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Greetings!
This month brings more exciting news about our Chapter, upcoming events, and benefits for our members. We encourage you to read on and take advantage of the great opportunities available to you. |
| President's Message |
What You Do Makes A Difference!
You Can Help FPA Make A Difference Too!
Do you ever ask yourself why you are in this business? The economy is still struggling, the market is volatile, clients are frightened to spend or invest, companies are pulling out of the variable annuity business or changing their rules, long term care insurers are increasing premiums like crazy, . . . . . . . . let's not even talk about compliance!
There must be an easier way to make a living! So why do we do it?
For me the question gets answered by:
- the daughter of a client who emails to thank me for selling the long term care policy to her mother which enables her to provide superior care without financial difficulty to the rest of the family.
- the recent college graduate who parents have been long time clients and who wants to begin planning right away so he can end up like them, and
- the widow who came to me frightened, along and insecure in her financial acumen and proudly is able to send her child to college and retire comfortably.
Whether we realize it or not, what we do on a daily basis makes a significant impact on our clients' lives.
Veterans Leadership Program (www.vlpwpa.) makes a difference in the lives of those who served us and our country. With over 300,000 veterans in Western PA, our region has one of the highest per capita concentration of veterans in the United States and bore a disproportionate burden in support the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Unfortunately, many of these vets are returning to challenges with employment, housing issues and mental health disorders.
Saluting Service, May 22nd at Soldiers and Sailors Hall, is your chance to help FPA Pittsburgh Chapter in honoring our veterans. We are planning an entertaining night for you and your clients and will be presenting a check for $10,000 to VLP in honor of our First Class Patriot Achievement Award. Please help us by planning to attend this inaugural event.
Together, we can make a difference!
Best Regards,
Ruth A. Forsyth, CFP® |
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UPCOMING EVENTS!!!!! | |
Saluting Service
Step up and join the Financial Planning Association of Pittsburgh to Salute Service to our country and our community.
The Event
The Financial Planning Association of Pittsburgh presents the first Saluting Service Event. All nominees and attending service men and women will be honored.
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum
4141 Fifth Avenue., Oakland, Pittsburgh, PA 15213
6pm to 9pm
- Guest Speaker: Lt. Col. (Ret) BARRY BRIDGER A highly-decorated, 22 year veteran of the US Air Force, more than 70 combat missions over North Vietnam, and a six year imprisonment in the infamous "Hanoi Hilton". Lt. Col. Bridger tells his inspirational story in the evening program.
- Picnic on the lawn and Hall of Valor Tours
- Music, Entertainment, and Special Guests
- Presentation of the First Class Patriot Achievement Award
The Award
First Class Patriot Achievement Award
Honoring a vertean who has served the U.S. and serves the community.
Call For Nominations
- Nominate a Veteran who has demonstrated outstanding community service.
- Nominees honored at Saluting Service, a free public event.
- FPA of Pittsburgh will present the First Class Patriot Achievement Award to the top nominee. A $10,000 donation to Veteran's Leadership Program of Western PA will be made in honor of the recipient.
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Estate Planning Conference
April 25th | |
SPECIAL NEEDS PLANNING
When: Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Where: Sherwood Oaks Retirement Community 100 Norman Driv Cranberry Township, PA 16066 - Importance of protecting the loved one with specials needs' eligibility for government benefits.
- Role and Value of the Special Needs Trust and selecting the appropriate financial products to fund it.
- The importance of the Letter of Intent
- Locating an Attorney with Special Needs Planning experience.
3 CFP(r) and CLE Credits Pending
REMEMBER! In an effort to spread the word about the FPA and promote our educational events, FPA of Pittsburgh Memebers may bring an unlimited number of non-member guests to any event free of charge in 2012 (excludes the 2012 Financial Four'um and Golf Outing). Each non-member may attend a maximum of two events free of charge in 2012. We encourage you to invite your colleagues and friends to attend as well. |
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Special Thanks: Security Benefit - Platinum Sponsor | |
Thank you Brian Graime and Security Benefit for sponsoring our first MEMBERS ONLY event on February2nd as The Rivers Club
Created by Security Benefit, EliteDesigns is a flexible, invetment-focused annuity with a state of the art group trading platform, onluine account openingg and 200 investment choices from well known fund families. An innovative new breed of variable annuity, EliteDesigns combines the advantages of an advisor-driven, tax-deferred investment platform, with the power of multiple asset classes and diverse investment strategies. With EliteDesign, fee-only advisors can tap into the growth of the variable annuity makrket in a way that makes sense for their clients and their practice.
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PA Legislative Alert !!! | |
Bill Introduced in Harrisburg Will Eliminate Income Tax Deduction For Contributions
To Out-of State 529 Plans
PA SB #1135 will repeal parity - the same tax treatment for ALL 529 plans, and allow on the PA sponsored 529 plans to enjuoy the PA state income tax deduction, which is equal to the federal gift tax limit, or $13,000 per contributor per account. Pennsylvania currently offers only two 529 savings options: The Pennsylvania 529 Guaranteed Savings Plan, which is administered by the state Treasury Department, and the Pennsylvania 529 Investment Plan provided by Vanguard Investments. Among other things, this bill will:
- Limit PA families to additional tax savings by only choosing a college savings plans offered by the PA Treasury
- Limit the choice of savings behicles of PA families to one investment manager
- PA families using a PA financial advisor would hnot have access to the same tax benefits as the PA sponsored plans.
This bill has already passed the PA Senate Finance Committee and will be voted by the PA Senate very soon. If you disagree with this proposal, be sure to contact your PA State Senator or Representative and let your voice be heard. To learn more about this very important issue, contact Chris Stack, Esq. at www.savingforcollege.com or by calling 203-656-6627. |
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7th Annual FPA of Pittsburgh Golf Outing | |
Join the FPA of Pittsburgh members for a fun-filled day with great food and thousands of dollars worth of prizes!
May 4th
Old Stonewall Golf Club
$150 per golfer OR
$520 for foursome if registered by April 20th.
$50 for dinner only.
The entrance fee includes locker room, practice facility with range balls, golf cart with GPS, 18 holes. lunch, dinner and prizes.
Come early to network!
10:30am - registration opens. Lunch and use of practice facilities.
Noon - Shot Gun Start
5:00PM - Dinner and prizes!
Register at www.fpapittsburgh.org
Or send check payable to "FPA of Pittsburgh" to:
FPA of Pittsburgh
P.O. Box 97795
Pittsburgh, PA 15227 |
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2012 Heart of Financial Planning Award | |
The Heart of Financial Planning Award is not just any old form of recognition. It's an esteemed acknowledgement of an individual or a gorup who has used FPA's Core Values of competence, integrity, dedication to relationship building and stewardship to contribute to the financial planning community and/or the public.
The Award recognizes indivudual professional (e.g. CFP(r), attorney, professor, journalist), financial planning firms, FPA chapters, or organizations who engage in extraordinary work, contributing and giving back to the financial planning community and the public through financial planning. Award recipients embody the heart of financial planning and represent FPA's Core Values. Award recipients will be recognized at FPA Experience 2012 as well as through other FPA media outlets (press releases, social networking sites, etc.).
It would be an honor to the individual and the Pittsburgh Chapter to have someone from our Pittsburgh membership be nominated and win this esteemed award. |
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Taking the CFP® Exam in JULY??? | |
Win a scholarship to Keir's Live CFP Exam Review with materials!
Keir Educational Resources, a leading provider of professional education will award one scholarship per FPA chapter for the July 2012 exam cycle.
Successful candidates may choose their location at any live 4 day reviews. See locations and dates at www.keirsuccess.com.
Materials are included, and the retail value of this prize is $925.00
Click HERE to APPLY!!! |
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Membership Milestones |
Congratulations to the following FPA of Pittsburgh members who reached membership longevity milestones in April:
Ruth Forsyth 10 Years
James Campbell 10 Years
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FPA Automatic Renewal Policy | |
The FPA is excited to announce that you are now able to sign up for automatic renewal of your FPA membership!
If you sign up for automatic renewal, your membership will renew in the month that it is due and in the subsequent years going forward.
Click here to sign up for automatic renewal today! | |
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Attention FPA Sponsors!!! |
Are you interested in sponsoring the Pittsburgh Financial Planning Association or one of our events?
Interested parties may contact John J. Harm III for a copy of our 2012 SPONSORSHIP BROCHURE.
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Golf! Golf! Golf!
Save The Date! | |
Friday, May 4th
Get ready for the 2012 FPA Golf Outing
Old Stonewall Golf Club
See Details below! | |
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Media Training | |
If you would like to qualify to respond to requests for media interviews, click here to access the mandatory training, complete the Media Participation Agreement , and then contact Ruth Forsyth to be added to our Chapter's media response list.
To qualify to speak to the media, you must be a CFP in good standing, a member of FPA, and have a minimum of 3 years experience as a financial planner.
Media Interview Tips | |
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First Class Patriot Achievement Award | |
Nominate a Veteran!
Sign up for tickets and invite your clients!
Volunteers Needed For This Event!
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