6 Professional Organizations Financial Advisors Should Know

Joining one or more professional organizations can be a smart move for any advisor who’s interested in scaling their business. Professional organizations for financial advisors often provide opportunities for networking, enhancing your education and building a sense of community. If you’re looking for a way to connect with other advisors or stay in tune with industry trends, it’s helpful to know which organizations are worthwhile.

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6 Professional Organizations for Financial Advisors

Membership in a professional organization for advisors may be tied to the credentials you hold, the type of clients you serve or other requirements. Here are six organizations you may consider joining to build your network and credibility.

1. The National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA)

The National Association of Personal Financial Advisors, founded in 1983, is the leading association for fee-only financial advisors in the U.S. The organization’s mission encourages members to be:

Beacons for independent, objective financial advice
Champions of financial services delivered in the public interest
Standard bearers for the financial planning profession

NAPFA members are comprehensive in their services, competent in their abilities and client-centered. Membership is open to actively practicing fee-only financial professionals, as well as students, academics and individuals who are seeking employment with a financial planning firm.

Registered members must complete 60 hours of continuing education (CE) every two-year cycle. At least two CE hours must be in ethics, and all courses you complete for CE credit must be approved by NAPFA.

2. The Financial Planning Association

The Financial Planning Association is a top membership association for Certified Financial Planners™ (CFP®). Aside from CFPs®, membership is open to four other groups, including:

Allied professionals who work in the financial planning or financial services industry
Aspiring CFP® professionals
Academics
Retired CFP® professionals

In terms of benefits, members enjoy access to the FPA job board and the FPA marketplace, where they can purchase products and services necessary to run their business at a discount. Members can also take advantage of insurance programs to protect their businesses and employees and get support services.

All members must pay membership dues; your membership level determines what you pay. CFP® holders and allied professionals must also pay local chapter dues. Members in Florida and California are subject to an annual state dues as well. No continuing education is required to maintain your membership.

3. National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA)

The National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA) is dedicated to advocating for a positive legislative and regulatory environment within the financial services industry. The organization offers services to help members enhance their business and professional skills while upholding the highest ethical standards in their practice. In 2024, the Society of Financial Service Professionals (FSP) merged with NAIFA.

You can join NAIFA as a:

Financial service professional
Associate member
Student

Associate membership is for individuals, partners and vendors who sell services to financial services professionals. Student membership is designed for high school and college students who are interested in a financial services career. All membership levels have a yearly fee.

NAIFA members can take an active role in the organization by volunteering to serve on committees or participating in leadership development training.

4. Investment Adviser Association

The Investment Adviser Association extends membership to fiduciary investment advisors, including RIAs, custodians, fintech companies, law firms, consultants and other firms connected to the industry. This organization is designed for investment advisors who want to expand their professional network and have a voice in shaping federal legislation and regulations.

Membership benefits include access to:

Legal and compliance resources
Networking opportunities
Advisor advocacy
Conferences, workshops, and other educational events
News and publications
Committee and working groups

Any RIA that joins the IAA must be properly registered and endorse the IAA’s Standards of Practice. Membership is good for one year and your firm’s annual dues are based on your AUM.

5. Financial Services Institute

The Financial Services Institute is a membership organization for independent financial advisors. Members enjoy access to comprehensive insurance coverage, discounts on business tools, marketing support, professional education and industry events, regular news and updates, and advisor advocacy.

Membership is open to these professionals who work for broker-dealers or investment advisors:

Individual partners
Directors
Officers
Employees
Independent contractors

All members pay the same annual fee.

6. The Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards

The CFP Board sets the standards for and administers the Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®) exam. It’s important to know this isn’t a membership organization, but it’s still worth mentioning as one of the best resources for advisors who are interested in a financial planning career.

When you earn your CFP® certification, you can gain access to numerous resources that can help you on your career path. For example, you can get access to industry news and updates, tips on marketing your advisory business and review job opportunities on the CFP® job board.

There are strict requirements you’ll need to meet to earn the CFP® mark. Once certified, you’ll need to complete continuing education requirements to retain your credential.

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Is Joining Financial Advisor Professional Organizations a Requirement?

Becoming a member of a professional organization for financial advisors is not a requirement for doing business. There are, however, some benefits to joining one or more professional associations or organizations. Here are some of the most important.

Networking: You’ve likely heard that it’s who you know, not what you know, that matters in business. And that’s true to a degree. Networking can be instrumental in driving new business and exploring opportunities for growth. Professional associations can make it easier to network online through forums or virtual communities. They can also be helpful offline through in-person conferences, workshops or meetups.
Education: Financial advisor professional organizations may offer a chance to increase your knowledge or expertise in a particular area through workshops, webinars or special training. They may also make it easier for advisors to keep pace with the latest news or trends through email newsletters, blog posts or podcasts.
Credibility: Building trust can be essential to your success as an advisor. And it’s important to establish yourself as a reputable source for advice. Belonging to one or more professional organizations for financial advisors can make you appear more credible in the eyes of current clients and prospective clients alike.

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Bottom Line

SmartAsset: 5 professional organizations for financial advisors

Joining financial advisor professional organizations could help you to broaden your horizons. This is especially true if you can make new connections, gain new knowledge or pursue different job opportunities. Comparing each organization’s benefits can help you narrow down which ones you might consider joining.

Tips for Growing Your Business

You don’t need to spend so much time doing marketing on your own. SmartAsset AMP (Advisor Marketing Platform) is a holistic marketing service financial advisors can use for client lead generation and automated marketing. Sign up for a free demo to explore how SmartAsset AMP can help you expand your practice’s marketing operation. Get started today.
It’s important to use your time and resources wisely. If you’re limited as to how much time and money you can invest in things like marketing your business, consider how you can do it more cost-effectively.
It’s always a good idea to increase your digital footprint. People who need financial advice are increasingly looking for it online. If you haven’t searched for yourself, take time to do so and see what comes up. Consider how you can improve your branding. And make yourself more visible in search to help drive more traffic your way.