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A series of laboratory tests and finite element analyses were conducted to quantify the effect of face plate fastener stiffness (i.e., interlayer shear stiffness) on post bending stress and stiffness. Selected for analysis were 4.5- by 5.5-inch and 4.5- by 9.25-inch posts with 5.5- by 1.5- inch face plates. This research showed that composite action between a post and mechanicallyattached face plate decreases with increases in post moment of inertia, simultaneous increases in post and face plate MOE, decreases in interlayer shear stiffness, and decreases in post length. In addition, post end fixity significantly affects composite action, and adding a face plate with a measurable lower MOE than that of the post will only minimally reduce post bending stresses and displacements. Irregardless of boundary conditions, if a face plate is attached with typical nails and individual nails are spaced no closer than one-foot on-center, post bending stress and post displacements will generally not be reduced by more than a couple percent.