“Where are the women?” is a question the financial planning profession has been asking for a while. Last week in California, CFP Board brought leaders from across the profession together to take a harder look at what it will take to change the answer.
In his latest message, K. Dane Snowden looks at how the choices we make can shape who gets to build a future in this profession.
On Oct. 1, CFP Board announced the election of three new members to the Board of Directors: Evelyn Zohlen, CFP®, Drew McMorrow, CFP® and Zar Toolan. The Board of Directors is the policymaking and oversight body of CFP Board of Standards and CFP Board Center for Financial Planning and acts on behalf of CFP® professionals and the public to advance the profession. Read the full announcement.
“Welcoming Evelyn, Drew and Zar to the Board of Directors is a genuine privilege,” said CFP Board Chair-Elect Martin Seay, Ph.D., CFP®. “They bring a wealth of experience, valuable perspectives and a shared dedication to the financial planning profession.” Their terms will begin in January.
New Research Looks at How Couples Navigate Finances
Differences in financial awareness, habits and priorities can all create tension for intimate relationships. Unveiled at CFP Board Connections Conference 2026, new CFP Board research looked at how couples handle financial issues, According to To Have and To Hold: Couples Navigating Money and Commitment, 59% of Americans in relationships would not fully commit to a relationship with someone with poor financial habits, while over 7 in 10 say they consult their spouse or partner before making a big purchase.
Anxiety about affordability has added to the financial pressures facing American couples. Two-thirds of Americans in relationships say they discuss cost and affordability concerns at least weekly. More than half of Americans in relationships (52%) say affordability concerns have affected their financial conversations with their partner. Download the report to learn more.
Fall Public Awareness Campaign Reaches 878 Million Impressions
The Fall Public Awareness Campaign has been popping. Through its first six weeks, the campaign has generated an estimated 878 million impressions across TV, radio and digital channels and driven more than 812,000 clicks to LetsMakeAPlan.org.
CFP® professionals are also taking the national stage. CFP Board Ambassadors Anna N’Jie-Konte, CFP®, Charles Sachs, CFP®, and Shashin Shah, CFP®, recently appeared on FOX & Friends Weekend to share financial planning tips and discuss the value of having a financial plan.
And there’s more visibility ahead, with upcoming high-profile ad placements during Dancing With the Stars and the Miami at Notre Dame football game, putting CFP® certification in front of millions more consumers.
On Oct. 27, Schwab announced an exciting new initiative to get more students engaged with the financial planning career path at IMPACT 2026. As part of its 40th anniversary supporting RIAs, and in partnership with CFP Board, the Foundation of Financial Planning and Investment Advisors Association, Schwab announced the launch of National RIA Day, an annual event that will take place on the third Wednesday in February and will expand CFP Board’s ability to introduce students to careers in financial planning.
The first National RIA Day will be held on February 17, 2027, and it will include events at 30 CFP Board Registered Programs across the country in a single day, as well as events at Schwab offices and the New York Stock Exchange. Schwab and local RIA leaders will meet directly with students to introduce them to financial planning and the opportunities available in the profession.
The partnership combines Schwab’s reach of more than 16,000 RIAs nationwide with CFP Board’s relationships with Registered Programs and its growing student outreach initiatives, allowing the organizations to reach more students.
CONNECTIONS 2026: CFP Board Managing Director of Government Relations & Public Policy Counsel Erin Koeppel, JD, moderates a session at Connections Conference 2026 in Las Vegas. Drawing a standing-room-only crowd, "Public Policy Update 2026: The Midterms, the Profession and CFP Board's Advocacy in a Shifting Landscape" included panelists Kendra Isaacson and Rick Dearborn from bipartisan public policy consulting firm Mindset.
Congressional Resolution Recognizes October as National Financial Planning Month
On Oct. 26, U.S. Representatives Young Kim (R-CA) and Joyce Beatty (D-OH), co-chairs of the House Financial Literacy and Wealth Creation Caucus, introduced a bipartisan congressional resolution designating October 2026 as "National Financial Planning Month." This action aims to increase public awareness about the importance of financial planning, education and the key role of CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professionals in helping Americans achieve their financial goals.
Millions of 401(k) rollovers occur every year, resulting in the transfer of over $1 trillion in assets to IRAs or new employer-sponsored plans. But the decision to roll over money can have significant consequences. How a rollover is handled can set a client on a better path to meeting their retirement goals, while the wrong move can result in the client having to pay higher fees, taxes or penalties. Explore the ins and outs of these important decisions and the fiduciary duty CFP® professionals must uphold during the Nov. 3 webinar “ Rollovers and the Fiduciary Duty.” You’ll walk away with detailed checklists showing what to consider at each step of the Duty of Care process, drawn from CFP Board’s recently published Guide to Applying the Fiduciary Duty to Rollovers.
The upcoming midterm elections will help define policy for the next two years. What will the outcome mean for CFP® professionals and their clients? Unpack the results with CFP Board’s Public Policy Team in the upcoming Nov. 9 webinar, “The Policy Pulse: The Midterms and the Road Ahead,” for a nonpartisan analysis of the election results, the changing dynamics on Capitol Hill, and the regulatory and legislative issues most likely to affect the financial planning profession.
Planning for and Managing Diminished Financial Capacity in Clients
Wednesday, Dec. 2
1 p.m.-2 p.m. ET
Are you ready to help a client whose ability to make financial decisions is starting to decline? Diminished capacity often shows up first in a person's financial life and can affect a client at any age and stage of life. Prepare to navigate these challenging situations with sensitivity and guidance in CFP Board’s Dec. 2 webinar, “Planning for and Managing Diminished Financial Capacity in Clients.” This session will address the guidelines laid out in CFP Board’s soon-to-be published guide, including red flags for diminished capacity, warning signs of financial exploitation and techniques for engaging with clients who show signs of diminished capacity.
Scaling AI in Your Firm: Advanced Use Cases and Governance
Monday, Dec. 16
2 p.m.-3 p.m. ET
Ready to take AI beyond experimentation in your firm? During this hourlong session, our expert panelists will provide practical guidance for scaling AI responsibly and effectively. Dive into real-world examples of client-facing and revenue-impacting applications while exploring the benefits and limitations of scaling advanced AI use cases and build the confidence to put AI to work.
CFP® Exam Update: Register Early for the March Exam
Early registration for the March CFP® exam is open through Jan. 19. Register during the early registration period to save $100 on the exam fee, paying $825 instead of the standard $925 fee. Standard registration runs Jan. 20 through Feb. 23. Have questions? Check out our step-by-step guide to registering.
From LetsMakeAPlan.org: ‘Don't Wait Until December: Why October Is the Best Time for a Financial Check-In’
October is the ideal time to take stock of your finances and make meaningful adjustments before the new year. CFP Board Ambassador Chloé Moore, CFP® outlines five steps to help clients get their finances in check ahead of the new year.
No Tricks — Foundation for Financial Planning's New Pro Bono Volunteer Training Is Here
This October, the Foundation for Financial Planning (FFP) has launched its enhanced Pro Bono Financial Planning Volunteer Training — a free, one-hour interactive course designed to equip CFP® professionals with the knowledge, skills and confidence to deliver high-quality financial guidance to people in crisis or need.
Designed for both new and experienced volunteers, the training offers an engaging learning experience with practical applications for pro bono service, including judgment-free communication and navigating complex client situations. CFP® professionals can earn 1 hour of CFP Board CE credit for completing the course. If you previously completed FFP’s pro bono training and received CE credit, you’ll be eligible to earn credit for it again once you enter a new two-year CE reporting period.
One hour. One CE credit. A new, interactive way to get ready to give back, and not a trick in sight. Take FFP’s free training and build the skills and confidence to make a meaningful impact.
And don’t let your pro bono hours disappear into the night! 👻 If you’ve volunteered, remember to log in to your CFP Board account and report your hours so your impact gets counted.
Support the Center's Work
A contribution to CFP Board Center for Financial Planning helps expand access to CFP® certification, strengthen the talent pipeline and bring competent, ethical financial planning to more Americans. Donate through your CFP Board account or at CFP.net/donate.
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At CFP Board, we believe each employee contributes directly to our organization's growth and success. We're currently looking to fill several positions in our Washington, D.C., office. View the list of currently open positions, and please share these opportunities with your colleagues who may be interested.
