Eight College Teams Named Finalists in the 2021 Financial Planning Challenge

The Financial Planning Association® (FPA®), Ameriprise Financial, and the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. (CFP Board) are pleased to announce the college teams that will compete in the final stages of the 2021 Financial Planning Challenge. The competition, jointly sponsored by the three organizations, is designed exclusively for college and university financial planning undergraduate degree programs registered with CFP Board through a three-stage event. The first two phases are modeled after CFP Board’s Financial Plan Development (Capstone) Course requirement.

The Financial Planning Challenge aims to promote the financial planning profession as a vibrant community and viable career choice for today’s students. The competition involves students in a holistic financial planning learning experience. It engages them in the financial planning community to build relationships, discover career opportunities, and enhance their financial planning knowledge. This year, the following eight teams are advancing to the final rounds of the Financial Planning Challenge to be held virtually Sept. 21-23:

• Edinboro University
• Fort Hays State University
• Illinois State University
• Kansas State University
• Purdue University
• Texas Tech University
• University of Arizona
• Western Kentucky University

“This wonderful competition has been an opportunity to showcase today’s students who are also the profession’s leaders of tomorrow,” says Patrick D. Mahoney, chief executive officer of FPA. “We are honored to once again have this partnership with our friends at Ameriprise Financial and CFP Board so we can shine a bright light on these students and the amazing futures they have in financial planning.”

“CFP Board is proud to co-sponsor the Financial Planning Challenge,” said CFP Board CEO Kevin R. Keller, CAE. “Since the Challenge’s inception in 2014, we continue to be impressed by students’ leadership and financial planning skills exhibited at the Challenge. These students possess dedication, professionalism, integrity and emotional intelligence that will certainly make them the next generation of leaders of the financial planning profession.”

Teams advance in the challenge by competing in the following three phases:

1. Written financial planning case study (complete)
2. Case study presentation (Sept. 21-22)
3. “How Do You Know?” Challenge, a game-show style financial planning knowledge contest (Sept. 23)

"We'll soon reach a tipping point in this industry where more advisors will be retiring than entering the profession," said David Bresler, Vice President of the Advisor Business Development Group at Ameriprise Financial. "At the same time, consumers are increasingly seeking comprehensive financial advice to meet their goals. FPA's Financial Planning Challenge is an innovative program that introduces the role of financial planner to the next generation of talented individuals who are building the skills to serve their future clients holistically."

The final two stages of the competition, which includes a case study presentation and the “How Do You Know?” Challenge, were originally going to take place at FPA Annual Conference 2021. Due to the cancellation of the conference, the remaining stages are being held virtually. The top three winning teams will receive a monetary scholarship for their respective school.

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About Ameriprise Financial, Inc.

At Ameriprise Financial, we have been helping people feel confident about their financial future for more than 125 years. With a network of approximately 10,000 financial advisors and extensive asset management, advisory and insurance capabilities, we have the strength and expertise to serve the full range of consumer financial needs. For more information, visit ameriprise.com.

About the Financial Planning Association

The Financial Planning Association® (FPA®) is the principal membership organization for CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERTM professionals, educators, financial services professionals and students who are committed to elevating the profession that transforms lives through the power of financial planning. With a focus on the practice, business and profession of financial planning, FPA advances financial planning practitioners through every phase of their careers, from novice to master to leader of the profession. Learn more about FPA at financialplanningassociation.org and follow on Twitter at twitter.com/fpassociation.

Contact:

Ben Lewis
Chief Communications Officer
Financial Planning Association
blewis@onefpa.org
P: 303.867.7190