The CFP Board owns the CFP with flame logo mark and the marks CFP and Certified Financial Planner and licenses individuals who meet its rigorous certification standards to use its marks. The CFP Board serves as and educational resource to federal and state lawmakers and regulators on personal financial planning issues. The CFP Board's mission is to benefit the public by fostering professional standards in personal financial planning. Financial planning is the process of meeting life goals through the proper management of personal finances. Life goals can include buying a home, funding a child's education, passing along a family business, or planning for the years after retirement.
Financial planning provides direction and meaning for financial decisions.
It allows one to understand how each financial decision affects other areas of personal finances. For example, buying a particular investment product might help pay off a mortgage faster or it may delay retirement significantly. By reviewing each financial decision as part of a whole, one can consider short and long-term effects on life goals. One can also adapt more easily to life changes and feel more secure about reaching life goals. As personal financial planning includes areas such as insurance, banking, and securities, an agency overseeing the current regulatory functions of the Treasurer and Comptroller will bring greater consumer protection and bureaucratic efficiency.