CFP Board Center for Financial Planning Announces Merrill Lynch as Event Sponsor of the 2017 Academic Research Colloquium

The CFP Board Center for Financial Planning is pleased to announce Merrill Lynch as the event sponsor of this week’s Academic Research Colloquium for Financial Planning and Related Disciplines. The event is at the Renaissance Arlington Capital View Hotel in Arlington, Va. on February 7 – 9, 2017.  The Colloquium is also made possible through Center sponsors, including Lead Founding Sponsor TD Ameritrade Institutional and Founding Sponsor Northwestern Mutual. 

The first-ever Colloquium will gather the global academic community to showcase rigorous and relevant research within financial planning and related disciplines that directly or indirectly relate to financial planning practice and the body of knowledge.

In addition, the firm will sponsor the Merrill Lynch Student Best Paper Award, which is awarded at the Colloquium. It is the next in a series of awards that will recognize authors from a variety of disciplines and sub-disciplines that relate to financial planning. It will be awarded to the graduate student with the best research paper that directly or indirectly relates to financial planning practice. The award carries a $2,500 cash prize for the author(s) of the winning paper.

“This Colloquium is a pivotal moment for the profession. Academics and students are conducting cutting-edge research on financial planning and related disciplines, and for the first time ever, they will gather to share their findings and insights,” said Marilyn Mohrman-Gillis, the Center’s Executive Director. “The CFP Board Center for Financial Planning greatly appreciates Merrill Lynch’s support in helping to make this event a reality.”

The criteria for this award include:

• Relevance and significance of topic and research question(s) that relate to financial planning practice
• Clarity of research question(s)
• Thoroughness of literature review
• Appropriateness of methodology for study
• Contribution to the body of knowledge of financial planning

“We’re delighted to sponsor this unique symposium and to further build awareness and support of the CFP® certification as a professional designation.  We encourage students to consider planning-based financial services careers in order to serve the next generation of investors,” said Cheri Lytle, head of advisor development at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management.      

The CFP Board Center for Financial Planning is hosting the Colloquium in collaboration with the Canadian-based Financial Planning Standards Council and the Financial Planning Standards Board Ltd., owner of the international CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER certification program outside the United States.

For a complete list of Best Paper Awards that will be awarded at the Academic Research Colloquium, or to register to attend the event, visit www.CenterforFinancialPlanning.org/ARC.

ABOUT MERRILL LYNCH

Merrill Lynch Global Wealth Management is a leading provider of comprehensive wealth management and investment services for individuals and businesses globally. With 14,629 financial advisors and $2.1 trillion in client balances as of December 31, 2016, it is among the largest businesses of its kind in the world. Merrill Lynch Global Wealth Management specializes in goals-based wealth management, including planning for retirement, education, legacy, and other life goals through investment, cash and credit management. Within Merrill Lynch Global Wealth Management, the Private Banking and Investment Group focuses on the unique and personalized needs of wealthy individuals, families and their businesses. These clients are served by more than 190 highly specialized private wealth advisor teams, along with experts in areas such as investment management, concentrated stock management and intergenerational wealth transfer strategies. Merrill Lynch Global Wealth Management is part of Bank of America Corporation.