Edward Gjertsen ll has been elected president of the Financial Planning Association (FPA) for next year. He will begin the one-year term January 1, succeeding current FPA President Janet Stanzak.

Gjertsen is vice president of Mack Investment Securities, located in Glenview, Ill. A 20-year financial services veteran, Gjertsen specializes in retirement planning, portfolio management and estate planning.

A member of the FPA since 1996, Gjertsen has held several leadership positions within the organization. He served a three-year term as a member of the FPA’s board of directors. In 2007, he served as president of the FPA’s Illinois chapter and was awarded the 2008 Heart of Financial Planning Distinguished Service Award by the chapter. Additionally, he is a co-founder of the FPA diversity committee and served as the committee chair in 2010.

Regarding his appointment, Gjertsen said, “There are tremendous opportunities ahead for our members in their support of the practice and profession of financial planning. Through our expansive nationwide network of chapters, national conferences and technology platforms, FPA is the one connection to professional growth, business success, advocacy and community for like-minded CFP practitioners.”