Building Bridges

Written By: Rebecca Wiggins

With the end of summer upon us, we take this opportunity to reflect on the first part of the year, and prepare for what is to come! It has been a busy and productive few months with new professional development programs, statewide community engagement events, additional partnerships and new possibilities. It is clearer than ever to me that AFCPE has a distinct and important role in creating a more equitable society through economic security.

Building the Bridge to Investor Education

AFCPE is proud to lead the “Building the Bridge” program in Ohio, with funding from the Investor Protection Trust, and in partnership with the Ohio Division of Securities. As is true in many other parts of the country, less than half of Ohioans reportedly have a financial plan.

We know that when people are financially secure, they are more resilient, less susceptible to fraud, and become more productive members of our communities. This program is an opportunity to make positive change in our own communities, creating a more integrated and inclusive continuum of care for all people. Each community event centers on the “When I’m 65” documentary with panel discussions. Local organizations provide their resources, and we link attendees to professionals for pro-bono financial counseling and planning services.

Our first two Ohio events, held in Columbus in May and Dayton, in July were great successes, raising awareness for the value of AFCPE professionals, sharing resources, and building new connections. The next event is scheduled for September 14 in Cleveland. We look forward to replicating this program in a state near you very soon!

Certification Program Updates
AFCPE is working on exciting updates for our certification programs, including new professional development offerings. Updates include the development of an online learning management system to provide more application exercises, collaborative learning and guided structure for our self-study programs. Stay tuned for more information in the coming months!

2017 Symposium

Mark your calendars for November 15–17, 2017 and bring your family to enjoy beautiful Paradise Point Resort in San Diego. Our theme “Bridging the Gap,” focuses on the role of our profession in addressing issues of systemic inequality, and building a more integrated field to help clients achieve financial security. General session speakers include:

• Racial Wealth Gap panel featuring Dedrick Asante-Muhammad and Tom Shapiro

• Communication Gap between counselor and client with Colin Ryan

• Behavior Gap with Kristen Berman

• Research Gap: integrating research and practice with Sandra Huston

• Access Gap: Creating a Professional Continuum of Care- Alan Moore – XY Planning

Please let us know if you are interested in exhibiting to share your materials, or sponsoring to support a student or professional to attend!

Get Connected

AFCPE is now on Instagram! Share the work you are doing in the field by tagging AFCPE in your photos and videos. Help demonstrate the depth and diversity of our professional reach by also using the hashtag #IamAFCPE.

Don’t miss the new AFCPE Membership video on your myAFCPE dashboard. Take a few minutes to watch the video to help navigate all of the benefits available to you as a member of AFCPE.

AFCPE Impact and Overview

Do you ever get asked the question, who is AFCPE? We have a new marketing flyer that helps you share just that. Available online, you can download this resource to help share the mission, vision and impact of our organization. Share with colleagues and friends who may benefit from the strong network and resources; with your employer to encourage more members of your team to get certified or attend professional development opportunities; or with potential partners to help us expand programs and provide long-term impact on financial well being.