Autumn Chills: CFP® Professionals’ Economic Expectations Begin to Cool Off

As 2025 enters its final stretch, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professionals report that their clients’ financial outlooks have stabilized. And while their own financial outlooks remain solid, CFP® professionals have grown a bit more cautious about the U.S. economy.

According to the latest CFP® Professionals Sentiment Indices (CPSI), nearly half (46%) of CFP® professionals say their clients hold a positive outlook about their finances — virtually unchanged from the Summer 2025 survey.

The CFP® Professionals Sentiment Indices (CPSI) measure the financial and economic outlooks of CFP® professionals and their clients. They provide investors, the media and the public with a new set of data that measures the strength of the economy, leveraging the trusted advisor-client relationship. Drawing on the collective insights of more than 100,000 CFP® professionals, the CPSI provides a distinctive window into the nation’s economic pulse and the confidence levels of both consumers and investors.

Client Confidence Holds Steady

While many clients remain optimistic, 2 in 5 CFP® professionals describe their clients as holding neutral views about their financial outlooks. About the same proportion of CFP® professionals assess that their clients’ current financial outlook is similar to a year earlier. This balance mirrors the sentiment recorded in the summer survey.

“In a year full of ups and downs, the Fall 2025 CFP® Professionals Sentiment Indices tracks a settling of emotions and a tempering of expectations,” said CFP Board Manager of Research & Analysis Sebastian Belloni. “No one wants to overreact in either a positive or negative way.”

CFP® Professionals Are More Guarded

CFP® professionals remain generally confident in their own financial situations, though slightly less so than over the summer. Just over half report a positive personal financial outlook — substantially below the two-thirds who felt positive a year ago in Fall 2024. Two in 5 CFP® professionals say their financial outlook has improved compared to a year ago.

On a larger scale, only about a quarter of CFP® professionals expect economic conditions to improve over the next 12 months. This is the lowest proportion of CFP® professionals expressing a positive economic outlook since the launch of the CFP® Professionals Sentiment Indices in Fall 2024. Meanwhile, 36% of CFP® professionals foresee worsening economic conditions.

Clients Continue to Seek Trusted Financial Advice

In this economic environment, CFP® professionals continue to see strong momentum in their practices. Nearly two-thirds report that their client bases have expanded over the past 12 months, consistent with summer levels, while nearly three-quarters expect continued growth in the year ahead.

“This sustained expansion underscores the importance of trusted financial guidance during all sorts of economic conditions,” said CFP Board Managing Director of Research Kevin Roth, Ph.D. “It reinforces the essential role that CFP® professionals play in helping clients feel grounded in the face of unpredictability.”

Preparing for the Elements

The Fall 2025 CFP® Professionals Sentiment Indices reveal a “wait and see” approach among clients and CFP® professionals alike. In this environment, CFP® professionals continue to guide clients through economic uncertainty, helping them make sound decisions and stay focused on long-term goals.

As the year draws to a close, the CPSI offers a clear view of how Americans are navigating economic change through the lens of a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional. Look for the next set of CPSI results in early February.