CFP Board reports record growth in professionals and exam candidates

WASHINGTON, D.C., January 15, 2026 — CFP Board today reported a milestone year in 2025, with record numbers of new CFP certificants and exam candidates. As of December 31, 2025, the number of CFP professionals reached an all-time high of 107,529, an increase of 4.3% over 2024 and nearly double the number of certificants since retiring CFP Board CEO Kevin R. Keller, CAE took the helm in 2007. Last year also marked the largest number of exam candidates in CFP Board history, with 11,037 people sitting for the exam, a 5.7% increase over 2024.

“This unprecedented growth indicates that CFP certification is more valuable than ever,” said Keller. “As record numbers of new CFP professionals enter the field and as the financial planning profession continues to expand across academia, public policy and rapidly evolving technology, CFP certification stands as the clear standard, one that firms actively prioritize and consumers increasingly expect.”

The 2025 CFP certificant class at a glancc

In 2025, CFP Board welcomed 6,709 new CFP professionals, the most ever in a single year. Of these new certificants, 3,964 are under age 35, bringing the total share of all certificants under age 50 to 56.5%.

The 2025 CFP certificant class included the largest number of racially and ethnically diverse CFP professionals in a single year. As a result, the total number of racially and ethnically diverse professionals rose to 11,195, representing 10.4% of all CFP professionals and a growth rate of 9.3% from 2024 — more than twice the overall growth rate of all CFP professionals.

In 2025, 1,694 women earned CFP certification. As a result, the total number of women CFP professionals increased 4.3% to a record high of 25,601, representing 23.8% of all CFP professionals. A diverse workforce brings a wider range of perspectives that fuel innovation and supports the profession’s long‑term growth by attracting talent from all backgrounds. For more information on CFP professional demographics, visit CFP.net/demographics.

In 2025, LPL became the first firm ever to exceed 6,000 CFP professionals. Edward Jones surpassed 5,000 total CFP certificants. Six firms minted more than 200 new CFP professionals each — LPL, Edward Jones, Charles Schwab, Northwestern Mutual, Bank of America Merrill Lynch and Fidelity.

Growing the talent pipeline

In 2025, CFP Board strengthened the financial planning talent pipeline through growth in student, job-seeker and academic engagement:

·       CFP Board awarded $714,583 in scholarships, an 8.4% increase over 2024, building on the significant expansion achieved the prior year. There were 3,462 applications across 25 scholarship programs.

·       42 CFP Board Student Liaisons across 21 schools hosted financial planning career events attended by more than 700 students.

·       CFP Board deepened its partnerships with academic institutions, welcoming 28 new CFP Board Registered Programs into its community, bringing the total number of Registered Programs to 366 nationwide.

·       More than 90 CFP professionals stepped forward to volunteer with seven baccalaureate programs, strengthening real‑world connections and bringing practical experience directly to students.

·       CFP Board expanded its support for career changers, with 686 attendees participating in CFP Pro Career Studio events.

·       704 people attended CFP Board’s Virtual Career Fairs, events organized twice annually to bring together employers and job seekers.

Expanded national campaign drives awareness and preference 

CFP Board’s Public Awareness Campaign gained momentum in 2025 with the addition of a fall broadcast media period between September and November, significantly expanding visibility during National Financial Planning Month in October. Independent research from Heart+Mind Strategies shows continued consumer confidence in, and demand for, CFP professionals:

·       Over 3.6 million users of LetsMakeAPlan.org (3,679,279 total users, a 49% increase over 2024)

·       88% total awareness of CFP certification among the target audience (up 1% over the 2024 five-year average)

o   (NOTE: Total awareness measures how many people recognize the brand, whether prompted (aided) or not (unaided).)

·       37% unaided awareness of CFP certification (up 5% over the 2024 five-year average)

o   (NOTE: Unaided awareness refers to the percentage of respondents who recall the brand without being prompted. It measures spontaneous recognition and gauges how well-known something is based solely on memory.)

·       82% preference for CFP certification (up 3% over the 2024 five-year average)

o   (NOTE: Preference for CFP certification refers to the degree to which individuals favor or prioritize working with financial planners who have earned CFP certification over those who do not. It demonstrates the value and trust associated with the certification in holistic financial planning.)

Since 2011, CFP Board has invested over $185 million in raising consumer awareness of CFP^® certification as the standard for financial planning, indirectly supporting firms and certificants in their marketing efforts.

Engaging the community and advancing the profession

CFP Board hosted its second annual Connections Conference in Chicago, bringing together over 900 people from across the entire financial advice ecosystem. CFP Board also expanded its digital engagement, engaging financial planners and the public online, through 35 educational webinars with over 30,000 participants.

In service to CFP professionals and the public, CFP Board adopted six new public policy priorities, providing a clear call to action for policymakers. Deepening its engagement on Capitol Hill, CFP Board held more than 100 meetings with members of Congress and congressional staff. This sustained commitment helped achieve passage of the Freedom to Invest in Tomorrow’s Workforce Act, expanding 529 plan eligibility to cover expenses related to professional credentials, including CFP certification.

A strong community of volunteers supports CFP Board’s work. In 2025, 1,307 certificants, candidates and members of the public contributed their time and expertise across a wide variety of volunteer roles, including exam development, scholarship application review, and service on councils and commissions. This marked a significant increase from 1,025 volunteers in 2024.

CFP professionals also continued to extend their impact through pro bono service to underserved individuals and families. Over the past four years, the number of CFP professionals reporting pro bono service has nearly doubled, from 10,544 in 2021 to 19,354 in 2025. In 2025 alone, CFP professionals provided 433,390 pro bono hours, an 11% increase from 2024, representing an estimated $130 million in financial planning services.