CFP

Self Worth Financial Planning

CFP® In the News.

Martin Mesecke is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Practitioner in good standing with the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards.

"I consider the CFP® designation to be a basic requirement for anybody in the financial-advice business."

Jonathan Clements, Wall Street Journal Sunday
September 5, 2004

"Those most qualified to provide portfolio advice are CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ practitioners…"

Readers' Digest
May 2004

"Your search should begin with advisers who are CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ practitioners."

Physician's Money Digest
March 15, 2004

"Look for the person with the right credentials, such as a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional, or CFP®."

Anuradha Raghunathan, The Dallas Morning News
April 19, 2004

"The CFP® [professional]…has become the financial equivalent of the family physician."

Gregory Bresiger, Financial Advisor
March, 2004

"…CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional's -- that's the credential of choice in the industry…"

Humberto Cruz, Tribune Media Services
April 12, 2004

"…any time you shop for a financial planner, you should interview at least a couple, and make sure the person has a "CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™" designation,"

Gail MarksJarvis, Saint Paul Pioneer Press
March 19, 2004

"All things being equal, I'd suggest narrowing your search among advisers who've earned the Certified Financial Planner TM certification. To be certified, planners must pass a two-day, 10-hour examination, have three-years' minimum experience in financial planning, complete at least 30 hours of continuing education every two-years and pledge to abide by a code of ethics."

Humberto Cruz, Tribune Media Services
November 17, 2003

"[CFP® professionals] are to the financial world what medical doctors are to the medical world. CFP® professionals have the training to examine and determine a plan for finances, much like a doctor does for a patient."

Lancaster Sunday News
October 5, 2003

"The CFP® certification is the most widely recognized financial planning designation."

Los Angeles Times
September 28, 2003

"CFP® and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ are certification marks owned by Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc., which can help you identify financial planners who are committed to competent and ethical behavior when providing financial planning."

Atlanta Journal-Constitution
August 31, 2003

"Among households who use financial planners, CFP® practitioners "were the top choice of 43% of clients, while stockbrokers claimed 30% and accountants had 16%. CFP[® practitioner's also scored best among two desirable demographic groups in the survey the 'young high net worth' (age 30-54, $1-$3 million in investable assets) and the 'very high net worth' (any age, more than $3 million)."

Financial Planning
July 1, 2003

"Still better would be an investment in obtaining a professional certification such as the CFP® mark that would ensure you have encountered a vast body of financial knowledge wherein investing is but a component part. Such training will make you a more competent-and confident-advisor who can offer his clients a comprehensive view of their finances advising on such areas as cash and debt management, insurance, taxation and estate matters, in addition to investments."

Gil Weinreich
Research Magazine
May, 2003

"The CFP® mark is emerging as the 'predominant designation out there,' said Dennis Gallant of Cerulli Associates, a Boston Firm that studies the investment industry."

Todd Mason
St. Paul Pioneer Press
Mar. 23, 2003

"I recommend you find a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional CFP practitioner - someone who takes a holistic approach to your finances-if you want your adviser to consider your retirement, insurance, tax, and estate-planning needs."

Former SEC Chair Arthur Levitt
From his book "Take On the Street"

"Experts say the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification or CFP certification is the gold standard for generalist financial advisers because testing for it is rigorous and the CFP Board has proactive disciplinary procedures."

Todd Mason
The Philadelphia Inquirer
Feb. 16, 2003

"To find a good financial planner, the three things you need to look for are education, experience and esteem. You want a financial planner who … is designated [sic] as a CFP® professional or CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certificant.

"Fiscally Fit" by Terri Cullen
The Wall Street Journal
Jan. 9, 2003

A credential "we really like is the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional. Those people have to take, basically, two days' worth of--of an exam, and they have to know about estate planning, they have to know about taxes, so they know the whole gamut of financial planning."

Lauren Young, SmartMoney Magazine
On CNBC Early Today
Jan. 15, 2003

"Every 21st-century financial practice will eventually include a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional as part of its team."

Matt Oechsli
Registered Representative
January 2003

"Financial planners holding the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification report increases earnings, more satisfaction with their careers and more comprehensive planning services to their clients than in previous years."

The College for Financial Planning's
2002 Survey of Trends in the Financial Planning Industry
Highlighted in Insurance Marketing
December 2002/January 2003

"CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification is the most recognized credential. CFP certificant's have comprehensive educational training and must pass a 10-hour certification exam and have at least three years' experience before qualifying."

BusinessWeek
Nov. 25, 2002

"There are so many [credentials], it's like an alphabet soup. The only one that requires rigorous schooling and testing is the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification CFP® certification."

Deena Katz, CFP®
In USA Today, Nov. 15, 2002

"… in the past few years, the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification], or CFP® certification, has gained widespread recognition and acceptance as consumers increasingly search out these professionals. As a result, more companies are encouraging employees to get this credential."

Kathy Chu
Wall Street Journal, Oct. 28, 2002

"A CFP® professional is trained to help you set financial goals, plan for retirement and realistically weigh your social security income against your 401(k), your IRA and your personal savings."

Carl Apple CFP®
The Tennessean, Nashville, Tenn., Oct. 6, 2002

"If you have more than $50,000 and want advice on picking investments, you don't need a broker either, (former Securities Exchange Commission chairman), Arthur Levitt said. What you need is an independent adviser, preferably one with the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER designation [sic] who considers your overall financial picture."

Syndicated Columnist Humberto Cruz
South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., Sept. 25, 2002

The Certified Financial Planner Board The Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards is a professional regulatory organization. It fosters professional standards in personal financial planning so that the public values, has access to and benefits from competent financial planning. Individuals who meet rigorous requirements are certified by the CFP Board to use its certification trademark. These include 30 hours of continuing education credits every two years. The CFP licensee also agrees to abide by the Board's Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility.