Step Up Your Financial Career with the CFP Mentor Program

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  You have taken your first steps towards a career as a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER professional. As you prepare for your CFP exam, consider connecting with a CFP professional as a mentor for support and guidance during a window of time before your test date."Mentoring helps candidates focus on time management, study strategy, staying motivated and more," according to the website of CFP Board, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting professional standards in personal financial planning.The CFP Board Mentor Program aligns with the CFP exam schedule and sets up short-term mentoring relationships to align with the March, July or November exams. The next mentoring cycle opens in April to prepare candidates for the July exam. Mentors and mentees connect at least three times during the period leading up to the exam.CFP Board also provides online resources to support the mentor/mentee relationship, including sample practice exam questions, more information about the key knowledge topics to which exam questions are linked, and a guide to the Code of Ethics and Standards of Conduct that CFP professionals need to know and implement in their careers. Additional benefits of mentoring for both mentors and mentees include: Making it personal. A one-on-one relationship with a CFP Board mentor helps candidates identify their specific areas of strength, and what they need to focus on to ace the exam and prepare for a successful career, Sharing their wisdom. 
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  The financial planning profession is supportive and inclusive, and many established advisors choose to become mentors because they enjoy sharing their insights and offering encouragement to those ready to become a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER professional. Connecting long-term. The CFP Board formal mentor program is designed to support students through the exam process, but some candidates for CFP certification and their mentors continue to connect, and mentors can continue to provide career advice and networking opportunities.The goal of the CFP Board Mentor Program is to "foster the next generation of CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER professionals to succeed and advance the profession," CFP Board emphasizes.For more information, visit cfp.net/get-certified/tools-and-resources/find-a-mentor for links to sign up to find a mentor or become a mentor, as well as more resources to help prepare for the CFP exam.