AICPA Creates Community Web Site for Personal Financial Planning Services

his year will mark the AICPA’s 20th anniversary in support of CPAs in the expanding field of personal financial planning (PFP). More than 23,000 AICPA members provide PFP services, while an estimated 10,000 members are registered investment advisers (RIAs) and another 60,000 CPAs provide limited financial planning services as an extension of their existing tax practices. To serve this broad constituency, the AICPA has dedicated considerable resources in this practice area to meet three core member objectives: community, competency and communications.

In January the AICPA launched the Personal Financial Planning Services community Web site. “Having a strong sense of community has been such an important piece of the puzzle for our PFP section members and CPA/PFS credential holders,” said Joel Framson, CPA/PFS, chairman of the PFP Executive Committee. “The new site satisfies the needs of our CPA financial planners—who have told us they want a “home” to share, collaborate and network with peers—as well as financial planners who have similar professional interests.” The site offers members the ability to share experiences, post questions to peers, learn what’s new and have access to the CPA Financial Planner Online Discussion Forum.

“A key focus for the AICPA’s PFP area is the development of guidance, resources and tools to assist CPAs in obtaining the requisite knowledge and ongoing information to practice as competent and objective financial planners,” said Barry Melancon, AICPA president and CEO. To help build member competency, the PFP community provides convenient access to articles, illustrations, tables and interactive tools that enable financial planners to deliver current, concise and compliant advice to clients. Valuable features of the site include consumer articles, frequently asked questions, decision tools, Java calculators, a powerful search engine and content addressing engagements, estate and investment planning, personal income tax, retirement planning, insurance and risk management, personal finance, practice management and regulatory and statutory issues. The AICPA PFP team is committed to keeping the site continually updated with fresh and relevant content.

To learn about premium benefits or if interested in becoming a CPA/PFS credential holder or a member of the PFP section, click on the “Membership” tab of the Web site at www.aicpa.org/PFP.