Why CFP® Certification
Salary & Compensation
Financial planners are in high demand. In today's economy, people are increasingly partnering with financial planners to ensure a confident financial future.
By achieving the CFP® certification, you can propel your career to the next level by better serving your clients and unlocking additional earning potential.
Earn more with CFP® certification
CFP® certification is an investment in your career that will impact your income for years to come.
1–8 years
$145K
The average income for a CFP® professional with less than 9 years of experience.1
9–14 years
$217k
The average income for a CFP® professional with 9-14 years of experience.1
15+ Years
$297k
The average income for a CFP® professional with over 15 years of experience.1
Start your journey as a CFP® Professional
Join the ranks of nearly 100,000 CFP® professionals who are enjoying the rewards that come with getting certified. Create your free account to access valuable resources and track you progress.
How are financial planners compensated?
Two of the compensation methods for financial planners are salaries and payouts.
- Some companies compensate their financial planners as salaried employees.
- Other companies compensate their financial planners based on a percentage of the revenue they generate. This payout method rewards productivity and business development success.
- For new advisors, most companies offer some period of time where compensation is guaranteed through salaries.2
Justin on the value of CFP® CERTIFICATION
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My career would not be where it is without the CFP® [certification]... because it instills so much trust in the relationships I have with my clients and even my colleagues trust me more."
Justin Sullivan
CFP® Professional
CFP® CERTIFICATION SETS YOU APART
Anyone can call themselves a financial advisor. Only those who have met CFP Board's high standards for certification can call themselves a CFP® professional.
| FINANCIAL ADVISOR WITHOUT CERTIFICATION | CFP® PROFESSIONAL |
|---|---|
| Anyone can call themselves a financial advisor | Meets requirements established by CFP Board |
| May not have committed to act as a fiduciary | Committed to CFP Board to fiduciary duty to act in clients’ best interests |
| 72% client satisfaction | 87% client satisfaction |
| Lower compensation on average | Earns 12% more than other financial planners ⁴ |
Sources
- AITE, “Transitioning from Financial Planning: The Benefits of CFP® Certification”
- CFP Board, Guide to Careers in Financial Planning
- U.S. News & World Report, “What is a financial advisor?”
- College for Financial Planning®, a Kaplan Company’s 2019 survey of 758 financial planners
Start your journey to CFP® Certification
- Track your progress with the CFP® Certification Tracker
- Post your resume at the Career Center
- Connect with a mentor who can guide you
- Register and prepare for the exam
- Find career and financial support
- Connect with other candidates at our online forum