Patrick D. Mahoney, CEO of the Financial Planning Association (FPA), passed away Saturday after a prolonged battle with cancer, the organization announced Tuesday.
Mahoney, 62, took the helm of the FPA in 2020, first as interim CEO before assuming the role permanently in December of that year. He stepped into leadership at a pivotal time, working to reverse a steep decline in membership and reinvigorate the nation’s largest financial planning association. Under his leadership, the FPA stabilized its membership base and resumed in-person conferences after the disruptions of the pandemic.
FPA President Paul Brahim praised Mahoney’s leadership, calling him a strategic and dedicated executive. “Patrick inherited an organization facing significant challenges, both internal and external,” Brahim said in a statement. “He made relationship-building and revitalization his priorities, laying a strong foundation for the association’s future. His efforts have made us a stronger and more effective organization.”
Mahoney and the FPA developed a succession plan after his cancer diagnosis in 2022. The association announced that Dennis Moore, its chief operating officer, will serve as interim CEO while a formal search for a permanent successor begins.
Moore, a Certified Financial Planner, joined the FPA staff in 2024 and has a long history with the profession. He previously served as volunteer president of the Texas Tech University Personal Financial Planning Alumni Advisory Board, the FPA of West Texas, and the FPA of Dallas/Fort Worth. He also spent six years on the FPA’s board of directors.
The FPA board plans to convene an executive search committee in the coming weeks to identify the next CEO.
Before joining the FPA, Mahoney was CEO of IEEE, a global engineering professional association. Earlier in his career, he worked as a speechwriter for the mayor of Philadelphia and held positions at S&P Global Ratings. Born in Philadelphia in 1962, he is survived by his wife of 34 years and their four children, according to an online obituary.
News of Mahoney’s passing prompted an outpouring of tributes from across the financial planning profession. Michael Kitces, a prominent industry commentator, wrote on X that Mahoney “was doing great work to repair FPA National’s relationship w/ its chapters to get FPA growing again.” Skip Schweiss, CEO of Sierra Investment Management, described Mahoney as a respected leader and friend who will be deeply missed.
Daniel Yerger, a financial planner based in Longmont, Colo., recalled meeting Mahoney at the 2022 XYPN Live conference in Denver. “We talked about everything from his marriage of over 30 years to his advice for me as someone engaged and preparing for marriage,” Yerger shared in a blog post. “He also offered insights into how the financial planning profession had evolved over his career.”
But what stood out most, Yerger wrote, was Mahoney’s deep admiration for his son, who serves in the Navy. “You can learn a lot about a person’s character by what they cherish and whom they hold in the highest regard,” he reflected.
Mahoney’s leadership leaves a lasting impact on the FPA and the financial planning profession. His efforts to strengthen the association and foster collaboration within the community will shape its direction for years to come.
