning as a Career:
· The FPA website has some excellent articles on how to get started in the financial planning profession - www.fpanet.org/member/practice_center/services/articles.cfm

Education Programs (Iowa)
These programs can help you meet the education requirements in order to sit for the CFP exam. More details are available under the CFP® Certification section of this website.
· Iowa State University - http://www.bus.iastate.edu/news/2003/022103.asp.
· College for Financial Planning
· Kaplan College
· American College (Self Study Program)
· National listing of education programs can be found at the CFP Board website - www.cfp.net/become/programs.asp

Registration (Iowa)
For those who are looking to start their own business, you most likely will be required to register with the State of Iowa and/or the SEC.
· http://www.iowa.gov/government/com/ for Iowa Requirements
· www.sec.gov/info/advisers.shtml for SEC requirements

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