Three people are being honored by the Financial Planning Association for their achievements in promoting diversity in the profession, FPA announced Tuesday.
The three are recipients of the Diversity Scholarship, which recognize professionals who are working to encourage diversity in the financial planning profession and the population served. They will receive a one-year FPA membership and complimentary registration and travel expenses to the 2017 FPA Annual Conference Oct. 2 - 4 in Nashville.
Kathleen Boyd is from Long Beach, Calif., and is a second-year doctoral candidate at Kansas State University where she is studying financial planning and therapy. She is an active leader in the FPA of Orange County, Calif., chapter where she volunteers to support chapter advocacy and pro bono financial planning efforts. She is the founder of Long Beach Financial Planning Day and her work in the community has been recognized by federal, state and local lawmakers and civic organizations.
Roger Ma is the founder of lifelaidout LLC in New York City. Active in pro bono financial planning, he supports the programs offered by the FPA of New York chapter and has worked directly with the New York Public Library, Prep for Prep and Youth Venture, among other organizations.
Divam Mehta is president of Mehta Financial Group LLC in Richmond, Va. He emigrated from India when he was 5 years old and personally experienced many of the challenges that most immigrants face when moving to a new country. These experiences have led him to take on leadership roles in the Indian-American community, where he is also providing pro bono support and education.
The Diversity Scholarship is awarded to financial services students and professionals who demonstrate a desire to promote diversity in the financial planning profession. This includes raising awareness of the profession in diverse communities, serving diverse communities with financial planning, and increasing professional opportunities for diverse communities within the financial planning profession.