FPANJ Returns to Washington at 2nd Annual Advocacy Days

July 22, 2015 - PRLog -- Upper Montclair, NJ, July 2015 - The Financial Planning Association of New Jersey FPANJ) joined approximately 70 financial professionals from across the country to meet with legislators on current legislation involving fiduciary standards with the Department of Labor and the Wagner Bill (HR 1090), as well as efforts to improve financial literacy education with the public and military families.

John Crosby, Advocacy Chairman, and FPANJ President Bill Stratton represented  the chapter and were joined by Hoboken resident and President of the FPANY, Victoria Fillet. Included in their schedule were meetings with representatives from the offices of Senators Robert Menendez and Cory Booker and Representatives Albio Sires and Chris Smith, all from their home state of New Jersey.

"We were pleased to meet with the offices of Sen. Cory Booker, Sen. Robert Menendez and Rep. Christopher Smith, and in our discussions we were able to stress the concerns we had over HR 1090, which could slow Department of Labor Efforts to apply fiduciary standards to make sure all financial professionals act in the best interests of their clients," said Crosby.

"We support the FPA's position on these issues," Stratton added. "As an organization whose mission is to foster the value of financial planning through professionals that possess the highest level of competency and integrity, we support legislation and rulemaking that is in the best interest of financial planning consumers."

"We also had an opportunity to discuss financial literacy education for members of the military  with Rep. Sires' Military Legislative Assistant, as this is also an important issue for Rep. Sires."

Efforts to provide financial literacy education to military members is also a growing concern of FPANJ, and will be a part of their public-facing events going forward.

Crosby said the effect of making a regular appearance with their lawmakers was evident while meeting with the various lawmakers, which has been a goal of the FPANJ.

"We met with several of the same people that we did when we launched Advocacy Days in 2014, but were remembered and that shows the value in building these relationships to provide information and to protect the integrity of the profession," he said.

Stratton agreed, saying, "We felt welcomed, and the representatives we met with were pleased to have us share our positions on these topics, and to understand our role as a financial planning member association that serves its members in protecting financial planning consumers. Overall, we want to create an informed consumer so they are not vulnerable to financial abuse. These advocacy meeting opportunities are important for the FPANJ to develop a relationship with our lawmakers, so we can work together to enhance the financial planning experience for consumers."

Contact:

William C. Stratton, CFP®

Shapiro Financial Security Group, Inc.

732-966-4115 Cell
732-739-8991 Office

John J. Crosby, CFP®, ChFC, CAS, CLTC, CRPC®

Individual Financial Services, LLC
732-706-0912 - phone
732-208-5366 - cell

About FPANJ and FPA:

Financial Planning Association of New Jersey is part of The Financial Planning Association® (FPA®). We are one of the largest chapters in the nation, comprising about 700 members representing Certified Financial Planners and other allied professions. FPANJ connects those who need, support and deliver professional financial planning. FPANJ believes that everyone is entitled to objective advice from a competent, ethical financial planner to make smart financial decisions. FPA members demonstrate and support a professional commitment to education and a client-centered financial planning process. Working in alliance with academic leaders, legislative and regulatory bodies, financial services firms and consumer interest organizations, FPA is the community that fosters the value of financial planning, and advances the practice and profession of financial planning.

The Financial Planning Association® (FPA®) is the largest membership organization for personal financial planning experts in the U.S. and includes professionals from all backgrounds and business models. FPA members adhere to the highest standards of professional competence, ethical conduct and clear, complete disclosure to those they serve. Based in Denver, Colo., FPA works in alliance with academic leaders, legislative and regulatory bodies, financial services firms and consumer interest organizations. For more information about FPA, visit http://OneFPA.org

or call 800.322.4237.For more information about FPA of New Jersey, visit www.fpanj.org.