Affiliations
Reality Financial Planning Services, LLC is a proud member of the following societies and adheres to their standards of professional excellence and integrity:
 Commitment to Professionalism
Joe Downs, CFP® is a member of the Financial Planning Association™ (FPA), a membership organization for the financial planning community. FPA is the largest association of professionals dedicated to championing the financial planning process. FPA members are committed to supporting the financial planning process and to helping people make smarter decisions to achieve their goals and dreams. FPA believes that everyone needs professional, objective advice to make smart financial decisions and that when seeking the advice of a financial planner, the planner should be a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certificant.
Joe serves on the Board of Directors for the FPA of the Suncoast, a local FPA chapter.
 Commitment to Continuing Education
The Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards is a professional regulatory organization which promotes ethics, integrity and professional standards in personal financial planning. This gives the public an opportunity to have access to -- and benefit from -- competent, ethical financial planning. Individuals who meet rigorous certification requirements, and commit to extensive, ongoing education, are certified by CFP Board to use its certification trademark. Joe Downs is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional.
 National Association of Personal Financial Advisors
Joe Downs, CFP® is a NAPFA-Registered Financial Advisor. NAPFA is the nation's leading organization dedicated to the advancement of Fee-Only financial planning. Professionals who are accepted as NAPFA-Registered Financial Advisors must subscribe to a strict fiduciary oath and Code of Ethics and are required to fulfill significant continuing education requirements.
 The New Choice for Smart Consumers™
Joe Downs, CFP® is a member of the Garrett Planning Network, an international affiliation of Fee-Only financial planners dedicated to serving people from all walks of life. As staunch consumer advocates and Fee-Only client fiduciaries, members of the Garrett Planning Network continue to demonstrate their commitment to serving the public's best interests by making competent, commission-free financial planning and advice accessible to all people. Many financial advisors accept clients only if they meet certain income and net worth requirements. Joe and his fellow Garrett network members believe, however, that professional, objective financial advice is something all Americans need, at least periodically, to build the brightest financial futures. Holding to this philosophy, Joe is proud to offer the same quality, professional advice to all clients, not just the affluent.
 Commitment to Community
For many years, Joe has been committed to "giving back" to his community. For this reason, he is proud to be an instructor of the JA curriculum - bringing the real world to young people by teaching students about the economics of life. The mission of Junior Achievement closely parallels the mission of Reality Financial Planning Services: bringing a passion for entrepreneurship and free markets to the world with integrity, honesty, and excellence. Because he believes that children truly are our future, Joe commits extensive time and effort to educating the local youth.
Joe was recognized as the 2010 "Outstanding Volunteer of the Year" in Sarasota County. | 