​DENVER - The Financial Planning Association^® (FPA^®) awarded its Diversity Scholarship to attend FPA Retreat 2015 to be held in Atlanta April 20-23. The scholarship recognizes a professional who is working to encourage diversity in the financial planning profession and the population served. In addition to conference registration and travel expenses, the merit-based scholarship recipient earns one-year FPA membership and chapter meeting expenses.

The Retreat 2015 scholarship winner is Bhumi Shah who works as a Portfolio Manager and Financial Planning Intern at Meyer Capital Group in Marlton, NJ. Prior to joining the Meyer Capital Group, Ms. Shah worked at a bank and trading firm in Mumbai, India. While pursuing a Master's Degree in Financial Services from Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia, Ms. Shah is committed to providing customized financial planning advice to minorities, especially minority women. She is also enrolled in the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program by the IRS, which provides free tax help and counseling to lower income people.

"FPA proudly recognizes financial planners who work to advance the profession while serving the needs of diverse communities," said FPA Executive Director/CEO Lauren M. Schadle, CAE. "Ms. Shah is a wonderful example of the work being done across the country by the financial planning community and we look forward to honoring her in Atlanta at FPA Retreat 2015."

The scholarship is awarded to financial services students and professionals who demonstrate and act upon an intense desire to promote diversity in the financial planning profession. Criteria for applicants includes:

• Raising awareness of the profession in diverse communities;

• Serving diverse communities with financial planning; and

• Increasing professional opportunities for diverse communities within the financial planning profession.

The Diversity Scholarship Program is sponsored by the FPA Diversity Committee through FPA's Diversity and Inclusion Initiative. The Committee's mission is to develop strategies to raise awareness and promote inclusiveness of diverse communities including but not limited to: age, race, ethnicity, gender and sexual orientation in the financial planning profession. FPA strives to increase professional opportunities for the widest spectrum of people so that all may join and thrive in the financial planning profession.​