CFP Board’s Council on Education has been created to advise CFP Board staff on the development and clarification of all educational policies related to the CFP® certification process. Comprised of members from the academic community, Program Directors, certification experts and CFP® certificants, the Council will provide input on policies that relate to CFP Board-Registered Programs, Continuing Education Sponsors, Review Course Providers, and the Model Curriculum. The initial meeting of the Council on Education was held on April 21-22 in Washington, D.C.

The inaugural Council on Education members:
 
Ivan C. Roten, PhD, CFP®, Chair
Appalachian State University
 
Jacqueline Callahan
Independent Certification Consultant
 
Morris Fiddler
Professor School for New Learning, DePaul University
 
Kacy Gott, CFP®
Kochis Fitz
 
Mark H. Kordes, CFP®, AEP, ChFC, CLU
UBS Private Wealth Management
 
Carolyn J. Lee, CFP®
Northern Trust Bank
 
Rosilyn H. Overton, CFP®, CRPS, RFC
New Jersey City University
 
Walt Woerheide, PhD, CFP®
The American College

Read the news release announcing the formation of CFP Board's Council on Education.

CFP Board Welcomes New Registered Programs

During the first months of 2008, the eight financial planning education programs listed below completed the requirements to become CFP Board-Registered Programs. The addition of these new Registered Programs brings us to a total of 326 active Registered Programs at over 200 institutions:

Undergraduate Programs:
 
William Paterson University
B.S. in Business Administration with concentration in Finance, Financial Planning
 
Certificate Programs:
 
Columbia International University
CFP® Certification Education Program
 
Daniel Webster College
Executive Certificate in Financial Planning
 
Florida Community College at Jacksonville – Institute for Financial Studies
Executive CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Certification Education Program
 
Rockhurst University
Executive Certificate in Financial Planning
 
San Francisco State University
Executive Certificate in Financial Planning
 
Tallahassee Community College
CFP® Certification Professional Education Program – Online
 
University of Washington
The UW Business School’s Executive Certificate in Financial Planning
 

New Process for List Requests

CFP Board-Registered Programs may request contact information for individuals who have indicated interest in pursuing CFP® certification by requesting a copy of CFP Board’s Guide to CFP® Certification. These lists are provided free of charge and distributed quarterly to interested Registered Programs, which may use the lists to promote their institution’s CFP Board-Registered Program.

CFP® Exam Review Course Providers registered with CFP Board may request contact information for individuals who have applied to take the CFP® Certification Examination. These lists may be used by Review Course Providers to promote their organization’s CFP® Exam-related materials and services. CFP® Exam applicant contact information is made available following the CFP® Exam application deadline and provided to non-profit organizations for $750 and to for-profit organizations for $1,500. Lists may be requested by completing the Review Course Provider Request for CFP® Exam Applicant List form.

Contact information provided by CFP Board to Registered Programs and Review Course Providers may be used only once.

All requests for contact information are subject to the Terms and Conditions outlined in the registration agreements for CFP Board-Registered Programs and Review Course Providers. If you are interested in receiving contact information for individuals who have requested CFP Board’s Guide to CFP® Certification publication or interested in purchasing exam applicant lists, please contact CFP Board at lists@CFPBoard.org.

Review of Marketing Materials

Is your CFP Board-Registered Program gearing up for the Fall semester with fresh marketing ideas? Remember to submit a copy of all printed and Web site marketing materials for review prior to printing or posting. You can now submit electronic copies directly to trademark@CFPBoard.org, or send hard copies by fax to 202-379-2299 or by mail to 1425 K Street, NW, Suite 500, Washington, DC 20005, Attention: Trademark Department.

Once we’ve received your materials, please allow three weeks for review. If necessary, we will provide you with required edits, and at that time, we can also coordinate linkage of your Web site with CFP Board’s Web site. Our goal is to ensure that the CFP® marks are used properly and that the certification process is represented accurately.

March 2008 Exam Update

Score results for the March 28-29, 2008 CFP® Certification Examination were mailed to exam takers on May 12, 2008. As with the results from the November 2007 exam, individuals who sat for the March exam will receive a hard copy of their score results by mail, and exam results will be available online approximately one week after the mailing.

Those who passed the exam will be asked to provide an official transcript from an accredited college or university as verification that they hold a qualified bachelor’s degree or higher degree. In addition, we will be returning to a paper resume format for the purposes of detailing the work experience requirement.

Individuals have five years from the date they pass the CFP® Certification Examination to satisfy the bachelor's degree and work experience requirements.

November 2007 Exam Score Information

Institutions with students who sat for the November 2007 CFP® Certification Examination have now been sent a pass/fail report of their students’ performance on the exam, and all Registered Programs were sent a copy of the November 16-17, 2007 CFP® Certification Examination Statistics report that includes national totals for that exam.

The Cumulative Statistics report, which provides pass/fail rates at the institution level as well as the program level and includes cumulative national statistics, will be forthcoming. CFP Board’s Information Technology staff has been working to automate this process to make permanent improvements in the delivery and quality of the reports. We appreciate your patience.

Those who passed the exam will be asked to provide an official transcript from an accredited college or university as verification that they hold a qualified bachelor’s degree or higher degree. In addition, we will be returning to a paper resume format for the purposes of detailing the work experience requirement.

Upcoming Exam Dates and Deadlines

Students interested in sitting for the upcoming July 18-19, 2008 CFP® Certification Examination need to submit complete exam applications to CFP Board no later than 5:00 pm Eastern time on June 4, 2008. Please remind your students that CFP Board cannot accept late applications under any circumstances. A complete exam application consists of:

• Completed application form
• $595 examination fee paid in full
• Appropriate qualifying eligibility documentation (i.e., copy of the transcript, copy of designation/degree, or letter of authorization)

Students who have successfully completed coursework at two or more CFP Board-Registered Programs but have not completed, or had credits transferred to, any one entire program, may qualify to apply for the CFP® Certification Examination under the Multiple CFP Board-Registered Program status. After applying for the exam as a ‘Combo Program,’ they will be required to provide transcripts from each institution to verify completion of the education coursework requirement.

Streamline Your Students’ Exam Registrations with Electronic Graduate Lists

CFP Board-Registered Programs are strongly encouraged to provide electronic lists of their financial planning program graduates to CFP Board. The lists certify that the named students have earned the degree or certification provided by the program, serve as verification that they have completed the coursework that qualifies them to sit for the CFP® Certification Examination, and enable graduates to apply for the CFP® Certification Examination online without having to provide hardcopy documentation of their education.

We appreciate the efforts of the many Registered Programs that currently submit electronic graduate lists, and we will continue to facilitate this process to provide an exceptional level of service for individuals who seek CFP® certification. To request a copy of the template for electronic graduate lists, please contact Christine Riggen at criggen@CFPBoard.org.

Ultimately, it is the student’s responsibility to ensure that all aspects of their exam application are complete, including providing appropriate education eligibility documentation.

Financial Planning a “Recession-Proof” Career

Late last month, a CNNMoney.com article featured financial planning as a “recession-proof” career. The article highlights the growing need Americans have for qualified professional financial advice – especially during times of economic uncertainty - and features engaging statements of job satisfaction from financial planners who are working toward or have recently completed the CFP® certification process.

The article notes Bureau of Labor Statistics projections of 41% growth between 2006 and 2016, representing another 72,000 jobs for financial planners and advisers, and refers to the Bureau’s estimate that median annual earnings for financial planners and advisers are competitive, at more than $66,000.

Chuck Bender, who passed the CFP® Certification Examination, shares details of career choices that led him to work toward CFP® certification and states, “We’re like doctors, but for your personal finances.” Gary Ingram, CFP®, who attained CFP® certification in 2007, describes himself as a “personal trainer” for his clients and a “cheerleader” in motivating them to attain their goals.

Read the full article here.

Conference for Next Generation of Financial Planners: FPA NexGen 2008

You and your students are cordially invited to attend FPA NexGen 2008 July 25-27, the third annual communities of interest conference for newer and younger planners.

NexGen is a community of the next generation of financial planners, created to ensure the transference of wisdom, tradition and integrity from the pioneers of financial planning. The FPA NexGen 2008 conference is open to anyone who believes the education, networking and experience will be of value.

The FPA NexGen 2008 conference program is being designed with this emerging generation in mind: keynote addresses from stalwarts of the profession that encourage you to think, act, feel; educational sessions that focus on career and technology, led by NexGen peers who are "walking the walk"; ample opportunity to network with fellow attendees, session speakers and resource providers; and, of course, a little bit of frivolous fun.

This conference holds a value unparalleled because it is such a great opportunity for students to interact with professionals which in most cases have just recently started their careers. Visit www.FPANexGen.org for complete program and registration information.

Mark your calendar now for July 25-27; we hope to see you at FPA NexGen 2008!

Contact Caleb Brown, CFP® at cbrown@strategicfp.com if you have any questions.

Encourage Students to Establish An Account with CFP Board

Encourage students interested in becoming CFP® professionals to create a secure, online account with CFP Board by visiting www.CFP.net/become. Once navigating to the “Online Exam Application” option, students will be prompted to create an online account.

CFP Board’s Web site provides up-to-date information regarding CFP Board policies and the process for becoming a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certificant, as well as connecting students to resources such as the monthly CFP Board Report newsletter.

Registration for the 2008 Program Directors' Conference is now open. We look forward to seeing you at this year's Conference, to be held at the historic Mayflower Hotel in Washington, DC from August 7-9, 2008. Register today.

The Renaissance Mayflower Hotel
1127 Connecticut Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20036
http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/wassh-renaissance-mayflower-hotel/

For more about the 2008 Program Directors' Conference, including sponsorship, exhibitor and advertising opportunities, visit www.CFP.net/conference.