2024 Scholarship winnersRobert Paylor and BOD
(925) 778-1165 eastbayfpa@gmail.com

About the FPA of the East Bay

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​The mission of the Financial Planning Association (FPA) is to elevate the profession that changes lives through the power of financial planning. FPA is the premier professional organization for financial services professionals. Our Chapter, FPA of the East Bay, is an experienced and diverse group of over 300 financial planning professionals. We meet on the first Wednesday of the month over breakfast from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. at Round Hill Country Club in Alamo. The Chapter is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors, and supported by sponsors and committee members who work to foster a core set of values: Competence, Integrity, Relationships, and Stewardship.

 

History of the Chapter

The Chapter origins date back over 50 years. The International Association for Financial Planning’s (IAFP) East Bay Chapter was founded in 1970 and Ken Nitzberg served as the first president. George Coughlin, a founding member, recounts the monthly East Bay Chapter meetings were held in the conference room at the MacArthur/Broadway Shopping Center in Oakland with about thirty planners attended their afternoon gatherings—which were free of charge at the time.

By the early 1990’s the Chapter had begun holding breakfast meetings at the Concord Hilton Hotel, before moving to Scott’s Seafood restaurant in Walnut Creek. As membership and local impact were growing, the Chapter hired its first dedicated Executive Director, Brenda Herrington, to assist with operations. This was a turning point as the power of organization and technology combined to allow more local professionals to hear about meetings.

In 1996, the FPA East Bay earned its first Gold Chapter Awards. Membership and meeting attendance continued to increase and, requiring a larger venue, the Chapter moved once again in 1997 to the Walnut Creek Marriott. Three years later, the Chapter found its long-term home at Round Hill Country Club in Alamo, where breakfast meetings still occur today. The Chapter has quadrupled in size since the early 2000’s.

In 2008, the East Bay Chapter held its first, free “Financial Planning Day” in Downtown Oakland. Led by Frank Parè, Past President, the clinic received widespread praise and interest. This even and Frank’s leadership began a new focus on pro-bono work, which has since become a major focus of the Chapter.