By Cyrus Gucionne
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Financial literacy isn’t just about investment management and understanding the stock market, it’s about making good decisions.

That’s according to Mike Prior, founder and CEO of the third-party registered investment advisory firm, Priority Financial Group. His firm recently announced a three-year partnership with the Scottsdale-based Financial Planning Association of Greater Phoenix (FPAGP), to train and develop its approximately 400 certified financial planner professionals.

With Priority Financial Group’s training, talent and financial support, FPAGP’s certified financial professionals will cultivate strong financial literacy not only for themselves but for their clients as well.

“This was really a combination of all of our visions coming together,” Prior said, who founded Priority Financial Group in 2005. “I’ve always been wired to make sure that we’re giving back through organizations who are full-time dedicated to advancing financial literacy and financial advisors.

With more than 25 years of experience in the securities industry, Prior is sought-after by financial institutions to lead in the adoption and implementation of successful investment service programs.

Prior said the role of behavioral finance -- the study of how psychology influences investor behavior -- is overlooked in many financial institutions and can help financial professionals “plan beyond the noise” of daily market news.

“Hiring a good financial advisor and getting good counsel is not an expense, it’s an investment,” Prior said. “That’s why I’m proud to be a part of the Financial Planning Association that helps people reach their goals.”

Dale Walters is the president of the FPAGP board. He is also excited about a partnership that will empower future financial professionals.

“Priority Financial Group serves as a catalyst in our efforts to foster awareness and advance the profession,” Walters said in an official statement. “Becoming a professional in our industry requires more than number crunching. People skills, leadership skills, empathy and patience -- these aren’t taught in textbooks, but learned when we come together as a community and deliver the resources our members need to best serve their clients.”

Priority Financial Group has a nationwide network of financial advisors, 45 of which are located in Arizona. Combined, the PFG team of financial advisors serves nearly 22,000 clients.

Priority Financial Group is separately partnered with Junior Achievement of Arizona (JA), a program that Prior was part of at a young age. JA aims to teach students the importance of how to manage their money and be ready to enter the workplace.

“I was a Junior Achievement kid,  and I give them a lot of credit,” Prior said. “They helped inspire me to be an entrepreneur and learn about business and finance.”

With the partnership’s three-year time frame, Prior said the option to renew is always available.

“Assuming everything goes well, at this point, I would suspect we would,” Prior said.

For more information about Priority Financial Group, visit pfgteam.com. For more information about the Financial Professional of Greater Phoenix, visit fpaofphoenix.org.

Advisory services offered by Priority Financial Group advisors. Securities offered through Osaic Wealth, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC. Priority Financial Group, Priority Financial Group advisors and Osaic Wealth are separate entities.