Colin "Ben" Coombs has spent over 50 years in the financial services profession with experience in life and health insurance, variable annuities and real estate securities Ben earned his CFP® certification in 1973 and was one of the first 42 CFP®s to receive the marks. He relinquished the marks in 2012 after 12 years of retirement. He previously earned the CLU® designation in 1966. On January 1, 2000, Ben sold his interest in Petra Financial Advisors, Inc. to his partner. Although he doesn't claim to be retired he does say that he is "restyled".

In addition to his professional experience, Ben has held all the chairs of the former Institute of Certified Financial Planners (ICFP), including president in 1985-1986. He served on the Board of Governors of the Certified Financial Planners Board of Standards, Inc. in 1986-1987 and completed a second term in 2002. In his "restylement" years, not only has Ben served on the CFP Board, he has been actively involved in the FPA's Residency Program and Bridge the Gap Program. He also organized the "Rat Pack", a group of superannuated planners within the FPA who want to reach out to mentor newer entrants into our profession. In 2005 Ben's contributions to the profession and its associations were recognized by the FPA when they presented Ben with the P. Kemp Fain, Jr. Award. Financial Planning magazine, in 2006, recognized Ben as one of the "movers and shakers" in the financial planning profession. In addition, Ben is finding time to play more golf and travel with Judy, his wife of 51 years.

Ben's other professional and association activities have included being President of his local IAFP chapter in 1978/79; he was Dean of the second ICFP Retreat in 1982 and the first FPA Retreat in 2000. Ben has also received recognition from Money Magazine, Medical Economics and Worth Magazine.