Message from the Chair and CEO: We All Must Support Diversity, Inclusion and Equity

In 2015, CFP Board founded the Center for Financial Planning with the unique mission of creating a more diverse and sustainable financial planning profession, so that every American has access to competent and ethical financial planning advice. Empowering people and advocating for equity is in our DNA. 

This is one of the reasons why the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, Ahmaud Arbery and too many other African American/Black people have weighed so heavily on us. Our hearts are with the families of the victims, those who are protesting and peacefully demanding change in their honor, and the many African American/Black CFP® professionals who are part of our community and who continually fear for their lives and face violence, brutality, discrimination and mistreatment in this country. 

CFP Board is committed to continuing our work to establish pipelines that allow everyone, especially African American/Black people and other people of color, to achieve a more secure financial future through financial planning. Our work seeks to financially empower everyone living in the United States, but we have been especially intentional in supporting people of color who have been historically excluded from acquiring generational wealth. 

Now is the time to build diverse, equitable and inclusive workplaces where CFP® professionals and all professionals — regardless of race, ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation and gender identity and expression — feel heard, welcomed, supported and valued. We urge our partners throughout the financial services industry to actively support African American/Black professionals and the black community. It is not enough to for us to express support. We must act. Because Black Lives Matter. 

We, CFP Board and the financial planning profession, are collectively and publicly accountable for making substantive change. The Center’s thought leadership paper, Racial Diversity in Financial Planning: Where We Are and Where We Must Go, provides concrete actions for firms, CFP Board Registered Programs, influencer organizations and others. We are committed to helping you implement them. 

Finally, we acknowledge and applaud the African American/Black CFP® professionals, CFP® professionals of color, and every CFP® professional who has been on the forefront of this fight for equity and justice. 

We see you, we thank you, and we stand in solidarity together.

Jack Brod, CFP®
Chair, Board of Directors
CFP Board

Kevin R. Keller, CAE
Chief Executive Officer 
CFP Board