February 4, 2025
Dear FPA Members,
With profound sadness and a heavy heart, we regretfully announce the passing of Patrick D. Mahoney, our beloved chief executive officer, on Saturday, February 1. After a long and brave battle with cancer, Patrick's journey has come to a close. He was not just our leader but a passionate advocate for the financial planning profession and a dedicated steward of the Financial Planning Association® (FPA®).
Upon his diagnosis in 2022, Patrick promptly informed the FPA Board of Directors, exemplifying his commitment to transparency. As he navigated his treatments, he kept the Board updated and requested privacy, which we honored as required by law. His foresight and dedication were further evidenced by the robust succession plan he developed with the Board, ensuring our vital work would continue uninterrupted.
True to his Irish heritage, Patrick brought a lighthearted spirit, infusing humor into our discussions. His ability to reset the mood helped the Board tackle difficult issues with clarity and purpose. His passion for our Association's mission transformed him from a chief executive into a tireless advocate for the critical work CFP® professionals do for their clients, communities, and the financial planning profession.
During his nearly five years with FPA, Patrick worked diligently to reform and reshape our Association. He focused significantly on internal structure and financial stability while nurturing our relationships with key stakeholders. He took every opportunity to applaud the work of our members, both publicly and privately, consistently advocating for the value and importance of our profession.
One of Patrick's greatest strengths was his ability to build deep personal relationships with the Board and professional staff. He sought to understand their motivations for involvement with the Association and collaborated with them to fulfill our common purpose. While he often reminded us, "There's no mission without margin," underscoring the necessity of maintaining our fiduciary responsibilities to our mission and finances, he brought us together as a community. He showcased a deeply human and intuitive quality that often eludes many executives. Patrick recognized that it’s not just about numbers; it’s about the people behind those numbers.
Patrick unwaveringly believed in the financial planning profession and its potential impact on society. He envisioned a future where every household nationwide would have access to CFP® professionals who would help families achieve their goals. This vision was integral to shaping the Association’s strategic plan and laid the foundation for the growth we aspire to achieve.
While quarterly results were undoubtedly important to Patrick, his primary focus was on the long-term vision for our profession. He understood that our work as CFP® professionals profoundly impacts lives and that for the Association to realize its potential, it must thoroughly understand its members' needs and the life cycles of their businesses. He championed raising the bar for financial planner skills and expertise and emphasized that our profession is rooted in lifelong learning.
Patrick recognized that fostering relationships with legislators and regulators was essential to advocating for our profession and financial planners' exceptional work. He understood that collaboration is key; we are stronger together when we learn from one another and cultivate a robust sense of community.
Patrick didn't just embrace FPA’s role as a “partner in planning” as a value proposition for membership; he embodied it within the organizational culture. He took the time to learn about the lives and challenges of everyone he encountered in our FPA family, understanding that our collective experiences made us stronger.
As we remember Patrick and his indelible mark on our Association, we encourage you to keep his family in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. For those who wish to learn more about Patrick's life and legacy, his obituary can be found here.
Moving forward, we want to inform you that Patrick's succession plan with the Board designates Dennis Moore, CFP®, our chief operating officer, to serve as interim CEO. The FPA Board of Directors will convene an Executive Search Committee in the coming weeks to identify FPA’s next full-time chief executive.
Dennis is a dedicated financial planning and business professional who has advocated for our profession his entire career. Before joining the FPA staff in 2024, Dennis served in various roles throughout his career, including chief operating officer of a financial planning and wealth management firm. He also served as volunteer president of the Texas Tech University Personal Financial Planning Alumni Advisory Board, the FPA of West Texas, and the FPA of Dallas/Fort Worth. He served on the FPA Board of Directors for six years and ultimately became president in 2022.
Let us honor Patrick's legacy by continuing to support our community, upholding the values he believed in, and striving for excellence in all that we do.
With heartfelt condolences,
Paul Brahim, CFP®
2025 President
Financial Planning Association® (FPA®)