CFP Board Announces Chair Appointments to Disciplinary and Ethics Commission, Advisory Councils

Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. (CFP Board) announced today the appointments of its 2013 Chairs to the Disciplinary and Ethics Commission, Public Policy Council, Council on Education and Council on Examinations.

“Our Chairs and volunteers are central to the success of CFP Board,” said Kevin Keller, Chief Executive Officer. “They provide the insight, knowledge and perspective that are both valuable and critical to fulfilling our mission of benefiting the public. We appreciate their service, time and commitment.”

Martin Siesta, CFP® - Chair, Disciplinary and Ethics Commission

The Disciplinary and Ethics Commission is responsible for interpreting and applying the Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility, Rules of Conduct and Financial Planning Practice Standards to allegations of rule violations involving CFP® professionals and imposing, where necessary, appropriate discipline.

Siesta is the founding principal of Compass Wealth Management LLC, a financial planning and investment advisory firm in Maplewood, New Jersey. Previously, he was a Senior Financial Planner with the Wealth Planning Group, an office of Metropolitan Life, where he was awarded the status of Premier Planner for exemplifying the highest standard of excellence for planners.

Siesta is a founding member of, and Registered Life Planner with, the Kinder Institute of Life Planning, which is dedicated to training financial advisors in the life planning process. He also has served as a member of the national Board of Directors of the Financial Planning Association (FPA) from 2005 to 2007.

Siesta appeared in the Consumers' Research Council of America's "Guide to America's Top Financial Planners" and co-authored Specific Elements of Communication that Affect Trust and Commitment in the Financial Planning Process, a study published by the Association for Financial Counseling and Planning Education® and sponsored by a grant from CFP Board. He also co-authored a white paper for FPA on healthcare issues, and is frequently quoted in local and national publications.

He earned a Bachelor’s degree from Pace University in New York and a Master’s of Science degree in Financial Services, as well as the Chartered Financial Consultant designation, both from The American College in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. He obtained his CFP® certification in 2000.

Roger Begin, CFP® - Chair, Public Policy Council

The Public Policy Council serves an advisory role on public policy issues affecting CFP Board, its certificants and members of the public.

Begin is the Sales Director for BNY Mellon’s Wealth Management group for the Rhode Island region. In this role, he is responsible for new business development activities in the region. He has more than 15 years of investment sales experience, working as a Private Client Advisor at Bank of America Private Bank prior to joining BNY Mellon.

Active in his community, Begin serves as a Trustee of Meeting Street and the Rhode Island Historical Society. He is a member of the finance committee at Lifespan and the development foundations for Rhode Island Hospital and Hasbro Children’s Hospital. Begin is an Honorary Trustee at Bryant University and serves as Honorary Consul of France in Rhode Island.

In addition to his significant financial experience, Begin also served in several public offices throughout his career, including General Treasurer and Lieutenant Governor for the State of Rhode Island.

Begin received his Bachelor’s degree from Bryant University. He obtained his CFP® certification in 2008.

Dr. Jesse Arman - Chair, Council on Education

The Council on Education was established in 2008 to advise CFP Board staff on the development and clarification of all educational policies related to the CFP® certification process. The Council provides input on policies that relate to CFP Board-Registered Programs, Continuing Education Sponsors and the Model Curriculum.

Arman is the Vice President of Regulatory and Government Affairs at the College for Financial Planning in Greenwood Village, Colorado. Prior to his current position, he served for fifteen years as the College’s Vice President of Academic Affairs. He has been involved in financial services and education for 35 years as a higher education administrator, and concurrently as a financial and tax practitioner. Additionally, he has taught (and continues to teach) accounting, investments and finance.

Arman currently serves as a financial specialist peer reviewer for the Higher Learning Commission, which is the regional accrediting body for institutions of higher education in 19 Midwest and Mountain states.

He earned his Bachelor’s degree from Franklin and Marshall College, Master’s degree from Webster University and doctorate from Touro University International.

Craig Lemoine, CFP® - Chair, Council on Examinations

The Council on Examinations is an advisory group of stakeholders responsible for the CFP® Examination. Generally, individuals selected to serve on the Council on Examinations have previously participated in other exam-related volunteer activities.

Lemoine holds the Jarrett L. Davis Distinguished Professorship in Financial Planning Technology at The American College, where he has been an Assistant Professor since 2008. His responsibilities include teaching a number of financial planning and case study courses.

Since starting his career in 1998, Lemoine has taken a special interest in how financial advisers utilize technology with their clients. Previously, he worked for PIE Technologies as a financial analyst and at Lincoln Financial Advisers as a team manager and financial planner. While at Lincoln, Lemoine participated in training insurance agents on utilizing software for estate and retirement purposes, teaching them to look beyond cash flow and into the needs of their clients. His current research interests include compensation conflicts in financial planning and annuity use with clients.

He has volunteered extensively with the Council on Examinations since 2006 and became a member of the Council in 2010. He has previously volunteered with FPA and is a member of the Academy of Financial Services.

Lemoine received his Bachelor’s degree from Texas Tech University in 1998. He is currently working toward completing his dissertation to earn a Ph.D. in Financial Planning, also from Texas Tech University. He obtained his CFP® certification in 2003.