Nearly 5,000 individuals earned the designation Certified Financial Planner in 2017, including 1,250 women, CFP Board of Standards announced Monday.
There are now 80,035 individuals, including 4,930 added last year, who hold the CFP designation, a 43 percent increase in the last decade. The number of women who earned the mark was the most ever, in a profession that is increasing efforts to boost the number of women and minorities. Women make up 23 percent of CFP professionals.
“CFP certification has become the must-have designation for those providing financial advice,” said CFP Board CEO Kevin R. Keller. “We look forward to 2018 as we build on our success and see more professionals become certified and more Americans using CFP professionals for their financial planning needs.”
CFP certification is one of six financial designations accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies.
CFP Board created the Center for Financial Planning in part to promote diversity among CFP holders.
“While we are proud that the ranks of CFP professionals continues to increase, we know that more can be done to encourage young people, women and people of color to join this great profession,” said Keller.