Bill Anthes, Ph.D.

BILL's legacy

Bill Anthes helped transform financial planning from a loosely defined activity into a recognized profession. As President of the College for Financial Planning from 1979 to 2005, he expanded education nationwide, creating the first accredited master’s program in the field and launching an affiliate model that enabled universities across the country to deliver the curriculum required for CFP® certification. These innovations gave the profession both academic legitimacy and scalable pathways for future practitioners.

His most enduring contribution came in 1985. When the profession faced a legal and governance crisis around the CFP® marks, Anthes recognized that credibility required an independent, neutral body. He co-founded the International Board of Standards and Practices for Certified Financial Planners (IBCFP), now CFP Board, and led the College to relinquish ownership of the marks. That self-sacrificial decision safeguarded professional integrity and established a governance model rooted in education, ethics and accountability.

By placing the public interest above institutional power, Anthes helped secure the profession’s long-term credibility. His legacy endures in the systems of education, certification and standards that continue to fortify not only the CFP® marks but the broader financial planning profession itself.