NAPFA names Kathryn Dattomo new CEO

NAPFA names Kathryn Dattomo new CEO
Dattomo, a longtime executive for medical associations, takes over from Geoffrey Brown, who departed NAPFA in November to become CEO of the Illinois CPA Society.
FEB 13, 2023

Kathryn A. Dattomo will take over as chief executive of the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors next month, the organization announced Monday.

Dattomo will become NAPFA’s leader on March 13, filling a position that has been open since the November departure of former CEO Geoffrey Brown. Brown, who had served as NAPFA CEO since 2013, became CEO of the Illinois CPA Society in December.

Dattomo comes to NAPFA from the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, where she was chief development officer and led the Neurosurgery Research & Education Foundation. Prior to that, she worked for 15 years at the American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy and headed its foundation.

“As a veteran association professional, I’m very excited to join NAPFA, the leading organization for fee-only financial advisors,” Dattomo said in a statement. “NAPFA’s commitment to professional development and member success mirrors my own values, and I look forward to upholding the organization’s strong priorities and expanding its reach to advance NAPFA, the member community and the financial planning profession.”

In the statement, NAPFA highlighted Dattomo’s “extensive experience” in strategic planning, non-dues revenue, marketing, education programs and member engagement for associations. It also said she would lead its efforts in “key areas,” including advocacy, diversity, equity and inclusion, and professional excellence.

“Kathryn’s strategic drive and her long, distinguished career in the association management community make her the perfect choice to lead NAPFA into the next phase of its development,” NAPFA Chairman Jeff Jones said in the statement.

The organization, which is based in Chicago and was founded in 1983, has more than 4,500 members. In 2012, it decided to admit only new members who hold the certified financial planner designation. In 2020, NAPFA achieved revenue of $2.8 million and a profit of $95,216, according to its most recent IRS Form 990.

“We provide networking opportunities, education, business development and advocacy to promote the success of fee-only, comprehensive financial advisors,” NAPFA states in its Form 990.

Latest News

Convicted ex-Morgan Stanley broker ordered to pay firm $8.7 million
Convicted ex-Morgan Stanley broker ordered to pay firm $8.7 million

Morgan Stanley sought to claw back recruiting bonus money from Darryl Cohen.

Referrals aren’t luck: Why intentional COI strategy is the future of advisor growth
Referrals aren’t luck: Why intentional COI strategy is the future of advisor growth

Referrals from centers of influence may open the door, but the real key to success for advisors comes from clarity about their ideal clients and where they want to show up.

FiNet, Raymond James land California and Washington advisor teams
FiNet, Raymond James land California and Washington advisor teams

Three advisor groups overseeing more than $700M in combined client assets head to new firms.

Retirement crisis fears hit record high as debt and inflation squeeze Americans
Retirement crisis fears hit record high as debt and inflation squeeze Americans

New research finds most Americans fear a US retirement crisis, while skepticism grows toward AI financial advice and crypto in retirement plans.

Easy to buy, harder to exit: The liquidity risk hidden inside ETFs
Easy to buy, harder to exit: The liquidity risk hidden inside ETFs

Getting a client into a fund has never been easier – but after that, the hardest part is yet to come.

SPONSORED Direct indexing webinar targets tax-loss harvesting amid market swings

Northern Trust’s Ken Lassner shows advisors how to convert volatility into after-tax portfolio gains

SPONSORED Who builds the income when the pension disappears?

Dan Biagini of American Equity says the steady decline of pensions, longer lifespans and a reset in interest rates are rewriting how advisors build retirement income