CFP Board Launches New Public Awareness Campaign: “IT’S GOTTA BE A CFP®”

CFP Board announced that it is launching a new public awareness campaign today to increase awareness of the CFP^® certification mark and the importance of working with a CFP^® professional. The 2023 campaign, “IT’S GOTTA BE A CFP^®,” will feature national broadcast and cable network television ads and includes a mix of advertising in various media channels, including streaming TV, streaming audio and digital venues.

CFP Board also announced that it has named Adweek-recognized “Top U.S. Ad Agency” BUNTIN as its new advertising agency of record. BUNTIN is an award-winning agency specializing in brand conviction. The Nashville-based firm developed the new campaign and is helping execute CFP Board’s strategy for public awareness outreach, advertising, social media and digital content development, channel engagement/activation, and data reporting/optimization.

“This year marks the 50th anniversary of CFP^® certification, and we are excited to launch this new public awareness campaign, working with BUNTIN as our new ad agency of record,” said CFP Board CEO Kevin R. Keller, CAE. “By raising consumer awareness of CFP^® certification as the standard for competent and ethical financial planning, we reinforce the message that CFP^® professionals help more Americans achieve their financial goals.”

The new public awareness campaign will highlight high-risk situations and the feeling of uncertainty and then contrast those scenarios with the confidence and security one feels when working with a qualified professional. All ads will feature the tagline “IT’S GOTTA BE A CFP^®” and will drive consumers to the LetsMakeAPlan.org website to find a CFP® professional. The website is designed to empower consumers to make informed decisions when working with a financial advisor.

CFP Board will run TV ads on news, sports and entertainment media partners, including ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, the Golf Channel, ESPN, HGTV and the Food Network, through May 21. In addition to the television ads, the campaign includes streaming video on Prime Video, Hulu, HBO Max, Apple TV and Roku, among other platforms, as well as radio ads that will also air through May 21. Search engine marketing and social media advertising will continue throughout the year.

“We’re thrilled to identify new and innovative ways to increase awareness of the difference CFP® professionals can make in people’s lives. CFP^® professionals commit to CFP Board to put their clients’ best interests first,” said BUNTIN CEO Jeffrey Buntin, Jr. “We look forward to working collaboratively to show that CFP® professionals embody the standard of excellence in financial planning and deliver unique value in people’s lives.”

For the past decade, CFP Board has executed a consumer-focused public awareness campaign to raise awareness of the value and benefits of working with a CFP^® professional. This year’s paid media expenditure is more than $12 million, bringing the total CFP Board ad campaign investment over the past decade to approximately $150 million.

This year’s campaign targets individuals aged 35 to 64 who are the primary decision-makers in managing their personal finances. Creation of the campaign included validation through national focus group testing.

The first new CFP Board TV ad spot can be viewed on CFP Board’s Public Awareness Campaign & Toolkit webpage.