Research Finds CFP® Professional-Advised Americans Experience Greater Financial Preparedness, Confidence and Trust

CFP Board today released a new report, Trust. Confidence. Impact: 2025 Financial Planning Longitudinal Study, confirming that Americans who work with CFP® professionals continue to achieve better financial outcomes than those working with other advisors or managing finances on their own. The second year of results in the decade-plus-long study reinforces meaningful advantages in financial preparedness, client satisfaction and comprehensive planning for CFP® professional-advised households.

The research reveals that 94% of households advised by CFP® professionals feel confident in their ability to achieve financial goals, compared to 85% of those working with other advisors and 81% of unadvised Americans. This confidence translates into action: 83% of people who work with a CFP® professional maintain emergency funds covering three months' worth of income and 61% have a will in place - significantly higher than clients of other advisors (68% and 46%) and unadvised individuals (53% and 24%). Half (51%) of people who work with a CFP® professional also report living comfortably, compared to 40% with other advisors and 31% of unadvised households.

The study will track, follow and measure financial and overall well-being outcomes of a diverse and representative sample of American households for at least 10 years. The following team of renowned researchers in the fields of financial planning and consumer finance leads the study:

• J. Michael Collins, Ph.D., MPP, Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison
• Stuart J. Heckman, Ph.D., M.S., CFP®, Associate Professor of Practice and Ph.D. Program Director at Texas Tech University School of Financial Planning
• Emily Koochel, Ph.D., AFC®, CFT-I™, BFA™, Manager of Financial Wellness at eMoney Advisor
• Sonya Lutter, Ph.D., M.S., CFP®, Director of Financial Health and Wellness at Texas Tech University School of Financial Planning.

"Independent research confirms that holistic financial planning makes a real difference in people's lives every day," said CFP Board CEO Kevin R. Keller, CAE. "As people navigate decisions to prepare for the future, protect their loved ones and plan for retirement, CFP® professionals bring clarity to complexity, help anticipate the unexpected and keep clients on track. That's what disciplined financial planning looks like in practice, and this research shows those benefits hold up over time."

CFP® Professionals Earn Higher Client Satisfaction and Trust

The findings reveal notable differences in clients' relationships with their advisors. Nearly 3 in 4 (73%) clients have strong trust in their CFP® professional, compared to just 52% for other advisors. Two-thirds (62%) of CFP® professional-advised Americans say they are very satisfied with their advisor's role, versus 44% of those working with other advisors. Americans also say their CFP® professional helps reduce financial anxiety (59%) and motivates them to reach financial planning goals (54%). In comparison, those working with other advisors report these benefits at rates of 38% and 34%, respectively.

This satisfaction may stem from deeper relationships: 60% of CFP® professional clients say their advisor makes an effort to learn about their family and values, compared to 41% of those with other advisors.

Holistic Planning Covers More Life Stages and Financial Areas

Financial plans managed by CFP® professionals cover nearly twice as many critical planning areas compared to other advisors. This holistic approach shows up across multiple dimensions, with CFP® professional clients significantly more likely to receive detailed planning in investment and retirement planning, estate planning, and risk management and insurance.

"We're seeing that the benefits of working with a CFP® professional are holding steady in year two," said Kevin Roth, Ph.D., Managing Director of Research at CFP Board. "As we track these households in the years ahead, we'll deepen our understanding of how CFP® professionals influence financial outcomes at every stage of life."

The Financial Planning Longitudinal Study is tracking participating households over at least the next decade, building a comprehensive understanding of how working with CFP® professionals influences financial outcomes through various life stages and economic conditions.

CFP Board will host a webinar on February 3, at 1 p.m. ET to explore the findings from the 2025 Longitudinal Study, with two members of the research team to answer questions and hear comments. Register for the webinar here.

Download and read Trust. Confidence. Impact: 2025 Financial Planning Longitudinal Study report here.

METHODOLOGY

The core data from this study comes from surveys of members of the AmeriSpeak® Panel, managed by NORC at the University of Chicago. The 2025 survey received responses from 4,567 eligible participants, including 3,357 who participated in the 2024 survey. Participants represent working or recently retired U.S. households ages 25-65 with minimum annual income of $50,000 and investable assets of at least $30,000. Data is weighted to be representative of the target population and subject to a sampling error of +/- 1.45% at the 95% confidence interval.

The FPLS data, codebook & frequency tables, methods & transparency report, and survey instrument are available to researchers. The 2024 survey assets are currently available on CFP Board's website, with the 2025 survey data available starting on March 2, 2026. This same page also features a Financial Planning Review journal article by the researchers with greater detail of the 2024 survey data and findings: "Introducing the Financial Planning Longitudinal Study (FPLS)."