AFS Mission Statement

Our mission is to empower all individuals, academics, students, and professionals in the field of financial planning with peer-reviewed research to make evidence-based financial decisions. We share tools and knowledge between academics to create more effective academic programs and better students. Our mission is directed at all individuals globally, and as such diversity, equity and inclusion are fundamental to our values and operations and will be reflected in the composition of our AFS Board, the editorial board for our journal, and our membership.

AFS Objectives

The primary objectives and purposes of this organization are:

• To encourage basic and applied research in personal financial planning and financial services. We will do this with our ongoing academic conference and an active program with Best Paper awards to recognize excellence in research.
• To disseminate the best and most impactful research in the field through our academic journal, the Financial Services Review (FSR), and to collaborate with other journals in the field to maximize the highest quality channels possible for publication.
• To build on the strength of our 35-year history by adopting a Diamond Open Access Standard – making all research submissions to our journal free, and accessibility to the published research free to anyone, anywhere.
• To encourage the development of the curricula in the financial services field at the university level and share best practices between our membership.
• To encourage interaction between financial services professionals and academicians to help ensure the focus of research addresses the issues most impactful to the individuals in our society.
• To recognize in all that we do that diversity empowers us all, and we must be respectful and inclusive of all individuals regardless of race, religion, color, age, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic disposition, neurodiversity, disability or any other reason. We must also be respectful of future generations through our sustainable actions today to leave them a healthy planet.