Executive Director’s Message: Why Financial Education Is Personal
Written by: Rachael DeLeon, Executive Director AFCPE®
My interest in personal finance began long before I knew there was a profession dedicated to this work. It began with my grandfather, whose father passed away when he was just nine years old. He never attended college, but he was one of the most curious and disciplined learners I have ever known. Every day, he read The Wall Street Journal. He followed the markets, asked questions, paid attention, and believed deeply in the value of long-term planning.
He sparked my curiosity about investing, but the lesson that stayed with me most was much larger than money. He taught me that financial success carries a responsibility to give back. Through public service, charitable giving, and a scholarship trust his family established, he showed me that financial well-being is not just about building wealth; it’s about creating opportunity for others.
Supporting the Professionals who Serve Communities
That belief is at the heart of AFCPE’s work. Financial decisions shape nearly every aspect of our lives – from education and employment to housing, health, family stability, and long-term security. Yet knowledge alone is often not enough. People need professionals who can meet them where they are, help them turn financial knowledge into action, and offer guidance that fits their lives and circumstances.
AFCPE exists to strengthen the professionals who do this work every day. Through the Accredited Financial Counselor® certification, professional development, and a national community of practitioners, educators, researchers, and partners, we help financial professionals build the knowledge, confidence, and support they need to serve people well.
The AFC® Learning System and AFCPE Symposium
This year, we are celebrating meaningful momentum in that work. The AFC® Learning System is marking its one-year anniversary, and we are proud of how this modernized educational platform continues to build on more than 30 years of AFC certification excellence. It is helping expand access to high-quality training for professionals serving individuals and families across the country, and ensuring that the next generation of financial counselors are prepared with tools that are practical, credible, and grounded in research and practice.
We are also looking ahead with excitement for the 2026 AFCPE Symposium. Each year, Symposium brings together financial counselors, coaches, educators, researchers, and industry leaders to share ideas, learn from one another, and strengthen the connections that move our field forward. It is one of the clearest reminders that this work is both deeply personal and powerfully collective.
Everyone wins when financial professionals have the tools, training, and confidence to do this work well. Counselors, coaches, and educators are better equipped to serve. Organizations, schools, and community partners benefit from more capable and trusted professionals. And more individuals and families benefit get the support they need, whether that’s a student learning to budget and use credit responsibly, a first-time homebuyer preparing for homeownership, a servicemember navigating financial hardship, or a family trying to regain stability.
Carrying the Lesson Forward
When I think about my grandfather, I think about the seeds he planted, not only in fields, but in people. His example continues to shape how I see AFCPE’s mission today. Financial education is not simply about information; it is about trust, access, opportunity, and impact. And through the work of our AFCPE community (your work), those seeds continue to grow in communities across the country.
I hope you’ll join us. Consider earning the AFC® certification, attending an AFCPE webinar, becoming an AFCPE member, or joining us for this year’s AFCPE® Symposium.
When we are “all in” as a community, our impact multiplies – together.
2025 AFCPE Impact Report: https://www.afcpe.org/impact/annualreport/
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