Written By: Dr. Brandy Baxter, AFC®, FFC®
President’s Message: #JoinMeAtAFCPE
Dear AFCPE Members, Partners, AFCs, and friends,
I’m excited to begin the new year as your 2025 AFCPE Board President. It’s an honor to serve such a dedicated and passionate community of financial professionals. As we step into 2025, I’m reminded of the theme I shared at the 2024 Symposium: #JoinMe. This year, I invite you to join me at AFCPE by getting AFC® certified, becoming an AFCPE member, attending Symposium in-person, or contributing financially to support our mission.
While AI continues to shape our world, there’s still something truly special about the human experience. Our unique experiences, insights, and perspectives are what make us stand out from artificial intelligence. Let’s harness the power of human connection to elevate AFCPE.
To achieve this, I encourage you to:
- Share your AFCPE related story via your social media, newsletter, and local media.
- Share your value with potential clients and partners by using the AFC Resources page to customize a flyer you can easily share. Use this link to access it: https://www.afcpe.org/afc-resources/
- Highlight your impact by sharing specific examples of how your work has made a difference in people’s lives. This could include helping clients avoid bankruptcy, achieving financial goals, or gaining peace of mind. The more you share, the more you help elevate your work and the work of others in our community.
- Highlight your expertise by writing blog posts or articles about topics that are relevant to your clients and the financial industry. Share your insights and creative ideas on social media or through webinars. Help other professionals see you as a subject matter expert.
- Engage with our community by participate the online communities, social media groups, or local networking events. Share your knowledge and experiences with others, look for opportunities to collaborate on projects, and learn from each other.
Supporting AFCPE’s mission to positively impact the financial well-being of ALL people by ensuring the highest standards for financial counseling, coaching, and education requires all of us to think creatively and collaboratively about ways to elevate the brand and the organization. I welcome your ideas and encourage you to share them with the Staff, or via our online community.
To measure our momentum throughout this year, let’s look for a 5-10% increase in the following areas:
- Certification: Invite colleagues, career changers, and others interested in personal finance to apply for certification. Earning the AFC® demonstrates commitment to professional excellence and adherence to a strict code of ethics.
- Symposium Attendance: In-person attendance at the annual symposium provides an opportunity to network with other professionals, learn about the latest trends in the industry, and earn continuing education credits. Besides, it’s also a great way to spend time with your financial friends!!
- Membership: Encourage your colleagues, friends, and other financial professionals to become AFCPE members. There are many benefits of membership, such as networking opportunities, free professional development webinars, access to our online communities, and a catalog of discounts! I know how we love a good discount!
By working together, we can strengthen our brand, increase our visibility, and attract new opportunities for the organization, each other, and the clients we serve. Let’s make 2025 a year of growth, innovation, and impact.
I’m committed to supporting you on your journey. Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions, ideas, or feedback. To help me find you, please use #JoinMeAtAFCPE when you make your posts.
Together, let’s build a brighter future for AFCPE and the financial well-being of individuals and families everywhere.
Dr. Brandy Baxter
2025 AFCPE Board President