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AFCPE sets more than just the gold standard in financial counseling.

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Meeting the Moment
by Setting and Protecting High Standards

Meeting the Moment
by Fulfilling the Professional Development Needs of our Diverse and Engaged Community

Meeting the Moment
by Building Partnerships that Increase Capacity, Expand Equity, and Ensure Access

Meeting the Moment
by Securing our Foundation to Scale and Sustain

Meeting the Moment
by by Raising Awareness and Advocating for the Value of an AFC.

Explore our Impact

WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO

At the Association for Financial Counseling & Planning Education^®(AFCPE^®) our mission is to ensure the highest level of knowledge, skill, and integrity of the personal finance profession by certifying, connecting, and supporting diverse and capable professionals who serve communities worldwide.

We believe in a future where all people — regardless of income or background — are empowered to achieve lasting financial well-being through the highest standards of financial counseling, coaching, and education.

2021 Strategic Impact Fund

200

Communities served

5k

Classes started

100

Counselors certified

Highest Standards

2979

Certified
Professionals
Worldwide

Educators, researchers, and practitioners working in private practice, government, military, nonprofit, banks/credit unions, academia, & more.

Work with an AFC

Education & Practice Rooted in Research

1661

AFC^®

Candidates

Students, professionals, career changers, and volunteers from all backgrounds learning how to help others manage their money so they can improve their lives.

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A Diverse & Inclusive Network

1960

Devoted
AFCPE^®
Members

AFCPE^® is the ultimate resource for members seeking to remain relevant in the personal finance profession.

Become a Member

Let us Capture your Impact Experience Client's Story Success AFC® Testimonial Research OpEd Collaboration

Share your experiences and insights with us. Help us understand your journey with AFCPE®️ and how it has made a positive impact. Your story can inspire others and support our mission.

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The Voices of AFCPE

Real Money, Real Experts

Real Money, Real Experts is a personal finance podcast written and produced by AFCPE®. Join our co-hosts Rachael DeLeon and Mary Bell Carlson for a combination of expert tips, engaging interviews, and real-life storytelling.

Research Snapshots

Explore the latest personal finance research! These brief snapshots are created by AFCPE’s Research to Practice Task Force to make research accessible and easy to understand.

Friday Follows

Meet our community! Our AFC professionals, candidates, and Members share their stories through our #FridayFollow blog series.

The Standard Newsletter

AFCPE’s quarterly newsletter, The Standard, shares long-form content on all aspects of financial counseling, including research and practical application.

Interested in writing for The Standard? Learn more here.

AFCPE Blog

AFCPE’s blog is designed to provide timely and insightful personal finance information that provides new insights into education and practice.

Interested in writing for AFCPE’s blog? Learn more here.

AFCPE in Action

Award Winning Professionals

Financial Counselors, Educators, Researchers making an impact in the field.

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Grant Funded Programs

High impact community development programs funded through AFCPE's Mary O'Neill Mini Grant.

Creating Impact Through Partnerships

Building Capacity for Credit Unions

Through the partnership that began four years ago, nearly 1,500 State Employees’ Credit Union (SECU) staff members statewide now hold the AFC® accreditation – the highest standard of excellence in the field of financial counseling and education.

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CFPB Financial Coaching Initiative

In 2018, the CFPB and AFCPE® launched the national Financial Coaching Initiative. The program trained 60 professionals to become AFC® and FFC® professionals. The Financial Coaches were then placed in sites across the country to focus on serving veterans and economically vulnerable communities.

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Empowering Military Spouses to Make a Difference

The FINRA Foundation Military Spouse Fellowship program provides military spouses the opportunity to earn the AFC® certification—while providing financial counseling and education to the military community.

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Free Financial Counseling

Initially created as a response to the financial devastation from COVID-19, AFCPE's Pro Bono Counseling program has expanded to serve the general public and veterans.

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Financial Inclusion Essentials

In 2020, National Disability Institute (NDI) and AFCPE® launched Financial Inclusion Essentials, a self-paced online course with six modules designed for financial counselors, financial coaches, disability service providers and others who want to learn more about building the financial well-being of people with disabilities.

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Nonprofits team to jointly certify 100 financial counselors who are people of color

In 2020, NEFE launched this initiative through a partnership with AFCPE® to fully sponsor the training and credentialing of 100 new Accredited Financial Counselors® (AFC®), all of which will be people of color.