Strengthening the Value of Continuing Education

Continuing education (CE) is foundational to the strength and credibility of CFP® certification. Over the past several weeks, I've been listening closely to CFP® professionals, firms and CE providers about what they need most and where we can do better.

A clear theme has come through: Value matters. Not just access to CE, but access to high-quality learning, practical insights and technology that works smoothly and reliably.

Financial planning continues to evolve, driven by regulatory change, new technologies and rising client expectations. The knowledge and tools that CFP® professionals rely on need to keep up. You deserve resources that strengthen your skills, support sound judgment and help you serve clients with confidence.

For years, CFP Board has provided resources designed to do exactly that: professional practice guidance, policy and regulatory analysis, research reports, toolkits for education programs, career guides for students, insights on emerging trends, and Financial Planning Review, our peer-reviewed journal. At its core, this work exists to build knowledge, develop skills and advance the profession.

As I look ahead, my perspective is grounded in three priorities:

Increasing value to CFP® professionals.
Everything we create should help you do your job better and serve your clients more effectively. That's how we evaluate our work and where we invest our time and resources.

Elevating the quality of continuing education.
We've heard clearly, through our review of the Competency Standards and public comment, that CE quality is uneven and needs attention. In 2026, we are focused on raising that bar across the profession, so it better reflects the realities CFP® professionals face every day. CFP Board has a role to play, particularly through CE tied to our conferences, events and original thought leadership, but we do not intend to become a significant marketplace provider or favor our own content. As part of this effort, we will increase transparency, including sharing learning objectives so providers can see how content aligns with established domains and build on it if they choose.

Improving the technology experience.
Technology should make participation easier, not harder. We are committed to improving systems and workflows so expectations are clearer and the experience is more reliable for everyone involved.

This work is about ensuring CFP® professionals have access to relevant, high-quality resources that keep pace with a changing profession and strengthen the trust the public places in financial planning.

We will continue to listen, learn and refine our approach. Your feedback is shaping where we go next, and I'm grateful for the engagement and candor so many of you have shared.

K. Dane Snowden
Chief Executive Officer
Certified Financial Board of Standards, Inc.
CFP Board Center for Financial Planning, Inc.