Giving Thanks and Looking Forward

By Kathryn Dattomo

As we welcome November—a time that encourages us to think about gratitude and togetherness—I want to thank each of you for your unwavering support of NAPFA and your dedication to your profession. You continue to set the standard for the future of financial planning, and I appreciate everything you do!

I want to take a moment to celebrate the success of our recent Fall Conference in Nashville. It was truly inspiring to see so many of you come together, sharing insights and building connections that enrich our NAPFA community. A heartfelt thank you to our planning committee, sponsors, exhibitors, staff team, and everyone who participated—your contributions made this event memorable!

This spirit of collaboration extends beyond our conferences. I’m also thankful to those who responded to our recent education survey. Your feedback is essential and will help us tailor NAPFA’s educational offerings to better meet your needs. We’re committed to using your insights to shape programs that resonate with the challenges and opportunities you face in your practice. We look forward to sharing more about our upcoming initiatives soon!

Looking ahead, I’m excited to share that registration for the 2025 Large Firm Forum opens this month. This is a fantastic opportunity for us to come together, learn, and share best practices to enhance our collective expertise with industry leaders who tackle unique challenges in guiding their firms into the future.

In this issue of our magazine, we delve into retirement planning and taxes—topics that are becoming increasingly important to your clients—and growth strategies advisors can implement. I encourage you to dive into our featured articles to learn more about:

• Why budgeting is critical to retirement planning: Discover how you can help guide clients through retirement budgeting, considering both the behavioral and emotional biases tied to the numbers.
• Tax complexities for special needs families: Learn more about common questions to address, tax situations these families face, and resources to support them better.
• Retirement plans for small business owners: Explore retirement plans that can help small business owners prepare for their futures and support and their employees’ financial well-being.
• Challenges in exit planning: Understand the practical and emotional challenges business owners face when exiting their companies.
• How the holidays can foster business growth: Learn how holiday gatherings can enhance relationships and benefit your business, all while keeping the atmosphere genuine and relaxed—no sales pressure involved.

These insights will deepen your knowledge and also empower you to better serve your clients navigating these various life stages.

During this season of Thanksgiving, I appreciate the strong NAPFA community we’ve built together and the dedication you show to your clients and profession. Your commitment continues to inspire me and underscores the importance of our mission.

Wishing you a month filled with gratitude and connection.