Ryan
M. Fleming, CFP®
Our chapter is pretty amazing. The breadth and depth
of financial planning luminaries in this chapter really boggle the mind. Too
numerous to mention (and fearful of leaving one out), we have dozens of past
presidents locally and nationally attend our luncheon meetings, symposia, and
golf tournament. At any table at any event, you’re likely to find someone who
has lectured as an expert on a planning topic or won an award for excellence or
runs a firm that is a model nationally or mentored a future competitor to
achieve greatness.
But this latest addition to the trophy wall is truly
something special. The highest honor in our association at the national level is
the P. Kemp Fain, Jr. Award, which “recognizes an individual who has made
outstanding contributions to the financial planning profession… in the areas of
service to society, academia, government, and professional activities.”
Our own Elissa Buie is the 2013 P. Kemp Fain, Jr.
Award recipient, the chapter’s second recipient of the 21-year-old
award. She shared some thoughts that remind us what a forward-thinking genius
she is; that genius continues to provide guidance for family, clients, firm,
chapter, and profession. Elissa’s thoughts help us all to see the evolution of
financial planning.
“One
Profession – One Designation – One Association – One Foundation”
Elissa, in speaking this, built on the “One
Profession – One Designation” comment of the award’s namesake. FPA, in all its
faults and successes, is about us, helping each other to learn, grow, flourish,
and contribute. But the key part of this is the latest addition to the line –
One Foundation. “We are a true profession when we share the magic that is
financial planning with everyone, regardless in what ‘percent’ of the
population they reside,” Elissa said. She speaks of the Foundation for
Financial Planning, to which our chapter has donated nearly $141,000 from
charity events. Our chapter has contributors (all past presidents) at the
$500,000+, $200,000 to $349,999, and $100,000 to $199,999 levels. Over $1
million from our chapter is an amazing legacy, and hopefully just the
beginning.
It’s a real measure of a person when they choose to
use the platform for their lifetime achievement honor as a call to action for
charity. As Elissa said, “Financial planning changes people’s lives for the
better. Everyone in this room is a part
of that magic. I hope you feel as proud
of that as I do standing up here today.” This chapter, this association, and
this profession have great opportunities to effect change with what we view as
pretty simple conversations. And money. Consider a donation to the Foundation
in Elissa’s honor. This organization is doing great things with distributing
financial literacy to groups hungry for it.
Congrats again to our friend, Elissa Buie, whose
lifetime achievement honor has been bestowed on her in mid-career.
We have closed registration for volunteers at Metro
Washington Financial Planning Day. With no advertising budget, we are nearing
300 attendees signed up. We are really looking forward to a successful day of
advising. And on the heels of this comes a new volunteer opportunity that is
percolating. The Washington D.C. Veterans Affairs Medical Center is hosting a
Financial Literacy Week of their own and has invited FPA-NCA to partner with
them in mid-February for a number of workshops for Veterans. The IRS and AARP
are already working with DCVAMC on other events for the week, so it would be a
great opportunity for us. Let
me know if you have any interest in volunteering so I can
let them know if we have sufficient support for the program. February 17, 2014
to February 21, 2014 – we would be slotted Mon – Wed.
Finally, a shout out for our program of the year.
November’s program looks spectacular. Howard Pressman and Parker Trasborg, who
run the Professional Development committee, have put together two excellent
speakers. Ted Klontz is a pioneer in financial psychology and presents a great
program “When Logic Leaves the Room.” He is followed by Chris Hennessey, a
repeat speaker and always a huge draw, with a look at healthcare reform and its
impact on investors. 3 CFP credits. 3 Maryland insurance credits. 3 Virginia
insurance credits. 3 CIMA. 3 CPA CPE. We’ve got it all covered for you in
November. Bethesda Country Club 10a to 1:30p.
Please vote for the 2014 Board slate. Peggy sent an
email at 2:15p on 10/23 (in case you deleted it) – please reply with a vote of
yay or nay or a write-in if you don’t like the slate. Hope your fall is off to
a great start and your year ends with a fantastic finish.
Best regards,
Ryan M. Fleming, CFP®
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