Dennis Moore named CEO of Financial Planning Association

The Financial Planning Association has appointed Dennis Moore as its new chief executive officer, formalizing a leadership transition that began earlier this year.

Moore, who had been serving as interim CEO and chief operating officer since February, steps into the role as the association marks its 25th anniversary.

He was given the interim chief executive role after his predecessor, Patrick Mahoney, passed away after a long-drawn battle against cancer.

Moore’s appointment follows a two-decade tenure with the association, including service as national president in 2022 and leadership roles at the chapter level in Texas. He has also worked as an adjunct professor of financial planning at Texas Tech University, where he is currently pursuing a doctorate in personal financial planning.

The FPA Board selected Moore after a search process that included input from a range of stakeholders across the financial planning community.

“Our CEO Search Committee ultimately recommended to the Board that the best decision for the association was to select Dennis for the full-time role,” 2025 FPA president Paul Brahim said in an announcement Wednesday. Brahim added that Moore has “shown a great passion for the association through his many years of servant leadership” and has “positioned the association for long-term success.”

Moore, who credits the FPA with supporting his own career, said he wants to ensure members continue to benefit from the organization’s resources. “I want to ensure that as many members as possible feel the same way,” Moore said in the announcement, while noting the significance of taking the helm during the association’s silver anniversary.

“We are thoughtfully innovating to provide the best member experiences and opportunities for the next 25 years,” he said.

In an email to InvestmentNews, Moore described the current moment as pivotal for financial planning, citing the growing recognition of the profession’s value, the rise of new technologies, and the onset of the so-called Great Wealth Transfer.

“What has been and will always take high priority for FPA is supporting CFP professionals and providing all our members with invaluable ways to elevate themselves, no matter their role within the profession,” Moore told InvestmentNews. “We have some exciting plans for the year ahead that will further position FPA as a valued partner in planning for our members.”

Moore’s appointment comes as the FPA continues to roll out new initiatives aimed at supporting advisors. In April, the association launched a cybersecurity certificate program in partnership with FCI Cyber and Buckler, designed to help planners address evolving digital threats and regulatory requirements. The program is intended to equip advisors with practical skills to protect client data and comply with standards set by regulators including the Securities and Exchange Commission and FINRA.

Earlier this year, the FPA also introduced a competency model focused on behavioral and interpersonal skills, with the goal of supporting advisors’ professional development across all career stages.

The model, developed with input from academics and practitioners, outlines six core domains – such as client communication, leadership, and professionalism – and provides a framework for self-assessment and ongoing learning.