Message From the CEO of CFP Board

Over the past few weeks, I've spent a lot of time in conversation — at the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors spring conference in Minneapolis; at Certificant Connection events; in meetings with the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association and the Association of African American Financial Advisors; with several of our volunteer councils, commissions and working groups; and with CFP Board staff.

At NAPFA, when Board Director Linda Leitz, Ph.D., CFP® and I walked through the Academic Pathways review, including that maintaining the current bachelor's degree requirement remains a possible outcome, the conversation picked up steam. People asked hard questions, challenged assumptions and offered practical ideas rooted in personal experience. Continuing education drew the same thoughtful engagement around work that will improve quality, strengthen auditing, reduce friction and better connect CE to the realities of practice.

That's the kind of engagement that improves decisions. And it points to something I keep coming back to. The profession is counting on this organization to listen as hard as we lead. That’s not a tension. It's how you earn the right to lead.

In these first months as CEO, I have a clear intention to hear from CFP® professionals directly and consistently on every topic that matters to you. Standards, CE, the degree requirement, AI, ethics guidance, public policy, all of it. Your perspective keeps CFP® certification connected to the realities of practice and the needs of the public we serve.

Financial planning is at an inflection point. The next phase is about strengthening the profession’s influence, expanding the talent pipeline and ensuring CFP® certification is the standard people expect, not simply one designation among many.

We build that together.

If you want to help shape what comes next, volunteer opportunities are open. We'd be glad to have you at the table.

K. Dane Snowden
CEO, CFP Board