CFP Board Seeks Public Input on Proposed Updates to Competency Standards

CFP® Board Updates The CFP Board of Directors is inviting public comment on proposed revisions to the Competency Standards for CFP® certification, covering education, experience, examination, and continuing education requirements. These updates aim to keep the standards modern, relevant, and aligned with the evolving financial planning profession. To develop these recommendations, the CFP Board formed…

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CFP Board Announces November Exam Results

CFP® Board Updates The CFP Board has announced the results for the November 2024 CFP® Certification Exam, held during the testing window of November 6-13. A total of 3,755 candidates participated, with 6% opting for remote testing. This marks the second-largest group to ever take the CFP® Certification Exam in November. The pass rate for…

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Choosing the Best Medicare Advantage Plan

Good to Know Medicare Advantage, or Medicare Part C, is an increasingly popular alternative to Original Medicare, offering highly sought-after additional benefits and coverages. With a wide variety of plans available, selecting the right one can feel overwhelming. However, by considering key factors such as coverage needs, costs, and network restrictions, you can confidently choose…

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Financial Planning Jobs for Career Changers

CFP® Certificants in the News The author is frequently asked how a newly-minted CFP® Certificant finds their first financial planning job. One resource not to be overlooked is the CFP Board’s Guide to Careers in Financial Planning which “provides students, recent graduates and career changers with information on starting and sustaining successful financial planning careers. Developed by the…

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Bitcoin ETFs, Pros and Cons

Good to Know How does a retail investor play in the cryptocurrency market? Contrary to popular belief, you do not have to be an accredited investor to participate, you can simply invest in a publicly traded Bitcoin ETF (Exchange-Traded Fund).  Such an ETF does not hold Bitcoin but rather tracks the price of Bitcoin.  It may…

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High Satisfaction Among CFP Professionals

CFP® Board Updates The CFP Board has released findings from a recent survey of CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professionals, showing high satisfaction with their careers and highlighting the positive impact of CFP® certification on their professional lives.   These insights come from the CFP Board’s 2024 survey, conducted by Heart + Mind Strategies LLC, which aimed…

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Emerging Trends for Long-Term Care

Good to Know The traditional approaches and challenges to managing long-term care costs are: Self-insurance — the risk of depleting savings (e.g., retirement portfolios), Buy insurance — sharply increasing premiums plus increasingly tight underwriting requirements, and Medicaid — poverty generally required to qualify. It’s been said that nature abhors a vacuum and it appears that…

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Passing the CFP Board Exam

CFP® Certificants in the News “If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.”…

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Top 5 Reasons to Become a CFP® Professional

Good to Know There’s seldom been a better time to consider a career as a financial advisor, financial planner, or both.  While the scope of this article prevents the author from discussing every reason why, here are the top 5. 1) Client Trust and Respect Expand Client Trust and Respect — According to Forbes, CFP®…

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