President’s Message

Written By: Michael Gutter, Ph.D.

Greetings from the AFCPE President’s Office!  After a harsh winter for many of you, we are happy to say that spring has sprung. AFCPE has been hard at work this winter with much to show for it!

Our team of AFCPE staff, Board and the Symposium Task Force are working hard to bring you another exceptional Symposium this year. Our theme will be “building the bridge from research to practice.” While we celebrate AFCPE’s foundation of research, we will also explore the diversity of professionals from all areas in the field—from research to education, and practice to product development. We all contribute to a shared mission of improving the economic wellbeing of individuals and families across the globe.

While we celebrate AFCPE’s foundation of research, we will also explore the diversity of professionals from all areas in the field …

I also want to wish you all a Happy Financial Literacy Month. AFCPE will celebrate Financial Literacy Month by highlighting a different facet of financial literacy with the tenets of our association: research, education and practice.  Join us on social media for announcements, information and valuable conversations. Share your
news, knowledge, events and photos with us on social media. Use hashtag #AFCPE to share your posts on Twitter

Program Updates

I am very pleased that AFCPE is part of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) National Financial Coaching Project, which requires the AFC^® designation. This partnership helps to further establish the standard that AFCPE has worked so hard to advance. The first training took place in March featuring our partner Master Financial Coach Trainer Saundra Davis of Sage Financial Solutions. I want to take a moment to applaud the work of our Executive Director, Rebecca Wiggins, and the AFCPE staff who have worked diligently to make this project come to fruition. I am excited about the many families and consumers across this country who will be helped by this program.

Accreditation

Notes from the Executive Director (on page 14) has provided some important updates, but I wanted to tell you how excited I am, and hope you are too, that AFCPE is pursuing accreditation for the AFC^® through the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA). This important step forward demonstrates how the AFC^® program aligns with the best professional practices from an outside accrediting body and demonstrates AFCPE’s commitment to continuous quality improvement.

We believe strongly that this will increase the value of your AFC^® designation for those you work with and,even more importantly, those with whom you want to work. I want to send a special thanks to our amazing group of members, practitioners, and staff who are leading this charge forward. I thank you for all you are doing for AFCPE!

Announcements

Please join me in celebrating the signing of a new three-year contract with our Executive Director, Rebecca Wiggins. Under Rebecca’s leadership our organization has engaged in key strategic planning initiatives, and Rebecca and the AFCPE staff have done an admirable job of moving us forward.

I know many of you out there who are teaching, or have degrees related to financial counseling, and who have considered obtaining the AFC^® designation and wanted options to have your previous efforts be considered in the certification process. Please check out www.afcpe. org to learn about two new pathways to AFC^® certification: (1) Educational Degree Challenge and (2) Designation Challenge!

Don’t forget to submit your presentation or poster ideas for the 2015 Symposium! The call is still open! I hope to you see you in Jacksonville, Florida, this November.