Study: Financial Planners with CFP® Certification Enjoy High Earnings and Career Satisfaction

CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professionals and other financial planners achieve a rare combination: meaningful work with strong financial rewards.

According to the CFP Board 2025 Compensation Study, CFP® professionals help clients plan their financial futures while earning competitive compensation, valuable benefits and maintaining a healthy work-life balance.

Key Findings from the 2025 Compensation Study

The survey of 1,489 financial planners and CFP® professionals found that:

• Median 2024 total compensation for financial planners was $185,000
• CFP® professionals earn 13% more than other financial planners
• 2023–24 year-to-year compensation growth outpaced inflation at 16%

Financial planners also enjoy access to generous benefits and flexible work, including:

• Defined contribution retirement benefits (96%)
• Health insurance (90%)
• Hybrid work (57%)
• 84% of financial planners say they are highly fulfilled with their career
• 89% of CFP® professionals plan to stay with their current employer over the next 2 years

“This is a great career to be a part of, and financial planners and CFP® professionals are fully aware of that,” said Kevin Roth, Ph.D., CFP Board Managing Director, Research. “Financial planning is a profession where people feel good about the work they’re doing because they are helping people achieve their goals. It’s also a profession experiencing healthy compensation growth as demand for financial planning continues to rise.”

Generous Compensation

Financial planning is in high demand as the wealth transfer from Baby Boomers accelerates, so it is no surprise that financial planners receive competitive pay.

Median 2024 total compensation for financial planners with less than five years of experience was $107,500. For all respondents, compensation was based on a combination of salary (36%), variable pay (45%), company profits (16%) and profit sharing (2%).

Notably, CFP® professionals earn 13% more than their peers, even after accounting for factors such as years of experience, company size and job role. To achieve certification, they must complete rigorous coursework, pass a high-stakes exam and gain significant real-world experience. Most importantly, CFP® professionals make a commitment to put their clients’ interests first.

A Wealth of Benefits

Beyond salaries and bonuses, financial planners typically receive a range of benefits including health, dental, life and disability insurance, as well as professional development opportunities. Additional benefits include prescription coverage (70%), professional liability insurance (67%) and Employee Assistance Programs (58%).

Retirement benefits are widespread, with 96% of CFP® professionals having access to defined contribution plans such as a 401(k) or IRA.

Paid time off is also generous: CFP® professionals receive a median of 20 days of paid leave annually, with 26% reporting access to unlimited PTO. They also receive a median of 10 paid holidays per year, as well as maternity (83%), paternity (81%), adoption (81%) and family medical leave (77%).

High Levels of Career Satisfaction

Financial planning is a mission-driven profession. CFP® professionals help people achieve their financial goals, and in turn report high levels of career satisfaction. Fully 84% of CFP® professionals report personal fulfillment with their careers, while 83% cite high levels of satisfaction with work-life balance, and 79% with career advancement.

Financial planners work across a wide variety of firm sizes and business models, giving them flexibility to chart their own career path. Nearly 3 in 5 financial professionals (57%) work for a company while 38% are self-employed, business owners or equity partners. Financial professionals provide a range of services, with most focusing on wealth management and investment planning (93%), comprehensive financial planning (89%) and retirement planning (84%).

Notably, 9 in 10 CFP® professionals said they are likely to remain in their current role for the next two years.

For CFP® professionals, there are opportunities beyond their current role, but many have found an employer that fits their needs,” said Roth. “That reflects a high level of satisfaction with their career choice.

A Strong Outlook

With demand for financial planning increasing, prospects for financial planners and CFP® professionals remain strong.

“This is a terrific career,” said Roth. “Firms of all sizes and specialties are looking for more professionals and asking how to bring people in. CFP® professionals understand the value of being part of such a rewarding profession. It’s something to take pride in. And they are ready to bring more qualified trusted advisors to the field.”

Methodology

CFP Board surveyed CFP® professionals and financial planners without CFP® certification in April 2025. The organization received responses from 1,489 respondents by mid-June. The data presented in the report have a margin of error of +/- 2.6% at a 95% confidence level. Strict confidentiality of survey responses was maintained throughout the project.

Download and read the full CFP Board 2025 Compensation Study.