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October
President's Message
Hello everyone, Welcome to October!
As we head into the final few months of the year, I want to take a moment to thank Marly Green, our Symposium Director, Luke Fargason, our Partnerships Director, Greta Sandy, our Programs Director, and Jessica Hawthorne, our Chapter Executive, for all of their hard work in making our 2026 Symposium a success.
It takes a lot of time and coordination to put together an event like this, and I’m grateful for the entire team and our partners who helped make it possible. We were fortunate to have an excellent lineup of national speakers throughout the year, providing our members with valuable opportunities for continuing education at both our chapter meetings and Symposium. I hope everyone who attended enjoyed the event, and we always welcome your feedback as we look for ways to make next year's Symposium even better.
With Symposium behind us, we’ll return to our regular meeting schedule in October. I hope you’ll join us on Thursday, October 15, at the Federal Reserve Building. We have just two chapter meetings remaining this year, in October and November, and we'd love to see you at both. Please feel free to bring a colleague along!
Finally, during the Symposium, we announced our proposed slate of officers for 2027, which is included in this month's newsletter. Please take a few minutes to review the slate and let us know if you have any additional nominations.
Isabella Blount, CPA , CFP®
Financial Advisor
Chapter Meeting
October 15 Chapter Meeting: From Business Income to Investment Income: Preparing Owners for a Successful Financial Transition
For most business owners, their company is the largest asset they will ever own. Yet financial planning often emphasizes managing wealth after a business sale rather than maximizing the value of the business before a transaction occurs.
This session explores how building an investment-grade business can increase enterprise value, enhance exit readiness, and ultimately generate more capital to replace business income with investment income. Attendees will gain practical insights into the key value drivers that sophisticated buyers reward, understand how proactive value creation years before a sale can significantly improve a client's long-term financial security, and learn how financial planners can collaborate with investment bankers, CPAs, and other advisors to help business owners achieve stronger outcomes before, during, and after a liquidity event.
By Attending This Session, Participants Will Be Able To:
- Evaluate the value drivers that distinguish an Investment Grade Business and influence buyer demand and valuation.
- Connect enterprise value creation to a business owner's long-term income replacement and wealth planning strategy.
- Integrate value creation and exit planning into a collaborative advisory approach that improves client outcomes before and after a liquidity event.
1 CFP® CE
Zane Tarence
Partner, Head of Strategic Partnerships, Founders Advisors
Unless otherwise specified, all meetings are on the 3rd Thursday
Time: 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM
Location: Federal Reserve Bank, 524 Liberty Parkway
Directions and parking information here
Format: Eat together in a gourmet-style cafeteria until 11:55, then move to the conference room for the presentation. Food is not allowed in conference rooms. Please RSVP and arrive on time to enjoy lunch and the speaker.
Registration: $15 members (see below for Guest Policy)
$160 - 2026 Season Ticket, covers all regular chapter meetings
RSVP: by the Friday before the meeting.
Register Now
Calendar of Events
Upcoming FPA Meetings & Events
Oct 15 FPA Lunch & Chapter Meeting at the Federal Reserve
Oct 15 The Birmingham Zoo - Joint Social with EPCB & FPA & AACGP
Nov 19 FPA Lunch & Chapter Meeting at the Federal Reserve
Dec 17 No Meeting
Jan 21 FPA Lunch & Chapter Meeting at the Federal Reserve
Feb 18 FPA Lunch & Chapter Meeting at the Federal Reserve
Mar 18 FPA Lunch & Chapter Meeting at the Federal Reserve
Events
An Evening at The Birmingham Zoo - Joint Social with EPCB & FPA & AACGP
We’re excited to share that The Birmingham Zoo will be hosting a joint social for us on Thursday, October 15th, from 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm. We will join the members of the EPC and the members of AACGP for an exciting evening of networking, food, drinks, and a few Ambassador animals on the Hugh Kaul Plaza. Chris Pfefferforn, President & CEO of The Birmingham Zoo will take about 10 minutes to welcome us and share a little about the Zoo’s campaign.
Please use this link or go to our Event page to register by October 5th:
Register for The Birmingham Zoo Social
THIS IS A MEMBERS-ONLY EVENT. Due to this being a joint social event and the number of members attending, no family or guests are included this time. We appreciate your understanding.
Sandy W. Sudd
Administrator
The Estate Planning Council of Birmingham
Symposium
What a time at the FPA of North Alabama Annual Symposium!
On September 17th , financial planning professionals across North Alabama came together for a full day of learning and connection at The Fennec. We covered a lot of ground: building human connection with clients in an AI-driven world, CFP® ethics, insurance, preparing practices for the Great Wealth Transfer, and an Alabama securities regulatory update. We also heard perspectives on fixed income and real estate, tax-efficient portfolio strategy, and private credit.
A huge thank you to:
Our speakers: Jay Mooreland MS, CFP, Carl Christie, CFP®, CFS®,MBA, Margaret Ann Pyburn, Olivia Hails Parkhurst, Amanda Senn, Brian Kyle, Rob Harvey, CFA, and Martin Tischler, CFP®, for sharing your expertise and giving us plenty to take back to our practices.
Our sponsors: Events like this don't happen without your support, and we're grateful for your partnership.
Everyone who attended: Your questions, conversations, and energy made the day. It was great to see so many familiar faces and meet new ones.
The Fennec: Thank you for being such a gracious host. The space was beautiful, and the food didn't hurt either!
Proud to serve on the board of an organization that invests in our profession and our community.
We are already looking forward to next year!
Partnership
Become a Corporate Partner
OUR VISION FOR OUR PARTNERS
To develop a long term, professional and mutually profitable relationship with our sponsor partners and to create an excellent working relationship between our members and partners.
The Financial Planning Association is one of the largest, most active, and most sophisticated financial advisor groups in the country with over 17,000 members (over 70% are CFP® professionals!) and nearly 77 active local chapters. The FPA North Alabama is widely recognized as a leader in the financial planning community and one of the most successful chapters in the country.
Our chapter is a past recipient of Outstanding Achievement Awards in the categories of Advocacy, Financial Literacy, and Partnering with Like-Minded Organizations.
Our members include financial planners, broker dealers, insurance professionals, attorneys, CPAs, investment specialists as well as banking and thrift professionals.
The chapter’s 170+ members are a dynamic, vibrant audience. Members collectively manage substantial investment assets on behalf of clients. Many FPA members are nationally known and active within leading professional groups and societies. FPA North Alabama members have a wide range of industry experience ranging from seasoned forty or more years to novice first year planners.
PARTNER BENEFITS
RECOGNITION
Visibility as an FPA North Alabama partner throughout the year at all FPANA events, in all newsletters, as well as on our website.
EXPOSURE
You are welcomed to our chapter events and will be introduced to our membership on a consistent basis. The financial professionals you’ll meet through the FPANA Chapter can help you build long-term business relationships.
EXHIBIT TABLE
Members are continually looking for information on new products and services to meet their clients’ needs. Platinum and Gold level partners can display their materials at our monthly chapter meetings to a targeted audience.
OPPORTUNITIES
You have the opportunity to meet and share your message with attendees at the chapter meetings, partner event, and annual symposium. It’s an excellent time to collect business cards for follow-up marketing.
EXHIBITOR SPACE
Exhibitor space is provided at our annual FPA of North Alabama Symposium.
Read more and become a Corporate Partner Today!
Partner Corner
Board of Directors
Dear Members,
We are pleased to present the 2027 Board of Directors for the Financial Planning Association of North Alabama.
Chair – Isabella Blount, CFP®
President – Peyton Jones, CFP®
President-Elect – Tara Ingram, CFP®
Secretary-Treasurer – Greta Sandy, CFP®
Partnership Director – Madison Caswell , CFP®
Programs Director – Luke Fargason, CFP®
Symposium Director – Kara Wingard
Membership Director – Rebecca Shurtz
Advocacy Director – Carrie Teardo, MS, CFP®
NexGen Director – Lucy Thompson
Public Relations Director – Open for Nominations
Career Development Director – Savannah Montgomery
Jessica Hawthorne – Executive Director
