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Facet Scholarship for Increased Access in Financial Planning
About the Scholarship
We believe that every individual deserves access to high quality, ethical, comprehensive financial life advice to empower them to achieve their life goals. To make that possible, we know we need a diverse mosaic of professionals in the industry. Through this scholarship, we are doing what we believe in to bridge the gap in access to this amazing profession. Diverse representation in the profession will lead to better outcomes for a more diverse set of clients.
We created the Facet Scholarship for Increased Access to Financial Planning to help more people gain their CFP® certification and all it can offer them. The scholarship provides financial assistance to anyone pursuing certification with demonstrated financial need, and it helps us fulfil our mission – to give everyone the benefit of working with a CFP® professional.
Created in partnership with the CFP Board Center for Financial Planning, it grants scholarship awards up to $2,500 for students completing a certificate or undergraduate degree in Financial Planning from a CFP Board Registered Program that qualifies them to sit for the CFP® exam. Recipients can also choose to receive mentorship from a Facet CFP® professional throughout their studies.
Applications are reviewed by an independent scholarship review panel, made up of CFP® professionals and Facet’s scholarship selection committee. Finalists will undergo a background check and a final review by Facet representatives before being selected for an award.
The scholarship is funded by Facet with additional financial support provided by Jeff Stein, Triad Financial Advisors, Inc., and Warburg Pincus Foundation. You can learn more about Facet here.
Eligibility Requirements
- Must not be a prior recipient of a CFP Board Center for Financial Planning scholarship;
- Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident;
- Must have a demonstrated financial need, as explained in an essay to be submitted during the application process;
- To receive the award, must be enrolled in an undergraduate or certificate-level CFP Board Registered Program. Click here for a list of eligible programs.
- If not enrolled at the time of applying, scholarship awardees will have up to 3 months to enroll or forfeit the award;
- If applying for an undergraduate-level scholarship, must not be in the final semester at the time of the application;
- If applying for a certificate-level scholarship, must possess an undergraduate degree and must not have completed 6 or more courses in the certificate-level program at the time of the application.
- Must provide documentation of enrollment in an eligible program and costs prior to receiving the award;
- Must demonstrate commitment to the financial planning profession, as explained in an essay to be submitted during the application process; and
- Applicants will be required to pass a background check conducted by CFP Board, and must enhance and maintain the profession’s public image.
Submission Requirements
Applications will only be accepted through the application portal. Please do not attempt to submit application materials via mail, fax or email.
When submitting application essays and materials, please pay close attention to spelling, grammar and presentation, as that will be factored into the grading process.
Award Process
Scholarship awards will be disbursed in two equal installments. To receive the first installment, recipients will have to demonstrate proof of enrollment in a Financial Planning certificate or undergraduate degree program. If not currently enrolled in a program, recipients will have up to 3 months to enroll after being notified of the award. The second installment will be awarded either upon completing the program (if the awardee has already started coursework), or when the awardee is halfway through the program (if the awardee has not yet started coursework). There is no obligation for recipients to be affiliated with Facet following successful completion of the program.
Application Deadline
The application window will be open until September 29, 2025.
Award Decision
Scholarship applicants will be notified of the award decision via email on November 26, 2025. If you have a question about the status of your application, please contact us at contact us.