APC Then and Now
It was 1972; a 33-year-old Kemp Fain had discovered and joined a pioneering effort to professionalize “financial planning” as a field of study and service. Subsequently, he became the first enrolled student for the Certified Financial Planner designation and went on to become a driving force in the movement for decades. In 1993, the financial planning profession created its highest award for excellence — the annual presentation of the “P. Kemp Fain Jr. Award.”
In May 1975, Kemp founded Asset Planning Corporation (APC) to become one of the first independent financial planning firms in the country. Forty-five years later, these roots are still the grounding of APC: service, study, professionalism, excellence, and independence.
It’s fun to stroll down memory lane. I remember being a teenage summer worker at APC. We had a Tandy computer from Radio Shack and IBM Selectric typewriters. A letter to all clients was a 2-day project for me – printed, folded, stuffed, licked – times 2,000!
Today, our “technology stack” is state-of-the-art in the profession: we utilize best-in-class technology tools for financial planning, portfolio management, client service and communications. And, with cloud-based tools, we can operate from home, office, or basically anywhere. A letter to all clients (like this one) can be distributed in an instant.
But then and now, what makes APC special are its people: clients and staff. It is an amazing thing to serve multiple generations of a family: parents, children, grandchildren, brothers, and sisters. Our mutual caring and concern for each other has been formed over decades. And to be trusted as your financial counselors…what an honor.
Not only is Kemp Fain’s legacy still flowing through APC’s lifeblood, but it also continues to course through the profession. Today there are 188,000 CFP® designees worldwide: in Japan, Australia, Italy, the Netherlands, Taiwan, India, Brazil and many more countries. There are 330 four-year colleges and universities in the U.S. offering on-campus programs that lead to some form of degree in financial planning. APC’s financial planning team members have been CFP® trained via Florida State University, Boston University, the University of Georgia, and the College for Financial Planning.
Kemp’s passion for life-long learning continues to burn in the heart of APC. Every year our team members “sharpen-the-saw” at the Financial Planning Association’s Retreat and Annual conferences, at Schwab’s Impact and Solutions conferences, the Kingdom Advisors conference, Dimensional Fund Advisors conferences, and many specialty trainings. The goal: to continually elevate our competence in client service.
Looking forward: Our desire as a personal financial planning firm is to remain a boutique. We want to “grow” in a way that maintains our personal relationships. We want to provide a high level of responsive service. We want to support your financial well-being with the utmost care and competence.
We know that if we serve you with excellence, if we support your financial literacy and learning, if we support your financial life plan in a holistic way, you can experience more peace of mind and happiness. Financial advocates. At your side…on your side.
Thank you for 45 years! Godspeed and good planning.
ASSET PLANNING CORPORATION
Paul
Paul K. Fain, III
President
