The awards recognize individual professionals, financial planning firms, FPA chapters or organizations that contribute to the financial planning community and the public. Recipients represent FPA's core values of competence, integrity, relationships and stewardship. The following are this year's recipients:
Don Blandin, president and CEO of the nonprofit Investor Protection Trust, is being recognized for his leadership in developing the "How Can I Afford Retirement?" investor education program, as well as his close work with securities regulators, FPA chapters, and libraries across the country.
Mark Clark is being honored for his commitment to teaching financial education and L.I.F.E. skills to youth through nonprofit agencies and organizations in Northern California
Saundra Davis is receiving the award for providing high-quality pro bono financial planning to the working poor, and for volunteering thousands of hours as a key leader for the FPA of San Francisco Pro Bono Committee.
Michael Kitces, CFP, is being recognized for his commitment to education in the financial planning industry and for his work as co-founder of the FPA NexGen community of interest.
Keith Loveland is a practicing attorney in securities law and compliance and is being honored for his pro-bono and ethics work, and for his work ensuring a client-centered, ethical financial planning process.
Brent Neiser, CFP, is receiving the award for his commitment to financial literacy to educate the public in all areas of personal finance. He is director of strategic programs and alliances for the National Endowment for Financial Education.
Don Pitti, who died in December, received the award posthumously. He had dedicated years to helping advance the financial planning profession and was one of the founding members of the International Association for Financial Planning, a predecessor organization of FPA.
Karin Price Mueller is a journalist who delivers financial planning information to the public through various media outlets. Mueller co-authored financial literacy guides to educate immigrants and the underserved about how they can improve their financial situation in the U.S.