Welcome to the first issue of Financial Planning in our new design! Our goal was to maintain our signature coverage, but present it in a manner that's clearer, cleaner and (for the sake of the aging eyes of so many readers) easier to read. We've modernized our typefaces and colors, and slightly enlarged the text. Charts and graphs, too, have been updated. Perhaps this only matters to editors and design junkies-but I'd bet that, even if you don't think much about the design of the things you read, you nevertheless respond to it.

You will still find your favorite elements: columns from Bob Veres, John Bowen, Glenn Kautt and Deena Katz. We still have our High Net Worth section, featuring estate planning ideas from Martin Shenkman; and in the back of the issue, our Practice, Client and Portfolio sections, with contributions from experts, including Ed Slott, Craig Israelsen, Don Trone and more.

But we've added some new elements to the opening of the issue. The first story, called The Big Idea, will feature an infographic as well as a brief essay on an important or controversial topic. We believe strongly that financial planners, like all professionals, need to use more visual tools to connect with clients-and therefore, we need to use visual tools to connect with you.

We're also going to feature an interview in each issue, in a column entitled "Person of Interest." We hope you'll be challenged, intrigued and entertained by what people have to say, and that you'll suggest names of folks you'd like to hear from. A redesign is always a bit of an experiment, and we'll be counting on your input and criticism (constructive, we hope) to make this one work.

Our cover story this month is a celebration of some of the financial planners who make this industry great. The Influencer Awards go to professionals who have contributed their wisdom and skill to others while they've built great practices of their own. Just as you serve as a coach and mentor to your clients, these planners have served as coaches and mentors to other practitioners, and I hope you'll enjoy reading about them-and checking out pictures from the wonderful celebration of their achievements that took place at the Financial Planning Association annual meeting in Denver last month.

On a final note, this is the last issue I will oversee as editor in chief of Financial Planning. My nearly six years at this magazine have been wonderful. I am grateful to everyone I worked with here at SourceMedia, and to every reader, writer, source, contributor, photographer, friend and critic. I can't mention you all by name, but you know who you are and that I salute you-and hope to see you soon as we share our next adventure.