Aspiriant Impact Scholarship

about the scholarship

The Aspiriant Impact Scholarship aims to advance the financial planning profession by supporting the development of aspiring financial planners from underrepresented communities and expanding diversity efforts within the profession.

Aspiriant, a leading independent wealth management firm, has partnered with the Center for Financial Planning on this scholarship to align our shared values and goals in attracting and developing the next generation of forward-thinking financial planners. This scholarship aims to cultivate a quality workforce with a broad range of perspectives and backgrounds to achieve diversity within the financial planning profession, in the spirit of Aspiriant’s Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging initiative.

The scholarship awards up to $5,000 per student seeking to complete a certificate-level CFP Board-Registered program or up to $10,000 per student seeking to complete an undergraduate-level CFP Board Registered Program, either of which would qualify the student to sit for the CFP® exam. The scholarship will support outstanding enrolled students with a diverse background — not limited in terms of gender, race, ethnicity, disability and sexual orientation.

Applications will be reviewed by a Scholarship Review Panel comprised of CFP® professionals from the Center for Financial Planning and Aspiriant.

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 be from an underrepresented population within the financial planning profession in terms of gender, race, ethnicity, disability or sexual orientation;
• 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 certificate or undergraduate-level CFP Board Registered Program. If not currently enrolled, recipients will have up to 3 months to enroll after being notified of the award. The second installment will be awarded either upon completing a certificate or undergraduate-level CFP Board Registered Program (if the awardee has already started coursework), or when the awardee is half-way through the Program (if the awardee has not yet started coursework).

Application Deadline

The application window will be open in late August 2025.