DEI at NAPFA

By Jadah Riley

NAPFA’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Initiative will build on a successful 2022 as it enters 2023 with a full agenda for the upcoming year. NAPFA’s DEI Training and Certificate Program was recognized by WealthManagement.com with a “Wealthie” award in 2022 for the program. Following the first program’s success, the Initiative rolled out a virtual version of the DEI Training and Certificate program in November 2022.

The committee also launched a community on NAPFA Engage for those who completed the DEI Certification and Training program. Certificants have the opportunity to continue to connect, share, and learn from one another in a safe space.

DEI Toolkit update

Looking ahead, the Initiative will launch an updated version of NAPFA’s DEI Toolkit that it first released in late 2020. The toolkit provides advisors and firms with actionable steps to implement DEI best practices across key areas, including hiring, culture, people, and inclusion.

The updated version of the toolkit will chronicle how established firms of all sizes have worked to create more inclusive and diverse environments and to advance DEI within the profession. The goal is to provide a resource that shares experiences, challenges, and breakthroughs for firms to reference as they navigate the process of incorporating inclusive practices. The project is expected to be completed in early 2023. 

DEI within NAPFA and collaboration beyond

NAPFA has incorporated DEI into the association’s overall strategic framework released earlier this year. Each committee and regional board within NAPFA has identified specific goals to advance DEI. The Initiative plans to collaborate with the NAPFA Board of Directors to accomplish the goals laid out in the strategic framework. 

In addition to working with groups within NAPFA, the committee will expand its partnerships with groups outside NAPFA, including the BLX internship program and the Association of African American Financial Advisors. The Initiative will continue to produce educational content, including hosting webinars and conversation circles focused on DEI topics, with a special emphasis on the concepts outlined in the toolkits. 

NAPFA’s Diversifi community migrated from LinkedIn to Facebook earlier this year. Its goal is to create a collaborative and welcoming community where advisors and members can connect and share their thoughts and insights on relevant DEI topics. Please click to log in to Facebook to join NAPFA's DEI Initiative group.

Volunteer recruitment occurs on an ongoing basis. We welcome anyone interested in joining NAPFA’s DEI Initiative to apply during our next volunteer recruitment period in June 2023 or to contact Nikki Palluzzi for more information. 

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Jadah Riley is an associate advisor and serves on the NAPFA DEI Initiative’s leadership committee. She is also a member of the NAPFA Genesis leadership committee. Jadah is passionate about financial literacy and making quality financial advice accessible to all.

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