President’s Message: Spring into renewal and community

Written By: Ann Lentell CFA, AFC®, CFP®

Spring always brings a sense of renewal, a quiet energy that signals it’s time for growth and fresh perspectives. As I’ve reflected on what makes this organization truly special, it’s more than just a collection of professionals, experts, and advocates. At our core, we are something much deeper.  

That is why my “word of the year” for AFCPE® in 2026 is Community. To me, community isn’t just a group of people in the same field; it is the shared heartbeat of our mission to ensure that every individual has equitable access to high-quality financial counseling, coaching, and education with the opportunity to achieve lasting financial well-being.  

This is a milestone year for AFCPE as we officially begin our strategic planning process. This isn’t just a routine check-in; it is our roadmap for the next three years. We are at a pivotal moment where we decide what our priorities will be and where our collective energy should go.  

Recently you may have received a link to a survey asking for your perspective: survey link. We ask that you please take a few moments to share your input. And because this plan belongs to all of us, we are making a permanent change to how we listen: starting now, we will be distributing an annual member survey to ensure your voice is heard every single year, not just during planning cycles. 

Beyond that, I encourage you to think about your own leadership journey within AFCPE. As we prepare to implement this new strategic vision, we need dedicated voices to join us in leading the way. I invite you to consider board leadership as a way to lean into this community. Keep an eye out this summer for more information regarding our Board of Directors election process.  

Whether through your feedback or your leadership, I am excited to build this next chapter alongside you, our AFCPE community. 

Ann Lentell is a Chartered Financial Analyst, an Accredited Financial Counselor®, a Certified Financial Planner® and AFCPE Board President.  Connect with Ann on LinkedIn.

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