5-Steps to a Career as a CPA Financial Planner
With the increased demand and projected growth of personal financial planning services in areas such as estate, retirement, risk management and investments, CPAs are quite possibly the single most important decision makers for individuals and businesses, and it is time to realize that we do more than taxes. There is an entire profession of CPA financial planners dedicated to advising clients on the financial decisions that will impact every facet of their lives.
If you enjoy interacting with people, are good with numbers, have an interest in personal finance, like to have a positive impact on others and want to provide value-added and profitable services to your clients, a career as a CPA financial planner or CPA/Personal Financial Specialist (PFS) may be right for you.
If you enjoy interacting with people, are good with numbers, have an interest in personal finance, like to have a positive impact on others and want to provide value-added and profitable services to your clients, a career as a CPA financial planner or CPA/Personal Financial Specialist (PFS) may be right for you.
Step 1: Become a Member
- Join the AICPA
- Join the PFP Section
Step 2: Connect
- PFP Young Advisors Network: A forum for young and emerging CPA financial planners to share ideas, overcome challenges and advance our careers. To connect, email PFP Division staff at financialplanning@aicpa.org.
- Mentor Program (Coming soon!)
- Social Media
- Twitter: @AICPA | @YoungCPANetwork | #AICPApfp
- Facebook: YoungCPANetwork
- LinkedIn: Young CPA Network | PFP Section Members
Step 3: Learn
Getting Started
- Article: It’s Never Too Early to Specialize: Is a Career in Financial Planning right for you?
- Be In Demand: Read article | Download brochure | Watch archived Webcast
- Video: How the next generation of the CPA profession can get into personal financial planning
- Business Models: Which one is right for you?
- Career Paths: View biographies of real-life CPAs showing the pathway to a career in personal financial planning.
- Take a Virtual Field Trip - Meet real-life CPAs
Webcasts, Podcasts, and Learning Library
- Upcoming Events
- PFP Learning Library
- From Tax Preparer to Financial Planner: The Road Best Traveled
- PFS Credential Learning Opportunities
Conferences (In-Person & Virtual)
- AICPA Advanced Personal Financial Planning Conference
- AICPA Conference on Tax Strategies for the High Income Individual
- AICPA Advanced Estate Planning Conference (The P. Thomas Austin Personal Financial Planning Division Scholarship covers the registration fee and travel expenses of one emerging CPA financial planner to attend annually.)
- AICPA National Tax Conference
- AICPA Sophisticated Tax Planning for Your Wealthy Clients
- E.D.G.E. Conference for Young CPAs
Step 4: Practice
Technical & Practice Management Resources
- Stay up with the latest planning strategies and trends in personal financial planning services practice competently and profitably.
- Broadridge Advisor: An education and client communication tool written by CPAs and attorneys in order to deliver clear, concise presentations, illustrations and articles to your clients.
Step 5: Lead
- Standing Ovation recognizes CPAs age 40 or younger in personal financial planning who exhibit exemplary professional achievement.
- AICPA Leadership Academy exposes the next generation of CPAs to a strong ethic of leadership and service. By providing them with strategies, candidates are empowered to become leaders within their organizations, communities and the CPA profession
- Volunteer on a committee
- The Association of International Certified Professional Accountants Global Career Hub
