UC Irvine Extension Presents “Financial Planning Association Residency Program 2011”

One of a Kind Six-Day Program Provides Financial Planning Professionals with Skill Sets That Complement Technical Career Training

IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The University of California, Irvine Extension today announces that it will host the annual Financial Planning Association^®(FPA^®) Residency Program 2011 from Oct. 23- 28. The six-day program, taking place in Lake Arrowhead, Calif., will offer certified financial planners (CFP), or graduates of the CFP Board approved program, the hands-on training and resources needed to build the professional skill sets necessary for creating and maintaining lasting client relationships. With the FPA member early-bird registration open until June 17, participants are urged to register early as last year’s event sold out early.

As a testament to the strength of the program for financial planning professionals, Elissa Buie, CEO of Yeske Buie, a financial planning firm in Vienna, Virginia and a lifetime mentor of the FPA Residency program confirms that, “every new financial planner with our firm attends UCI Extension’s FPA Residency program. This year, we are sending all three of our most recent financial planning hires. The experiential learning at this retreat creates a complete shift in focus to incorporating the relationship building skills so necessary to being an exceptional financial planner. Sending our employees to the Residency program is one of the best investments we make in the growth and excellence of our employees.”

Participants will spend each day with industry leaders, who also serve as program mentors and instructors. Through unique and challenging scenario engagements, participants will come away with a deeper understanding of clients’ needs and motivations, as well as tangible strategies for better serving client requests. With the professional retreat taking place in serene Lake Arrowhead, residency participants are relieved of the distractions that may come with other professional development programs—ensuring the best return on a valuable investment, and providing an environment in which participants can engage and grow confident in their ability to create meaningful relationships with their clients by using their knowledge of the financial planning process.

“In today’s competitive market, CFP practitioners need to set themselves apart from the competition and this program will teach participants, and allow them to practice, the core communication competencies needed to meaningfully connect with their clients,”said Tom Pokladowski, Esq., Assistant Director for Business, Management, and Legal programs at UC Irvine Extension. “This program is the only one of its kind in the country—attracting financial planning professionals from all across the United States, as well as from locations abroad like Belgium and Hong Kong—and providing participants with a profound investment in their careers, and the tools to build lasting client relationships.”

To register for the program, participants must meet one of the following three requirements: they must have completed a required CFP Board-registered program and be eligible to sit for the CFP Certification Examination; be a newly certified CFP practitioner or candidate for CFP certification; or be a CFP professional who has held the designation for three years or less.

To receive the early bird registration rate, enroll by June 17. For registration fees after June 17, non-member rates, or more information, please call 949-824-4661 or visit http://unex.uci.edu/certificates/business_mgmt/finance/fpa/.

About UC Irvine Extension: As the continuing education arm of UCI, UC Irvine Extension is dedicated to providing a university-level learning experience for students, offering thousands of exciting courses and programs to local, regional, and global constituencies via online curriculum, as well as through on campus classes. UC Irvine Extension offers a rich array of academic and community programs to support a diverse audience, from a wide selection of academic programs to numerous campus activities. For more information, please visit www.extension.uci.edu or fan the school at www.facebook.com/UCIExtension.

About the University of California, Irvine: Founded in 1965, UCI is a top-ranked university dedicated to research, scholarship and community service. Led by Chancellor Michael Drake since 2005, UCI is among the most dynamic campuses in the University of California system, with nearly 28,000 undergraduate and graduate students, 1,100 faculty and 9,000 staff. Orange County’s largest employer, UCI contributes an annual economic impact of $4.2 billion. For more UCI news, visit www.today.uci.edu.

About the Financial Planning Association: The Financial Planning Association^® (FPA^®) connects those who need, support and deliver financial planning. FPA believes that everyone is entitled to objective advice from a competent, ethical financial planner to make smart financial decisions. FPA members demonstrate and support a professional commitment to education and a client-centered financial planning process.