Corporate Member

The Corporate Member category is designed to complement, not replace the NAPFA-Registered Financial Advisor credential. Each Corporate Member firm must have at least one principal/owner who is a NAPFA-Registered Financial Advisor. The educational, experience and competency requirements for becoming a NAPFA-Registered Financial Advisor have not changed.

Benefits included in Corporate Membership

• All professionals within a Corporate Member firm will be listed jointly in the "Find a Planner" search results. Each professional is encouraged to create a profile and define his or her role in the firm.
• Corporate Member firms receive a web-link from the "Find a Planner" search results to the firm’s website.
• All professionals within a Corporate Member firm will be listed in a printed directory (if produced).
• NAPFA consumer referrals may be handled on a firm wide basis with the understanding that a competent individual or team will be responding.
• NAPFA press requests may be distributed to NAPFA-Registered Financial Advisors, Provisional Members or Corporate Member firm principals.
• All employees of a Corporate Member firm are eligible for member pricing on conferences and other educational or marketing offerings.
• All professionals of Corporate Member firms will be given a username and pass word with access to the "Members Only" areas of the NAPFA web site, including the ability to participate in focused user group discussions and/or education offerings.
• NAPFA-Registered Financial Advisors will automatically be subscribed to the NAPFA Advisor. All other professional employees may order a free subscription.
• NAPFA-Registered Financial Advisors are encouraged to use the NAPFA-Registered Financial Advisor and Fee-Only logos. All other professional employees of Corporate Member firms are encouraged to use the Fee-Only logo. A NAPFA Corporate Member logo will also be available.
• All professional employees are entitled to participate in the member discount program.

In the near future, as a part of the Larger Firm Initiative, NAPFA will offer training geared to staff development – specialized programs for office management, IT specialists, etc. These will be available to Corporate Member firm employees at the member rate.

Employees of a NAPFA Corporate Member firm who meet the education, experience and practice model requirements simply submit a sample comprehensive financial plan for peer review to upgrade to NAPFA-Registered Financial Advisor status. The dues for the Corporate Member are not increased based on the number of NAPFA-Registered Financial Advisors.

Structure and Responsibilities of Corporate Members

The required number of NAPFA-Registered Financial Advisor(s) at each Corporate Member firm is based on number of employees included in your answer to ADV – Part I, Question 5A: Approximately how many employees do you have, include full and part time employees but do not include any clerical workers. (Employee includes independent contractors who perform advisory functions.)

Each Corporate Member firm must assign one NAPFA-Registered Financial Advisor who is a principal/owner of the firm to do the following:

• Be main NAPFA contact
• Sign annual attestation for the firm
• Ensure timely remittance of payment
• Oversee updating of firm profile
• Assume the following supervisory responsibilities
  • Instill NAPFA values and mission throughout firm
  • Oversee level of competency at firm
  • Oversee interaction with consumers and media referred to firm via NAPFA programs. NAPFA consumer referrals and press requests should be handled with the respect they deserve.
  • Ensure the submission of current contact information for appropriate employees as defined in ADV Part I, Question 5A.
  • Ensure that each professional employee signs the NAPFA Fiduciary Oath annually (electronically or by fax).

Fees