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Apply for a Scholarship

Edelman Financial Engines CFP® Certification Diversity Scholarship

 

about the scholarship

SCHOLARSHIP TO EMPLOYMENT 

The Edelman Financial Engines CFP® Certification Diversity Scholarship aims to support the development of aspiring financial planners from underrepresented communities and expand diversity efforts within the profession.

Long recognized as a leader in the democratization of financial planning and investment management, Edelman Financial Engines seeks to help create a more diverse and sustainable financial planning industry. This scholarship aims to help the next generation of exceptional, client-centric financial planners build their careers.

In partnership with the CFP Board Center for Financial Planning, the scholarship awards up to $5,000 per individual hoping to complete a certificate-level, CFP Board-registered program that would qualify them to sit for the CFP® exam.

eligibility requirements

  • Must not be a prior recipient of a CFP Board Center for Financial Planning scholarship.
  • Must be a U.S. resident.
  • Must have at least 2 years of financial services industry experience.
  • Must have an undergraduate degree.
  • Must be enrolled in a CFP Board-registered certificate program at the time the scholarship application is submitted. Documentation of program enrollment and costs is a precondition to receiving the award. Click here for a list of eligible certificate-level programs.
  • Must be from an underrepresented population within the financial planning profession in terms of gender, race, ethnicity, disability, military veteran or sexual orientation.
  • Must have demonstrated financial need, to be explained in the essay requirement of the application process.
  • Must have a demonstrated desire to help others reach their financial goals, while building their own career in a professional setting.
  • Must exhibit professionalism and dignity, and demonstrate the ability to enhance and maintain the profession’s public image.

Applicants who are selected for the final round of the application review process must pass a background check conducted by the CFP Board.

submission process

Applications will only be accepted through this webpage. Please do not submit application materials via mail, fax or email.

When submitting application essays and materials, please pay close attention to spelling and grammar, as that will be factored into the grading process.

award process

Scholarship awards will be disbursed in two equal installments. To receive the first installment, recipients will have to demonstrate proof of enrollment in an eligible certificate-level CFP Board Registered Program. The second installment will be awarded either upon completing the program (if the awardee has already started coursework), or when the awardee is half-way through the program (if the awardee has not yet started coursework).

application Deadline

The application window will be open until April 2, 2023.

award decision

Scholarship applicants will be notified of the award decision via email in May 2023. If you have a question about the status of your application, please email scholarships@cfpboard.org.

 

Application Form

CFP Board Account Number (if you don’t have a CFP Board account, click here to create one)

Important: Be sure your CFP Board account includes: 1) your date of birth, and 2) the last 4 digits of your social security number. Not having this information may delay your application and disqualify you from the application.

Ethnicity (select all that apply):
Gender

Essay
Please upload a single Word document or PDF that addresses each of the questions below. Please pay attention to spelling and grammar, which will be factored into the grading process.

  1. Why are you interested in the financial planning profession? What draws you to this field? (500 – 1,000 words)
  2. Please indicate how you meet the eligibility requirements for this scholarship as an individual from an underrepresented population within the financial planning profession in terms of gender, race, ethnicity, disability, military veteran status or sexual orientation. (250-500 words)
  3. Please indicate how you meet the financial need requirements for this scholarship in detail. (250 – 500 words)

Additional Questions

Please provide:

  1. the name of the certificate-level CFP Board Registered Program you currently attend
  2. how far along you are in the program.

Please note: Only certificate-level programs are eligible for this scholarship and you must already be enrolled in a program at the time you apply. Click here to find a certificate-level CFP Board Registered Program.

CFP Board will evaluate scholarship applicants against the Fitness Standards that apply to those who are applying for CFP® certification (https://www.cfp.net/get-certified/certification-process/ethics-requirement/fitness-standards). CFP Board will review the scholarship applicant’s background pursuant to the same process that CFP Board reviews applications for CFP® certification. If CFP Board discovers information that would subject the scholarship applicant to an investigation if the scholarship applicant were an applicant for CFP® certification, then CFP Board will deny the scholarship application. The fact that an individual receives a scholarship does not guarantee that the individual will satisfy CFP Board’s Fitness Standards when the individual later applies for CFP® certification.

Important: Be sure your CFP Board account includes: 1) your date of birth and 2) the last four digits of your social security number. Not having this information may delay your application and disqualify you from the scholarship.