Over 60 Financial Planning Association members from 19 states will gather in Washington, D.C., on June 24 to meet with policymakers to boost awareness of their profession for the organization’s Advocacy Day.

During the event, FPA members will meet with their elected officials who are members of financial services committees. The meetings will focus on creating greater recognition of the FPA and financial planners among those officials and in Washington.

The meetings will also provide FPA members with valuable training and experience they can take back to their chapters to continue advocacy efforts within their local and state governments, says the organization.

“It's important to me and my chapter to have a relationship, not only with our state legislators, but with our federal legislators as well,” said Erica Feldblum, CFP, of EF Financial in Charlestown, Mass. “We need to understand what issues are high on their priority list so we can position ourselves as a valued resource in shaping future policy that may impact our profession. This will give us the opportunity to share with them what's important to us, like the recognition and regulation of our profession and issues that affect the practice of financial planning.”

States that will be represented include, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Minnesota, North Carolina, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.

All participants will take part in a training program before the event to help them prepare for meetings with lawmakers, the FPA says.