Vetted Solutions Seeks CEO for Financial Planning Association

September 1, 2020 – Vetted Solutions, which specializes in executive recruitment for the non-profit and association sector, has been enlisted to find the next chief executive officer for the Denver, CO-based Financial Planning Association (FPA), the premier membership organization for financial planning practitioners.

“The next CEO will ideally have helped transform organizations to increase the value proposition for those they serve,” said the Washington, D.C.-headquartered search firm. “The successful candidate will possess a combination of skills that include elevating the understanding of a profession, raising the visibility and impact of an organization, working closely with a chapter structure, and a passion for excellence in all that an organization does.”

“This is an outstanding opportunity for an entrepreneurial and innovative leader to partner with the board, FPA’s chapters and a staff team of 38 to serve the organization’s 20,000 members and a profession that transforms lives,” said Vetted Solutions.

Key accountabilities of the role will revolve around advocacy, communications and partnerships; strategy and leadership; and management. Among his or her duties, the new CEO will be charged with promoting higher visibility of the association and the profession with the financial planning community, the general public, government officials, related partners, thought leaders and other stakeholder organizations.

A Key Spokesman

Vetted Solutions said the individual will also be expected to advise on regulatory and legislative developments impacting the profession at the federal and state levels, represent FPA and the financial planning profession to key stakeholders to build FPA’s public image, that of its membership and the financial planning profession; and act as a key spokesperson for the association in collaboration with the volunteer president.

FPA’S new leader will also be charged with providing forward-thinking leadership in the development and execution of organizational strategy and organizational structure in conjunction with the board, said the search firm. The individual will also be expected to articulate and implement a clear vision for FPA as established by the board and recommend and implement long-range strategic plans that will impact the relevancy of the association and the financial planning profession, among other responsibilities.

Desired Traits

The next CEO of FPA should have significant experience leading an organization through transition and change and a track record of transparency in their leadership approach, said Vetted Solutions. Candidates must have a bachelor’s degree, more than 10 years of executive-level experience, experience working with chapters or related affiliates, and strong strategic thinking ability and experience in both planning strategically and translating those plans into operations.

“The successful candidate will possess a wide range of personality traits and social skills necessary to work in the association sector,” said the search firm. “Candidates will possess personal and professional integrity, strong communication skills, highly-developed people skills and strong listening ability.”

For 20 years, the Financial Planning Association  has been the principal membership organization for financial planning practitioners, educators and students who are committed to elevating the profession that transforms lives through the power of financial planning. With a focus on the pursuit of mastery in the practice, business and profession of financial planning, FPA helps practitioners advance their knowledge and expertise through every phase of their careers. The organization’s best-in-class educational programming, courses and trainings, and profession-leading publications enable its members to gain critical knowledge as they work to achieve higher levels of competency in financial planning. FPA has 86 active chapters and two state councils that host meetings and events throughout the year.

Non-Profit Association Leaders

Based in Washington, D.C., Vetted Solutions focuses on recruiting board members, CEOs and senior staff positions for prominent and well-known organizations nationwide. Recent searches that the firm has conducted include recruiting the executive director for the Association for Creative Industries (AFCI), chief operating officer for the American Society of Microbiology (ASM), chief executive officer of the Legal Marketing Association (LMA) and president and CEO of the International Foundation for Electoral Systems.

Vetted Solutions’ president and Founder Jim Zaniello has worked for more than two decades in positions ranging from non-profit executive director to publisher of a leading tool for non-profit executive search. He is also said to have an intimate understanding of the complex demands of the executive office through his own experience as executive director at several associations and non-profits.

Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor; and Stephen Sawicki, Managing Editor  – Hunt Scanlon Media