Federation of Exchange Accommodators

Name

Federation of Exchange Accommodators

Legal name

Federation of Exchange Accommodators, Inc.

Website

https://1031.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Federation of Exchange Accommodators is a U.S. national non-profit trade association founded in 1989 that represents Qualified Intermediaries and other Section 1031 like-kind exchange practitioners through tiered membership, the CES professional certification, education events, and federal advocacy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Trade Association Services

NAICS

Professional Organizations (81392), Business Associations (813910)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Finance, Accounting & Risk (CFA/CPA/FRM) Certifications (EDAAANAD)

Keywords

• 1031 exchange services
• Trade association membership
• Qualified intermediary certification
• Like-kind exchange advocacy
• Real estate exchange education

Headquarters

HQ city

Ankeny

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual Full Membership Dues are tiered based on gross revenue from Section 1031 Exchanges earned during the previous year. Members include Regular Members (QI companies), Affiliate Members, and Professional Advisors.
2. CES Certification Fees: Revenue generated from CES examination applications, exam fees, and certification maintenance/renewal fees for the Certified Exchange Specialist designation program.
3. Event Revenue: Registration fees for Annual Conference, Midyear Meeting, webinars, and Boot Camp video purchases provide revenue and support member engagement.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Federation of Exchange Accommodators (FEA) is a national not-for-profit trade association that represents Qualified Intermediary (QI) companies, their legal/tax advisors, and affiliates involved in Section 1031 like-kind exchanges. It provides trade association membership, the Certified Exchange Specialist (CES) professional certification program, continuing education, industry advocacy, and networking through conferences and webinars.

Product overview

The Federation of Exchange Accommodators (FEA) is the only national trade association for 1031 exchange practitioners, offering a membership-based structure centered around its Certified Exchange Specialist® (CES®) Certification Program. The CES® program is the core professional credential, conferring designation upon qualified individuals who pass an examination on 1031 exchange laws. FEA's portfolio includes educational products such as Boot Camp Videos (1031 Boot Camp and Reverse Exchange Boot Camp) and the FEA Summer Webinar Series, along with professional development through CE-approved courses. The organization also facilitates industry connection via the FEA Annual Conference and FEA Midyear Meeting (advocacy event in Washington, DC). Advocacy resources and the FEA Code of Ethics support the organization's mission to preserve and advance Section 1031 Exchanges.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Certified Exchange Specialist (CES): A national certification program administered by FEA that confers the Certified Exchange Specialist designation upon qualified individuals who meet work-experience criteria and pass an examination on 1031 exchange laws and procedures.
• 1031 Builds America
• 1031 PAC

Quantifiable outcome

• Established since 1989
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Amplify Association ManagementcoreOthers · 1 January 2013FEA has been professionally managed by Amplify Association Management since 2013. Amplify is internationally accredited through the AMC Institute (Association Management Company Institute). Amplify provides comprehensive association management services including member services, event management, and administrative support.
• Williams & JensencoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFEA has retained Williams & Jensen as its Washington, D.C. tax advocate to monitor federal legislative and regulatory proposals. Williams & Jensen helps FEA keep pace with federal developments and respond to issues affecting the exchange industry as they occur.
• AMC InstituteminorOthersAmplify Association Management is internationally accredited through the AMC Institute. This accreditation validates the quality of association management services provided to FEA.
• 1031 Builds AmericacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFEA partners with 1031 Builds America initiative, which is promoted as a quick link on the FEA website. This appears to be an industry coalition focused on advocacy for Section 1031 exchanges.
• 1031 PACcoreOthersFEA maintains a Political Action Committee (1031 PAC) for industry advocacy. The PAC is referenced as a quick link and event category, enabling members to support political advocacy efforts for the 1031 exchange industry.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• American Institute of CPAs (AICPA): National professional membership association for CPAs that runs the widely recognized CPA certification and continuing-education programs. Directly comparable to FEA in that it is a 501(c)(6)-style membership body whose core value proposition is a professional credential plus advocacy for the underlying profession.
• CFA Institute: Global professional body administering the CFA designation with a member-based governance model, standardized examination, and required continuing education. Closely mirrors FEA's CES certification model — a niche, exam-based, member-funded credential with ongoing CE obligations.
• National Association of Enrolled Agents (NAEA): U.S. professional association representing federally authorized tax practitioners (Enrolled Agents). Directly comparable to FEA because it is a niche national tax-focused trade association with a credential, advocacy mission, CE requirements, and a member base built around a specific IRS-recognized designation.
• Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM): International association for real estate management professionals that issues certifications (AMO, CPM, ACCREDITED) and provides education and advocacy. Comparable to FEA as a real estate niche trade association with a portfolio of certification programs, member tiers, and continuing-education requirements.

Broad incumbents

• National Association of REALTORS® (NAR): The largest U.S. trade association for real estate professionals, with a much broader membership base than FEA. Comparable because it serves the same real-estate-transaction ecosystem that drives 1031 exchange volume and engages in federal advocacy that can influence Section 1031 policy.
• National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES): Nonprofit organization that develops and administers standardized professional licensure exams. Functionally comparable to FEA's CES examination infrastructure in that a single body owns the credentialing exam for a profession and maintains the body of knowledge.

Emerging players

• American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC): Selective professional association of trust and estate attorneys who advise on tax-sensitive transactions including 1031 exchanges. Comparable to FEA as a membership-based body serving professionals who advise on like-kind exchanges, though its credential model (election-based) differs from FEA's exam-based CES.
• Real Estate Counseling Group of America (RECGA): Membership organization for senior real estate advisors and counseling firms. Comparable as a small, niche professional association operating in the same U.S. real estate advisory ecosystem that surrounds 1031 exchanges.
• CCIM Institute: Commercial real estate association offering the CCIM designation with required coursework, designation examination, and ongoing education. Closely analogous to FEA's CES model and overlapping with FEA's advisor membership segment (real estate professionals serving 1031 clients).
• American Society of Appraisers (ASA): International professional association for appraisers offering multiple credentials, CE programs, and member advocacy. Comparable to FEA in structure — multi-tiered membership, designation-based credentialing, code of ethics, and federal advocacy function.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/FEA1031
• Facebookfacebook.com/FederationofExchangeAccommodators
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/groups/71796

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Federation of Exchange Accommodators