The chief executive officer of the Financial Planning Association of Australia (FPA), Mark Rantall, has extended his contract and will stay with the organisation beyond 2013.
In an address to FPA members, the chairman of the FPA, Matthew Rowe, says the FPA board is “delighted to announce that Mark Rantall has accepted an extension to his term as CEO of the Financial Planning Association and Mark will lead us on the next stage of our journey”.
Rowe says that under Rantall (right) the FPA has “successfully implemented a transformational strategy to move from an industry body with a broad church of members to become the first professional association for individual financial planning practitioners in Australia”.
“Mark Rantall’s leadership and the successful implementation of our three year strategy have many ‘proof points’ of our journey toward becoming a universally respected profession,” he says.
In his address, Rowe says that 2013 will be “the most significant of the 20-year history of our professional association”. He says the financial planning industry has undergone legislative, economic, political, technological and structural change, but the year will not be remembered for these changes.
“It will be remembered for just one change,” Rowe says.
“And that change is your conviction and support to transition the FPA from an industry association into a professional association for individual financial planning practitioners.”
Spread the word
Rowe urges FPA members to let as many non-FPA members as possible know that from July 1 this year the barriers to membership will rise considerably, when it becomes mandatory for new members to hold an approved university degree.
There is an opportunity tor existing practitioners who do not hold such a qualification to join the FPA before then.
“I would ask that you ensure every opportunity is afforded to the colleagues in your professional network to join our professional community before this change takes place,” he says.
“It is an important consideration when speaking with your colleagues to note that the FPA is licensee and employer agnostic.”
Rowe says another highlight of 2013 will be the first Professionals Congress, to be held in Sydney in October. He says it will “bring together our professional community to enjoy the highest quality educational content, share professional best practice and first class networking events”.
Rowe concludes his note by asking FPA members to reflect on the strides made by the association in recent years towards establishing its credentials as a professional association.
“I would ask that you think of the discretionary effort that many have made through their involvement in our chapters and committees; our advocacy through FoFA and other changes; think of our work together in lifting standards; building a respected professional framework; and building a curriculum in financial planning with Australian universities,” Rowe says.
