DENVER (October 12, 2023) — The Financial Planning Association® (FPA®), Ameriprise Financial, and CFP Board proudly announce that Texas Tech University, located in Lubbock, TX, has emerged as the victor in the 2023 Financial Planning Challenge. This annual event serves as a national stage for students enrolled in CFP Board-registered financial planning programs nationwide to showcase their expertise and financial planning abilities.
"Texas Tech University's exceptional financial planning program has garnered well-deserved recognition, as evidenced by their triumph in this year's competition," said 2023 FPA President James Lee, CFP®, CRPC®, AIF®. "We are delighted to partner with CFP Board and Ameriprise Financial once again to host this competition, celebrating the remarkable skills and knowledge displayed by the Texas Tech student team and all participating teams."
The competition, jointly sponsored by the three organizations, is tailored exclusively for undergraduate financial planning degree programs at colleges and universities registered with CFP Board, encompassing a three-stage competition. The initial two phases closely mirror CFP Board's Financial Plan Development (Capstone) Course requirements.
The winning Texas Tech University team consisted of George Allen, Christopher Olsen, and Caleb Hoopes, with support and coaching from faculty advisor Michael Guillemette, Ph.D., CFP®.
“Congratulations to the Texas Tech team on its outstanding victory in the 2023 Financial Planning Challenge,” said CFP Board CEO Kevin R. Keller, CAE. “This win not only demonstrates the exceptional talent and dedication of the students but also underscores the importance of rigorous financial planning education. We are proud to see the future of our profession shine brightly through these remarkable individuals.”
Securing second place was the team from the University of Akron, and the team representing the University of Arizona finished in third place. The eight finalist teams that competed in the competition's ultimate stages included:
- Texas Tech University
- University of Arizona
- University of Akron
- University of North Florida
- University of Denver
- Pennsylvania Western University
- The Ohio State University
- University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
“On behalf of Ameriprise, we congratulate the Texas Tech University team on their victory in the 2023 Financial Planning Challenge,” said David Bresler, Vice President of Advisor Business Development at Ameriprise Financial. “The students at this year’s event demonstrated a high degree of talent and sophistication, which gives me an immense amount of confidence and pride in the future of this industry.”
The Financial Planning Challenge's final phases unfolded at the FPA Annual Conference 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona, from Sept. 27 to 29, bolstering the image of the financial planning profession as a dynamic community and a promising career path for today's students. Texas Tech University, the University of Akron, and the University of Arizona will each receive a monetary scholarship for finishing in the top three of the competition.
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About the Financial Planning Association
The Financial Planning Association® (FPA®) is the leading membership organization and trade association for CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professionals and those engaged in the financial planning process. FPA is the CFP® professional’s partner in planning by helping them realize their vision of professional fulfillment through practice support, learning, advocacy, and networking. Learn more about FPA at financialplanningassociation.org and on Twitter at twitter.com/fpassociation.
About CFP Board
CFP Board is the professional body for personal financial planners in the U.S. CFP Board consists of two affiliated organizations focused on advancing the financial planning profession for the public’s benefit. CFP Board of Standards sets and upholds standards for financial planning and administers the prestigious CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification — widely recognized by the public, advisors and firms as the standard for financial planners — so that the public has access to the benefits of competent and ethical financial planning. CFP® certification is held by more than 97,000 people in the U.S. CFP Board Center for Financial Planning addresses diversity and workforce development challenges and conducts and publishes research that adds to the financial planning profession’s body of knowledge.
About Ameriprise Financial
At Ameriprise Financial, we have been helping people feel more confident about their financial future for more than 125 years. With extensive investment advice, asset management and insurance capabilities and a nationwide network of approximately 10,000 financial advisors, we have the strength and expertise to serve the full range of individual and institutional investors' financial needs.