AFCPE

10/14/2026

The AFCPE® All In Swag Contest! 🎉

Running until October 16, you could win an item from our Spirit Wear Store (up to $50)! 👕✨

How to enter:
1️⃣ Follow us here (if you aren't already)!
2️⃣ Tag 2 friends you'd love to see at Symposium 👋
(Steps 1 & 2 need to happen on the same platform: Here, LinkedIn, or Instagram to count!)

Want a bonus entry?
📲 On here or Instagram, share this post to your Story and mention for one extra entry! (Limited to one bonus entry per participant.)

👉 Register for Symposium today: https://buff.ly/Sbu0g0g

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10/12/2026

Thinking about hiring a financial counselor? Let’s clear things up. 💡

We’ve just launched a brand-new home page at findanafc.org, making it easier than ever to find an Accredited Financial Counselor® (AFC®) who fits your needs.

Right on the home page, you’ll find Myths vs. Reality: Hiring an AFC, where we tackle common misconceptions like:

❌ Myth: “Financial counseling is only for people in crisis.”
✅ Reality: AFCs help people at every stage, from building a first budget to planning for big goals.

❌ Myth: “It’s too expensive.”
✅ Reality: Many AFCs offer affordable and accessible options.

Ready to take the next step toward financial confidence?

Check out the page here: findanafc.org and find your AFC today.

10/08/2026

AFCPE's Annual Business Meeting is Monday, October 26 at 3:00 PM ET. Only AFCPE members vote to elect the Board of Directors, and member attendance is required for us to conduct official business and approve the 2027 slate.

At the meeting, we'll:
✅ Vote on the new slate of Board members for 2027
✅ Review insights from the AFCPE Strategic Planning session held in May
✅ Introduce our new mission, vision, and values
✅ Share program updates and initiatives
✅ Highlight work being done by members like you

Meet the proposed 2027 slate: Dedrick Curtis, Miesha Davis, Brittany Driver, Ronald Harvey, Ann Lentell, and Lynne Patterson.

👉 Members, register today: https://buff.ly/1WVEmb9

Not a member yet? Join AFCPE and help shape the community you're part of: https://buff.ly/rOMp318

Join 2000+ financial counselors and educators. Membership provides educational resources that support you and your community.

10/05/2026

When a client asks why their score changed, do you have a clear answer ready?

Join AFCPE and FICO this Thursday, October 8, for a free live webinar: Demystifying FICO® Scores for Credit & Financial Counselors, presented by Elaine Cozart, Senior Manager, FICO Consumer Empowerment Programs and Partnerships.

You'll learn:

An overview of the FICO® Score and the different scoring models
The five key categories of FICO Score predictive characteristics
How scoring works, so you can better educate the people you serve

🗓 Thursday, October 8 | 12:00–1:00 PM ET
🎓 Eligible for 1 CEU for AFC® professionals
💲 Free for all attendees, not just AFCPE members

Know a colleague or coworker who counsels or coaches clients on credit? Share this with them.

Save your spot:

A training to empower credit counselors by providing an overview of the FICO Score, explaining the different scoring models, the five key categories of FICO Score predictive characteristics, and how scoring works.

10/02/2026

AFCPE® has some exciting events lined up for October!

Did you know that All AFCPE® webinars are FREE for members?

Not a member yet? Join today to unlock free webinars, networking, and a community of financial wellness professionals.

👉 Become a member: https://buff.ly/bc9ITOh

10/01/2026

Financial coaching is growing, and a new survey shows how. 📊

On the latest Real Money, Real Experts, "The State of Financial Coaching: What the Data Tells Us About the Profession," Joshua Escalante Troesh, CFP®, MBA, and Amelie Riendl, AFC®, PMP®, of Financial Coaches Network share what the State of Financial Coaching and Counseling Survey reveals about the profession, from credentials and technology to niches and new opportunities alongside financial planning firms.

Their big takeaway? The fundamentals matter most. Budgeting, accountability, saving, and paying down debt are still the foundation of real financial progress. 💪

Whether you're a coach, a counselor, or just curious about how financial coaching works, this one's worth a listen. 🎧

👉Watch the full episode, sponsored by Money Coach Network.

Link:https://buff.ly/NanvfdD

09/29/2026

The AFCPE® All In Swag Contest! 🎉

Running until October 16, you could win an item from our Spirit Wear Store (up to $50)! 👕✨

How to enter:
1️⃣ Follow us here (if you aren't already)!
2️⃣ Tag 2 friends you'd love to see at Symposium 👋
(Steps 1 & 2 need to happen on the same platform: Here, LinkedIn, or Instagram to count!)

Want a bonus entry?
📲 On here or Instagram, share this post to your Story and mention for one extra entry! (Limited to one bonus entry per participant.)

⏰ Last call: Early bird Symposium registration ends TOMORROW, September 30, at 11:59 PM!

👉 Register now and lock in your early bird rate: https://buff.ly/Sbu0g0g

We can't wait to see you at Symposium! 🙌

09/25/2026

Oh what a night!

This past Tuesday evening, we - in partnership with the FINRA Investor Education Foundation - received a 2026 ASAE Power of Associations Summit Award from the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) in recognition of the FINRA Foundation Military Spouse Fellowship Program.

20 years ago, this partnership started with a simple but urgent problem: military spouses were facing chronic underemployment and financial strain from frequent moves and deployments. Today, the Fellowship has helped hundreds of military spouses build careers as AFC® professionals and work to improve financial outcomes in military communities across the country.

A few things we're celebrating:

✅ 20+ years of partnership with the FINRA Foundation
✅ A Fellowship program that's created a pathway to the AFC® designation for military spouses
✅ Fellows like AFCPE Education Manager Heather Baker, AFC® who started in the very first class back in 2006 and now helps lead the program herself
✅ National recognition from ASAE for the impact this work has made

None of this happens without sustained commitment from FINRA Foundation, our staff and partners, and every Fellow who's carried this mission into military communities.

09/24/2026

There's less than a week left to save $100 on in-person 2026 AFCPE® Symposium registration. The early bird deadline ends on September 30 at 11:59 PM ET.

Join us November 17-19, either in person in Bethesda, MD, or online from wherever you are!

Register here: https://buff.ly/Sbu0g0g

Tag a colleague who should join you!

09/23/2026

Did your kid have a summer job this year? 🏊‍♀️🐕🌱

If they earned money lifeguarding, babysitting, mowing lawns, or working retail, they may be eligible for a Custodial Roth IRA, and it could be one of the most valuable financial gifts you give them.

In our latest Kids Corner article, "Roth IRA for Children and Teens: Eligibility Rules, Contribution Requirements, and Long-Term Planning Opportunities,"

Shari Evans, AFC®, MQFP® walks families through:

✔️ Which types of income actually qualify (and which don't...sorry, allowance)

✔️ How to "match" your child's contribution to encourage saving
2026 contribution limits and rules

✔️ What decades of compound growth can look like when you start investing as a teen instead of waiting until your 20s or 30s

It's a simple, practical guide for turning a summer job into a long-term financial head start. Read it here: https://buff.ly/bfeLjWo

Keep an eye out for our Q4 issue of The Standard. New articles are coming soon with more practical money guidance for you and your family! 📬