LETTER FROM NAPFA

Happy New Year!

As we step into 2026, there is a renewed sense of momentum across the NAPFA community. The themes highlighted in this issue—mentoring rising advisors, the continued strength of the Fee-Only model, the compounding value of volunteer leadership, the impact of AI, and the growth of RIAs—reflect the opportunities you are shaping every day through your work with clients and across the NAPFA community.

Many of this issue’s themes, along with other areas of focus you have shared with us, carry through into the programs and experiences planned for the year ahead. This year’s lineup of NAPFA conferences and programs is designed with you in mind, to expand learning, strengthen community, and elevate the standard of fiduciary excellence that defines your practice. Your commitment to integrity, innovation, and client-focused service continues to move our community forward and inspires the work we do at NAPFA.

I invite you to join us at the Spring National Conference May 13–16 in Minneapolis, our flagship gathering and one of the most valuable opportunities for learning and connection. The program will feature advanced education, skill-building sessions, new networking formats, and conversations that speak directly to the realities you are navigating in your firms. Attending NAPFA conferences remains one of the most meaningful ways to invest in your growth and strengthen the relationships that define our community. You will gain broad-based learning, insights into industry and regulatory trends, access to leading voices in financial planning and economics, and the chance to engage with peers who share a commitment to always putting clients first. 

We also have a strong slate of regional programs that offer focused learning and local engagement. The Midwest Region Bootcamp on January 22–23 in Cincinnati, the South Region Symposium on February 22–23 in Charlotte, and the NEMA Region Symposium on June 4–5 in Philadelphia provide practical education, timely insights, and meaningful networking in smaller, collaborative settings.

For firm leaders, the Large Firm Forum on February 2–4 in San Juan provides a dedicated space for strategic dialog and shared learning on growth, leadership, operations, and the evolving expectations of clients and your teams. It remains one of NAPFA’s most impactful peer learning experiences.

Across all these offerings, you will see our strategic priorities in action strengthening Fee-Only fiduciary practice, fostering meaningful connection, and expanding professional learning that supports advisors in delivering the highest level of client care.

Thank you for the work you do every day to advance Fee-Only fiduciary practice and for the energy you bring to this community. I look forward to connecting with many of you at our conferences and programs throughout the year.

Warmly, 

Kathryn Dattomo

CEO, NAPFA