Written By: Rachael DeLeon, AFCPE President
The last few years have represented a season of growth and change for our organization – change that is purposefully aligned and forward looking. Change that meets the moment, while remaining grounded in our core values and principles. And change that never loses sight of the high standards we were built on while continuing to embrace a community that is as diverse as the people that we serve.
As we enter the 3rd year of our 3-year strategic plan, I feel immensely proud of the incredible work of a talented team, a passionate board, and a committed community. Our progress is strategic, mission-focused, and worth celebrating.
2025 Highlights
- Redesigning our AFC® Study Program: Introducing the AFC® Online Learning System and AFC® Prep Course
- Designed to meet learners where they are, the learning system offers personalized learning paths, interactive tools to enforce knowledge, audio learning, and a comprehensive practice exam.
- The design of this new system is also enabling us to grow our independent trainer program.
- Updating Money Management Essentials: With improvements to support capacity building for underserved communities.
- Launching Military Essentials 2nd Edition, in partnership with FINRA Foundation
- Building out a strategic roadmap to help us implement a mission-critical technology investment, thanks to the support of JPMorgan Chase’s Tech for Good program
- Awarding the first ever Insight to Impact Grant
- Updating our Find an AFC search portal and launching the Money Mindset Blog: Delivering trusted education and insights from AFCs to the people we serve – ultimately helping more individuals and families find an AFC®!
- And most importantly, continuing to uphold the highest standards, with the reaccreditation of the AFC® certification!
We’ll be sharing more of this important work through our Annual Impact Report coming out later this quarter. But for now, I want to say thank you.
A Community of Changemakers
None of this progress would be possible without YOU – a community of passionate partners, volunteers, donors, and advocates. You are our arms of impact. You share your diversity of thought, experience, talent, and passion to help us deliver education and move strategic initiatives forward. And you put the rich knowledge and skills that you gain through AFCPE into action, positively impacting the financial wellbeing of individuals, families, and communities.
As we look to the year ahead, there are so many great learning opportunities available to you. As Ann Lentell so eloquently encouraged, lean into the AFCPE network – because this is a community where you belong.
- Become an AFCPE® member – you don’t have to be certified through AFCPE to benefit from all that this community has to offer.
- Register for the AFCPE Symposium – Join us November 17-19, 2026 in the greater DC Metro area or virtually – and invite a friend!
- Attend an upcoming webinar – two in February:
- Make this the year you get AFC® certified or build the case for AFC® certification for your organization.
- Take an Essentials Course:
- Money Management Essentials: A great foundational course for someone new to the field, or an excellent review of core concepts for AFC® professionals
- Military Essentials 2nd ed.: With more than 15 million Veterans and nearly 3 million military servicemembers in our country, understanding the essentials of military finance is a valuable tool for serving more individuals and families.
- Listen to AFCPE’s podcast, Real Money, Real Experts: Now on video and audio! The first episode of the year asks, “Will AI Take My Job?”
- And most importantly, introduce a colleague, peer, or partner to AFCPE. Help this community and our impact expand and grow.
Together, we can meet this moment and ensure that more people have access to highly qualified financial professionals and the opportunity to achieve lasting financial wellbeing.
Rachael DeLeon is Executive Director of AFCPE. Connect with her on LinkedIn.
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