In the final episode of this season, Mary and Rachael are joined by AFCPE’s Board President, Michele Godfrey, AFC®. Two weeks ago, we kicked off the 2022 AFCPE Symposium with a trip down memory lane – celebrating where we’ve been and where we’re going as we wrap up celebrations for the #30YearsofAFC.
In this episode, we’ll recap some of the highlights from our opening general session, answer your questions about the organization, and share our favorite moments from #AFCPE2022.
This episode was live-streamed on Youtube on November 22nd, 2022.
Transcript and Show Notes:
1:08 Why focus on the past, present, and future?
4:31 What's happening in the world of certification and education
10:03 What groups live within the profession?
14:18 What can someone get out of membership?
24:43 What's next with the AFCPE Pro Bono Program?
27:54 Thoughts for those wanting to get into private practice
32:28 Outgoing remarks from Board President Michele
Show Note Links:
Annual Report
Download Symposium Recordings
Want to get involved with AFCPE®?
Here are a few places to start: Become a Member, Sign up for an Essentials Course, or Get AFC Certified today!
Want to support the podcast? We love partnering with organizations that share our mission and values. Download our media kit.
In the final episode of this season, Mary and Rachael are joined by AFCPE’s Board President, Michele Godfrey, AFC®. Two weeks ago, we kicked off the 2022 AFCPE Symposium with a trip down memory lane – celebrating where we’ve been and where we’re going as we wrap up celebrations for the #30YearsofAFC.
In this episode, we’ll recap some of the highlights from our opening general session, answer your questions about the organization, and share our favorite moments from #AFCPE2022.
This episode was live-streamed on Youtube on November 22nd, 2022.
Transcript and Show Notes:
1:08 Why focus on the past, present, and future?
4:31 What's happening in the world of certification and education
10:03 What groups live within the profession?
14:18 What can someone get out of membership?
24:43 What's next with the AFCPE Pro Bono Program?
27:54 Thoughts for those wanting to get into private practice
32:28 Outgoing remarks from Board President Michele
Show Note Links:
Annual Report
Download Symposium Recordings
Want to get involved with AFCPE®?
Here are a few places to start: Become a Member, Sign up for an Essentials Course, or Get AFC Certified today!
Want to support the podcast? We love partnering with organizations that share our mission and values. Download our media kit.
Welcome to Real Money Real Experts, a podcast where leading financial counseling and coaching experts share their stories, their challenges, and their advice for helping people manage money in the real world. I'm your host, Rachel Deleon, executive Director of the Association for Financial Counseling and Planning Education for A F C P
Speaker 2:E. And I'm your co-host, Dr. Mary Bell Carlson, an accredited financial counselor, or afc, and the President of Financial Behavior Keynote Group. Every episode we're taking a deep dive in the topics that personal finance professionals care about, helping clients, building community, and your professional growth.
Speaker 1:Mary, I'm so excited we have Michelle Godfrey joining us today. Um, she is an accredited financial counselor who has worked extensively in the mili with military families, um, of all branches, and is currently our 2022 A F C P Board President.
Speaker 2:Welcome, Michelle. We're so glad to have you.
Speaker 3:Good to have. I'm glad to be here.
Speaker 2:Good. Hey Michelle, I have a question for you. Has been three years since we have met in person uhhuh and this year we really focused on the past, present, and future of A F C P E. What led to that decision?
Speaker 3:Well, I think that, um, as Rachel and I were working through the year 2022, we were working on bringing everybody back to symposium. We really felt like it would be important to kind of just talk about what everybody's been doing, what our AFCs have been up to, what our staff members have been up to, what our partners have been up to. Um, and also since we were celebrating or recognizing the 30 year of the afc, um, credential, we thought that it would be important to provide some historical context for our members and partners. And we got great feedback from that, uh, because several people had never heard the story of how it all began. Um, and the details of where we started out as an organization in different constituencies and where we've grown to now.
Speaker 1:Yeah. And um, I think one of the, one of my favorite parts is it's the way we kicked off the event. And Mary, you know, all too well cuz you've been really involved with our archives project. But we have been able to go back and interview some of the people who are instrumental in starting the organization. Um, and so we had clips of Tejera Hira, our co-founder and Ann Colson, who was our very first director of certification, kind of taking us back and talking about their experiences when it all began. And seeing the pa or hearing rather the passion in their voices and the things they talked about, you know, that they were referring to almost 40 years ago. You know, to see that still, that thread of excitement even today was really neat and kind of came full circle.
Speaker 2:Absolutely. And Rachel, I'm actually gonna take this experience to talk to anybody who wasn't at the conference and maybe talk a little bit more about this project, but these are voices that are, um, as we're celebrating our 40th and 30th year of the designation, um, those voices are not around much longer. And so we're trying to capture those voices, um, while we still have the opportunity. So anyone that, um, was a part of the initial group, we'd love to capture your voice and anyone that wants to get involved, please reach out to Rachel, uh, myself or Michelle. Um, and let us know how you want to be involved. We're interviewing interviews. We also have an opportunity for anybody who maybe has, uh, previous workbooks or handbooks or brochures or even programs from years back. I was just laughing and telling the ladies earlier, I have a bag from 2010 that probably should go in the archives. Right.<laugh>. Um, but if you do have any hard material coffee materials, we'd love to receive those as well. So anything you have, please reach out to us and let us know, cuz those are important to capture those voices and make sure that the, the future generations know about where we came from.
Speaker 1:Yeah, Mary, we have some of those here in our internal archives and we put those out a few years, a few years ago at the symposium. And it was so much fun for some old timers and new timers to go through the pictures. And there's something about holding those tangible items and they just bring back so many memories. And so I know there's a lot of it out there. People hold on to those things and we would love to collect them, uh, for, for our archives.
Speaker 2:Absolutely. So I have a question for you, Michelle. What is happening in the world of certification and education<laugh>?
Speaker 3:Oh my. So we did a great job this year talking about the difference between the certification team and the education team. So first and foremost, education is important, um, because we all wanna stay fresh and abreast on issues, concerns, techniques, and practices in the field. So our education department at um, A F C P E works really hard throughout the year to find, promote, and even, um, create various workshops for our membership, um, so that we can participate, um, and say again fresh in our field. Um, it also gives a great opportunity for AFCs and CFPs to develop curriculum or develop classes for continuing education as well. Now with certification, we are always happy to welcome new people into AFC or into the A F C P E organization and those working on their designation. And we have a couple different types of or pathways towards certification. Um, and I would point you to the website, to the, the<laugh> to view all of those because I like to think of it where there is a will, there is a way mm-hmm.<affirmative> and A F C P E has come a long way with certification. Uh, we are accredited, um, in cca. We have our N CCCA accreditation. Um, we have some register certification programs or education programs that'll allow you to get certification through your various, um, organizations, um, or independently registered even with some of the schools, um, in that aspect. So a lot's going on there. Um, Rachel, you work with the staff every day on that part.<laugh>, you wanna share a little bit more about the details in that?
Speaker 1:Yeah, the team, I mean the team here is so passionate and one of our, you know, front and center always is making sure that we're upholding our accreditation standards. And one of the things that I shared in our opening session is that there are more than 200 certifications, financial certifications that are listed on THINNERS website. So, you know, we always hear the term alphabet soup in our field. And when you think of all that is out there, there are a lot. Um, but if you go to the accredited designation page, there are only 10 that actually have gone through the rigor of getting their certification programs accredited. And of those, there is only one financial counseling certification that has that distinct honor. And so, you know, we're really proud of the work that went into obtaining that certification in 2015. And so, you know, internally the team is really focused on making sure that our exam is, is up to date psychometrically sound, that it's representative of the way our people are using the designation. Um, and so when we talk about A F C P E being rooted in, in research and high standards, we really live those out. So,
Speaker 2:You know, I had several conversations at the conference about this idea and I know that there were a lot of first timers there, there were a lot of new people and some haven't received any certification. So please know, you can be a member of A F C P E and not have a certification. We hope you'll choose to get a certification. But I also think it's really important for those that are maybe not involved with any community organization, but are calling yourself a coach or a financial counselor to get certified and to really know what you're getting into when you purchase a certification program. Right. There's a lot of certification programs that claim to do a lot of things, but as you just mentioned, uh, Rachel, there's only one that's gone through the accreditation process, um, that, that we've done. So make sure that you've done your homework on that
Speaker 1:And I think you owe it to your clients. You know, to me you're, you're doing it for yourself obviously, to make sure that you feel more confident and you have all of the pieces and parts to be able to, to educate people in personal finances, but you're really doing it for your clients. You're telling them that you're invested in ongoing continuing education and that you're doing right by them.
Speaker 3:Absolutely. And I, I agree that, you know, certification sets you apart as an accredited financial counselor. Yeah. I learned some things about how to get out of debt and how different tools I can use, but when you get that certification, you start to understand the why and, and A F C P E is deeply rooted in research mm-hmm.<affirmative>. And we have a lot of researchers who provide, um, evidence based, and when I say evidence based, these are proven ideas, proven, uh, strategies, um, for working with clients to solve their financial issues, um, or solve their financial, help them reach their financial desires. And so it gives you that, I call it street cred. It gives you real street credibility to be able to really have some tools. And I think the value of membership is that, um, really what brings us together is symposium is a group of, um, committed professionals, whether you're certified or not at this particular point, but it gives you a network so that there are some times when we need to recognize that this particular issue or concern is outta my scope, but guess what, I went to symposium and I met this person, or I met this particular researcher. Um, and I'm able to make a connection for the clients and for organizations so that they can be able to really help their clients in their mission.
Speaker 2:Absolutely. Absolutely. Michelle, I actually have a follow up to that. We talk a lot about our different constituencies at A F C P E, but maybe for an outsider they don't know what constituencies exist within. Would you give a high level overview of some of the big groups within the profession? Sure.
Speaker 3:So when, when A F C P E first started out, it was a group of researchers who worked primarily within, um, extension services at various universities. And if you know anything about extensions, they're not at all universities. And usually they're most, they're mostly all states, right? Correct, mm-hmm.<affirmative>. But, you know, some of them may not have a good, uh, solid or a strong, um, or in depth, I'll say, uh, financial education focus. So it was primarily in extension and military. Um, as you know, department of Defense and our military organizations take it very seriously to provide financial education to service members and their families. But since then, the constituencies have evolved where we're talking about financial education and financial counseling at has evolved. So we have nonprofits who utilize AFCs. We have banks who have banks and credit unions who have started to, um, send some of their team members to get become certified and utilize our resources. Of course, the schools and we're talking at higher education and those in, um, secondary primary education. We have some teachers there, um, financial aid officers at, uh, at uh, universities have AFC cred, um, certified individuals. But we've also even expanded into, um, accessibility. Um, we have a strong pro strong relationship with, um, a non-profit who focuses on accessibility and we are making sure that our programs are accessible, but also teaching individuals how to work with people who may have various challenges so that they can maintain their financial growth and financial wealth, private practice. Mm-hmm.<affirmative>. So, um, and in the last five to six years, our private practice constituency with A F C P E has grown. Um, you could look for now a lot of, uh, individuals and and organizations who have, who are started by AFCs and they primarily provide financial counseling and coaching. Um, even some speakers or workshop presenters, facilitators, um, in the private practice film. And those individuals, some of them who I've had the opportunity to work with, found a, found a opportunity to distinguish themselves from the normal, sometimes the CFP profession. Um, in that they're not necessarily investment planners. They're not necessarily trying to help you, um, grow your investment in that particular aspect, but they're helping individuals with their day to day finances and getting on a path so that they can use some more advanced services. Um, we have a great, we have a large student population as well. So we don't wait for our students to just graduate and get their AFC before we integrate them into the A C P E fold. We invite them to symposium and throughout the years there are courses specifically for them, and then they have the opportunity to participate in what we call knowledgeable, where they showcase the skills that they've learned. And if you look at any of those universities, we have some universities who have, um, student financial, um, assistant centers. And those words aren't exact, but some of'em have'em very different. But where students can come and say, Hey, help me<laugh>, um, even even those with advanced degrees. Um, we have a a, an organization that works primarily with students who are achieving, um, advanced degrees in law or even medical professions, uh, so that it's not too late to get financial aid or student loan type counseling. So our consensual have grown from just the two, um, to many at this particular time.
Speaker 2:I was gonna say, Michelle, the thing I really heard is that there's a space for everyone. I, I really don't know. If they didn't hear her call out your area, please join us. Cause it will create one, right? Like there, this is really an opportunity for everyone.
Speaker 3:Yes, it is. It really is.
Speaker 2:<laugh>. Rachel, I wanted to ask you, so someone who wants to join A F C P E, what do they get out of the membership?
Speaker 1:Yeah, I think where Michelle is touching on too, we have AFCs that work in all those constituencies. But Mayor, you said something earlier too. You don't have to be certified to be a member with us. And I think that's something that's really unique about our membership is that we, you know, our focus is on integrating the field no matter where you are. Um, you know, building those referral relationships, connecting people with the help they need. You don't have to be be everything to everyone, but how do you work, you know, to in tandem in the field to get people the services they need. And that's something that really sets our membership apart. Um, so first of all, all are welcome in a F C P E membership. If you, if you touch personal finance in some way, um, there is a home for you. Um, but part of your membership, it is separate from certification. Um, we have virtual meetups, um, and get togethers multiple times a month. Uh, we have a discussion forum,'em where people can share best practices, ask questions, you know, work through problems that they're having or resources they need to support themselves in their work. We do virtual experience hour fairs and, um, job fairs for those looking for work. Um, obviously we offer professional development. So we, um, you know, have some relationships with groups like Financial Planning Association and we deliver education internally. So monthly, you know, for our members, uh, or personal professional development is free to you. Um, yeah. And then there's things like access to research. You know, our, our research journal has been around for more than 40 years. It publishes three times a year. Um, there's so much great rich information in that journal. And we also have members internally who work in practice, um, and they work together to break that down. So, you know, if you don't want to pick up the research journal that you have peers around you to help you apply that into practice and vice versa. So, so many good reasons to join the membership, um, you know, all are welcome.
Speaker 2:I must say that this membership crowd is one of the most inviting and active and talkative groups you'll ever meet. In fact, I have to be honest, most of my time at Symposium is spent in the hallway or in the exhibition hall because there are so many great people to meet. And so I know that one of the questions that we wanted to talk about is what was your big takeaway? And this year, once again, it's the connections that I made that was my biggest takeaway of people that I met that I would've never really crossed paths with otherwise, that are doing interesting things that are very different from what I'm doing. But we find ways to link back together and just some of the hallway conversations have been incredible. What do you remember the most, Michelle?
Speaker 3:So, um, I, I hate to repeat exactly what you said, but<laugh>. Sure. Um, what gave me the chills was when just hearing the hallway chatter, you know, it's, uh, that's a sound of connections being made. That's a sound of familiarity, that's a sound of new connections being formed and new relationships being formed. And so while all of the keynote sessions and, um, the individual sessions that I attended were great, just to hear that hallway chatter again was great. Um, my, my biggest takeaway from symposium once again is that it's a place for me, it's a home for me. And I had heard, um, when, on the final day on Friday afternoon, as we were leaving, I was standing at the back of the door and I met a first time attendee who said she felt at home by coming to Symposium. And she was a, she's an AFP candidate. Um, and she had not, she wasn't sure what to expect and what her experience was gonna be or her why really for coming to symposium. But she came anyway and she said to me, this is where this felt like home. This felt where, felt like where I needed to be in order to grow in this particular field. So that's one of the things that I remember most. That's my biggest takeaway, is that what we are doing, um, works. That what we are we're doing is valuable. It's value added. Um, it is, it is impacting the lives of people who are in the, in a space where they're helping others. So it is, I I was just takeaway is it's a valuable research. It's the one professional development conference that I look forward to every year,<laugh>. Um, so it is definitely, uh, it's definitely value added. It's needed.
Speaker 1:Yeah. I mean, I may, I may be a little biased since, you know, we all<laugh>, we put this one together every year. But I attend a lot of events throughout the year and all excellent events. But I also attend as an exhibitor, you know, oftentimes, and I had exhibitors coming up saying, we need a break all, you know, because it's just, people are so excited about the resources are that are there and it's just the energy is unlike any place else. So I think, you know, I, you can't even accurately describe it until you're in this space, but there is this like warmth in the room. People are inviting and they're engaging. I talked to two people, uh, just this past week who had come to a symposium. One had been in virtual, one had been in person and had gotten a job out of it, you know, just from a conversation in the hallway. You know, they had connected, oh, one of them actually, one was a symposium, the other was our message board, the discussion board. They had connected over similar interests. It turned out one was a pre fit practitioner was growing our practice. The next thing you know, you know, they're together meeting for the first time in person. They, you know, worked together at the symposium. And so I just feel like those stories happen over and over again. And it just shows you that you can make so many different connections at different points.
Speaker 2:Absolutely. And I think you both have made a really good argument of why you should go to symposium. And I think well outta state, it could be anyone. Like you don't even have to be related to it. I know that I met someone in the hallway once again,<laugh>, um, who was actually putting on the conference the next week. Oh wow. And he came in, he actually, uh, gives a, a presentation on finances, uh, to the Latino population. And he had just come in to kind of check out the space and he actually was on guard cause he thought, oh, these are financial professionals. I don't think I want to meet them. Um, cuz he just had his, his, um, radar up. And so I laughed because we got to talking quite a bit. And in literally in our conversation, and he met several others, he was there for a few hours just talking to everybody in the exhibit hall. And he said, this place is amazing. I've never seen anything like it. So this is a complete outsider who had no idea what he was walking into and was even with it guarded, that was just blown away by the acceptance and, uh, the opportunities that were given him from literally walking in off the street to check out the venue. So I thought that was kind of a fun story to realize anyone can come. And I often point people to a cpe if you're kind of on the fence or don't know if it fits coming to symposium, really that in-person meeting solidified it so much. And Rachel, I have to brag, you didn't just host an in person meeting, you also did a hybrid this year. So talk to us a little bit about that, how you did both in person and hybrid and how that went.
Speaker 1:You know, coming off of two years virtual, we just, we knew this was gonna be a transitional year for a lot of people. And you know, some organizations still aren't, you know, helping pay for travel. Some people are still a little bit nervous about traveling. Airlines aren't always as, you know, super friendly to navigate this time of year. And so we really, you know, we always talk about meeting people where they are. So this year was sort of our bridge and, you know, trying to make sure that that, that the event was ex accessible, you know, no matter how you wanted to attend. And, and we were really excited. We had more than a thousand atten attendees split fairly equally across, you know, virtual and in person. And we did our best to engage them. We had a lot of, uh, breakouts that were in person being live streamed to our virtual attendees. And, um, everything that is online is available to those who attended in person. And so, uh, this year was the first time ever you didn't have to coordinate with a friend, a tag team, different sessions. You can actually watch a hundred hours of professional development content, um, after the fact. And so, um, yeah, we were really pleased. I mean, obviously when you host two events that, you know, it's a lot of juggling. Um, and so as we move forward, we're, you know, continuing to explore kind of the best mediums for connection. Um, but this year was, was really special. Um, but I would just say, you know, when I, when we look ahead to next year, and you asked about membership, this energy doesn't have to end, you know, we are all in person, but just next month we have meetups, we have professional development, we have an active discussion board. And so you can plug right in any day, any time of the year and find your people.
Speaker 3:Yeah, I would also say, just for clarification purposes, we're not regionalized. Um, we have AFCs and members all across the world, all across the globe. Um, in person. We have people from Japan, we have people from Hawaii, we had someone from Germany, um, a lot of different places. All the way from Oregon. There we are everywhere. Yes. Up
Speaker 1:All 50 states. Representative represented in eight countries, I believe. So, I mean, yeah, a really diverse audience. And that goes for our staff. Our staff is spread throughout the country just like our people. And so, um, you know, but we still manage. It's, it's really, it's really fascinating in this new environment of work. You know, we're spread all out, but we're more connected than other. And Michelle can attest to that because the first half of her presidency, she was in Japan,<laugh>
Speaker 3:Back
Speaker 2:In the States. Now
Speaker 3:In,
Speaker 2:Well, we're gonna take a few questions from the audience is one of the questions is, what's next with the A F C P E pro bono program?
Speaker 1:Good question. Um, so we are sun setting the general public pro bono program December 15th. And obviously anyone who signs up to meet with a, an AFC prior to that, our, our professionals will continue to, to serve the person they're working with until that, you know, until they feel like it's completed. Um, but one of the things we are continuing is our veterans program. So this was an offshoot of the pro bono program and it launched earlier this year and it's had some really good support by the va. Um, and, and we're seeing a lot of traction with it. And so for the a for the professionals out there that do virtual counseling, um, sometimes there are no-show rates with signups. You know, there's a lot of barriers, there's a lot of behavior, um, uh, anxiety, stress for reaching out for help. And so those are, those are normal trends. But what's interesting is with the veteran community, we are seeing a lot more follow through. Um, and so it, you know, we decided that's sort of where we're leaning towards. That does not mean we don't believe in pro bono financial counseling. We'll, we still have a find an AFC website. We have professionals that are available, whether through nonprofit organizations, if they're in private practice, they, you know, they're sliding scale fees and things to work with all people. And so, um, that's where we're moving as we head in to 2022 and later next month, um, or next month, probably early 2023, we have put together a white paper, uh, looking at all the research that we've collected over the last few years through the program. And there are so many learnings about, you know, how we rolled it out, the things we did well, the things we would improve. And I, you know, I just challenge everybody to, to read through that. It's a really authentic piece. We have tons of data and I think it's gonna be really important for other organizations or groups that want to replicate this. Um, there were a lot of learnings along the way, but, um, one story that I just wanted to call out, I was in the recap with our, our funder and our researchers and our participants at the symposium. And, and there was a woman in AFC who at the beginning of C had volunteered to be part of this program out of, you know, like many, we had over 500 volunteers outta the goodness of their heart when they were balancing their own financial stressors and times with their family. They, they raised their hand and said, let me get back. And so I think that speaks to the heart. Um, but one of the things that this program did for her was it gave her the confidence to start that practice. She's always wanted to start. She was always really nervous about it. She wasn't sure how to navigate virtual and now she's serving people. It was either 13 or 15 states and has a thriving practice. So, you know, not only did this program give back to thousands of Americans, but it really helped a lot of our professionals too, which is is fantastic.
Speaker 2:Absolutely.
Speaker 1:That was a long winded answer,<laugh> well that,
Speaker 2:Well I include that pro bono report in the show note links for anyone that's interested. Uh, I think that sounds great and yes, we would love to, to know more there. Let's go on to another question. Is there any guidance for starting a private practice? I know there's a lot of talk around, I wanna start, and Rachel, thank you for that comment. I think that's a great way to get into private practice is pro bono. What are some other thoughts on those wanting to get into private practice?
Speaker 3:Um, I would recommend, um, mentorship. Mm-hmm.<affirmative> if you are interested in, uh, growing your business cuz you could do it 150,000 maybe different ways,<laugh>, um, whether you are a contractor, whether you work individually, one on one with a client, whether you work, um, doing facilitation or workshops only, those kinds of things. So really wanna start with picking your brain and figuring out what is exactly it you want to do. But also in our A C P E member, it's changed. We have, as we said, um, I watched one of my close co one of my colleagues and friends who's at AFC start her business maybe about five years ago. And it has gone through various changes and it has evolved over time to what she wants it to be. Um, and it, and it'll continue to grow. But what I can tell you that what she did was she started out with, um, her idea and then went forward with mentorship, of course. Um, her practice is based on afc. So she got her foundation with the AFC credential and then looked at different ways, um, and found her niche of what she wanted to do. So I would highly encourage mentorship and that's one another value of our organization and value of our membership is that we aren't, we share, we share resources. We love to share share knowledge, we love to share experience with each other. Um, and that happens, it could start at symposium, um, and continue throughout the year, um, in whatever forms you and your mentor decide. And there are a lot of different people who have signed up and volunteered to be mentors, um, and look at different things. And even just reaching out to someone in private practice and saying, Hey, let me shadow you. Let me, um, understand how you do your project. Um, or do your run your business A F C P E supports in various ways. Again, of course with the professional development, professional education so that you have a solid foundation in what you're doing. But also we have partnerships with other programs. Um, if you were looking for, um, e o insurance and those types of things, we do have some member benefits that are helpful for those who are in private practice as well. Um, so I would direct you to a p e.org to<laugh>, um, to, to explore those options and ideas again. But the member change is a great place to start, um, looking at finding AFC and look at some of those people who are actually in private practice. Again, reach out. We are, we are a sharing community<laugh>.
Speaker 1:We, we are, we're a community of abundance, not scarcity. So, you know, everybody is lifting up those around them. And I, Michelle mentioned the member, the member exchange or the member forum, um, I, I should say that correctly. Um, but one of the things that we're launching in February for membership are things we call empowerment communities. And so right now our member exchange is the entire A F C P E membership. And so that's all constituencies, but we're forming smaller communities within the exchange. So for things just like this for private practitioners, that way they can have like really intricate conversations and share ideas, you know, in a really safe space. And so, um, you know, more to come
Speaker 3:Masterline groups, I was say
Speaker 1:Yes. Like mastermind groups. Exactly.
Speaker 2:Absolutely. Oh, I love it. Well, I would say too, the other part is there's always the podcast that we do, we've done a lot of discussions on private practice. So that could even be while you're looking for your mentor and you're trying to figure out, listen to the podcasts and figure out how others have done it. And that's why we'll continue to bring you those in season four, which is launching in January. Right Rachel?
Speaker 1:That's right. This is our final episode of the year. So in December when there's no new episodes coming out, you just need to go back and get caught up.
Speaker 2:Yeah, absolutely. Well, that's it, unless there's any other questions coming in, is there anything you both wanna share with the group before we finish today?
Speaker 3:Well, I just like to close out this podcast by saying it has been an honor to serve as the board president for A F C P E. Um, this year I learned a lot. I enjoyed working with all of the members of the board of directors, um, as well as all of the staff from A F C P E and our partners. It has been one of the highlights of my professional career. Um, and I'm not going anywhere A F C P E is my community. Uh, it's a home. It's a, it's a great place to be if you're looking for a place to be. It's a great place to be. Um, and I look forward to the future of the organization. So, um, I'm, and I would also like to just say, it was just so wonderful to be back together in person and still connect with those, those are my friends who joined us virtually. Um, it was so wonderful to be together again. Absolutely.
Speaker 1:Yeah. I'll, I'll second that. I, you know, thank you Michelle, for your service this year as well. It was an honor to work with you and I'm glad you're not, you're, you aren't going far. I think, you know, I remember serving on one of, I think was probably your very first task force Yes. Versus with you. And Michelle was a go-getter and a connector from day one. She was like, we were, uh, spearheading some in person, uh, connector groups and she outlined the whole thing and was the Guinea pig. And from day one she was a connector. Um, but I would just kind of piggyback on that and say, you know, lean in and this community is open and welcoming to you. Give membership a chance. We always say like, start with membership. It offers you discounts on certification. So, you know, why not lean into the community first and kind of fill your way, way in. But one of the things that we, um, voted on as a membership community this year was to move membership to an anniversary year. And what that means is if you join today, you have a year of benefits from today. And so we previously were on a calendar year, so you know, people didn't really wanna join in November. They wanted to wait until January one. Well, you don't have to wait in anymore. So, you know, I encourage you to, to check us out. Uh, there's a lot to learn and um, you know, you're always welcome here.
Speaker 2:Absolutely. And for any of you that are wondering how to join or maybe where the membership exchange is or any other ways to connect or get a mentor, go to A F C P E that's Association for Financial Counseling and Planning Education, A F C P e.org and click join and become a member. We're so glad you were here with us today and we hope you'll join us not just next year, but in the new year as well. Take care, everyone.