Financial Planners Professional Community

Ask Us Anything!
Curious about the Financial Planning field? 💬 Drop your questions in the comments below! Whether you're just starting out or deep into your journey, we want to hear from you. Throughout the month, our team will be answering select questions in upcoming discussion posts. Let's learn together! ✨
Global Markets and Financial Planning
Global interconnectedness has made international markets a central factor in personal financial planning, especially for those focused on investing and long-term retirement security. Changes in political stability, military conflicts, and trade policies such as tariffs directly shape the economic outlook and can alter how…
Busting Financial Planning Myths: Alumni Edition
Let’s start the week by busting some common financial planning myths. We know there’s a lot of advice (and misinformation) floating around, and who better to separate fact from fiction than our amazing alumni? Question for you: 💬 What’s the top financial planning myth you’ve encountered in your work or studies? It could be…
Cryptocurrency Insights for Advisors
The Future of Financial Advice in a Crypto-Enabled World As crypto and digital assets become more integrated into financial planning, one thing is clear: investors will still need human advisors. Even with the rise of robo-advisors and automation, navigating crypto requires judgment, experience, and strategic thinking that…
The $3,000 “Secret” Behind Better Saving Habits (Even When Big Bills Are Coming)
A 2025 study found that households with a “financial safety net” are more likely to demonstrate a saving habit (spending less than income), and that long-term savings goals help explain part of that relationship. In the research, a “safety net” is defined very specifically as being able to access $3,000 or more in…

Market Tops and V-Shaped Recoveries
The research I am currently working on focuses on whether the U.S. stock market is overvalued and how to identify the shapes of market cycles. In a project with Michael Angel, we have been analyzing the “Buffett Indicator”—the ratio of the market value of the S&P 500 to U.S. GDP. Historically, from roughly 1950 to 2009,…
The $3,000 “Secret” Behind Better Saving Habits (Even When Big Bills Are Coming)
A 2025 study found that households with a “financial safety net” are more likely to demonstrate a saving habit (spending less than income), and that long-term savings goals help explain part of that relationship. In the research, a “safety net” is defined very specifically as being able to access $3,000 or more in…
When Advisors Ask About SE-AWMA vs. CPWA: The Answers That Always Come Up
SE-AWMA vs. CPWA: Two Questions Advisors Ask (Almost as Often as “Is the Market Up Today?”) Advisors tend to be curious people, which is a polite way of saying we ask a lot of questions. But two come up so reliably that I could set my watch by them: “How does the SE-AWMA® compare to the CPWA®?” and “Will earning the…
Thanksgiving is Almost Here! 🍂
Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and it’s a great time to pause, reflect, and enjoy some good food and gratitude! Here are a few fun facts to get you in the holiday spirit: The first Thanksgiving in 1621 lasted three days and included games and feasting—not just turkey! Turkey wasn’t always the main dish; waterfowl,…
AI Knowledge Tools for Budding Scholars
Google Scholar Labs Stanford Genie - Storm and Co-Storm WMPA by College for Financial Planning - A Kaplan Company Google NotebookLM - create your powerful repositories ResearchRabbit
🔄 Keep Your Designation Current: How & Why Renewal Matters
Renewing your designation isn’t just a formality—it keeps your credentials active, recognized, and respected in the financial planning profession. Staying up to date shows your commitment to continued learning and professional excellence. How to Renew Your Designation: Log in to your portal before your renewal date.…
An unexpected benefit of the Master's in Personal Financial Planning program
About 10 years ago, when I was both established in my financial planning practice, but new to the College, I started the Master's program in Personal Financial Planning. Although I had earned the CFP® certification in 2003, I knew I was going to take a deeper dive into portfolio construction, retirement planning, client…
Honoring Our Veterans 🕊️
This Veterans Day, we take a moment to honor and thank all those who have served in the military. Their courage, dedication, and sacrifice help protect the freedoms we enjoy every day. Veterans Day originated in 1919 as Armistice Day, marking the end of World War I, and was renamed in 1954 to honor all U.S. veterans. About…
Integrating Behavioral Finance into Graduate Education in Finance
Behavioral finance should play an important role in graduate financial planning programs to prepare students for the realities of client interaction. Integrating behavioral finance better equips (future) advisors to recognize and manage the cognitive biases and emotional factors that often drive client decisions, such as…
Cryptocurrency Insights for Advisors
The Future of Financial Advice in a Crypto-Enabled World As crypto and digital assets become more integrated into financial planning, one thing is clear: investors will still need human advisors. Even with the rise of robo-advisors and automation, navigating crypto requires judgment, experience, and strategic thinking that…