{"id":4388,"date":"2023-08-23T15:44:47","date_gmt":"2023-08-23T22:44:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.soundcu.com\/?p=4388"},"modified":"2025-05-15T18:29:57","modified_gmt":"2025-05-16T01:29:57","slug":"financial-planners-vs-financial-coaches-whats-the-difference","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.soundcu.com\/blog\/financial-planners-vs-financial-coaches-whats-the-difference\/","title":{"rendered":"Financial Planners vs. Financial Coaches: What\u2019s The Difference?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Financial Planners vs. Financial Coaches: What\u2019s The Difference?<\/h2>\n

While many of us could use some help when it comes to money, not everyone knows where to look for a trusted professional who can help us figure out our finances. Research shows that more than 71% of Gen Z (those aged 18 to 25) and 72% of Millennials (people aged 26 to 41) say there are financial topics they want advice on \u2014 they just aren’t sure how to get it<\/a>, according to a 2022 survey from digital advisory firm intelliflo. Also, research shows people who use financial planners tend to make better financial decisions<\/a> on a number of counts than those who don\u2019t.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s important because we have a lot of decisions to make. Often, we may decide we need financial advice when we hit a crossroads in our lives. Perhaps we find ourselves earning more money, having a baby, moving cross-country, or changing jobs. But once you start looking for someone to work with, the long string of credentials after a professional\u2019s name and exactly what they mean can get more than a little confusing.<\/p>\n

After sorting through the list, many people find themselves deciding between a Certified Financial Planner and a financial coach. But what are the main differences between these two designations and which one is right for you? Here\u2019s a breakdown.<\/p>\n

Certified Financial Planners<\/strong><\/h2>\n

If you want a holistic pro to help you with not just your investing decisions, but also to establish a financial plan that you can follow to help you meet your goals, including weighing in decisions about borrowing and homeownership, even when to take Social Security, you\u2019re talking about a CFP. Working alongside a CFP can help take the emotion out of investing. This is especially important when the stock market is volatile and your portfolio may be down.\u00a0 They can also advise you on important decisions to make if you\u2019re falling short of your goals, and they can provide referrals to other experts you may need, such as a tax attorney or an estate planning attorney.<\/p>\n

CFPs have 6,000+ hours of professional experience and have passed a rigorous exam to earn the (CFP) designation<\/a> from the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards. Much like a doctor completing a residency, CFPs must also perform three years of hands-on work in the industry and undergo a background check before becoming accredited.<\/p>\n

Importantly, they\u2019re also subject to the fiduciary standard this means that they must always act in their clients’ best interest, and prioritize what their client needs above all else.\u00a0 Some financial professionals earn commissions based on financial products they either sell or recommend.\u00a0 CFPs also have a “duty of loyalty” to their clients, which means they must avoid any conflicts of interest that could compromise their objectivity.<\/p>\n

Financial Coaches<\/strong><\/h2>\n

We\u2019ve all heard of athletic coaches or life coaches, they work with you to help you make lasting changes that can improve your life and help you realize your goals. A financial coach does the exact same thing, only for your money. They can help you get on and stick to a budget, learn the money fundamentals that you should have been taught in school, and develop positive money habits that can help set you on a path to true financial freedom.<\/p>\n

Financial coaches can also earn a variety of designations, but a good one to look for is the AFC<\/a> (Accredited Financial Counselor) designation from the Association for Financial Counseling & Planning Education. While these professionals aren\u2019t licensed to recommend specific products, they are skilled at helping you develop all your savings and budgeting goals..<\/p>\n

A qualified financial coach will be there for you to help you make smart money decisions, and will be accessible when you have questions and need to adjust your plans as your life (and earning power) evolves.<\/p>\n

Reflect (And Vet) Before You Select<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Once you\u2019ve decided on the type of professional who can best guide you through your next financial chapter, it\u2019s time to select a few people you think you might want to meet, and confirm their credentials. You can find and vet a CFP at letsmakeaplan.org<\/a>, or you can find and vet a financial coach with a AFC certification at findanafc.org<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Once you\u2019ve found someone you trust, remember that you\u2019re in a judgment-free zone, and it\u2019s time to lay all your financial cards on the table. The more open you are with your planner or coach, the better-equipped they will be to help you. It can feel a lot like therapy and that\u2019s a good thing! Your planner or coach can\u2019t make substantial headway for you if you\u2019re not comfortable opening up to them about your anxieties and concerns. And if you need to try working with a few professionals before you find the right fit, that\u2019s okay, too. If you can\u2019t see yourself sharing personal information with a certain person, you should probably keep looking. Trust your gut.<\/p>\n<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Once you\u2019ve found someone you trust, remember that you\u2019re in a judgment-free zone, and it\u2019s time to lay all your financial cards on the table. Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":4389,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"content-type":"","_searchwp_excluded":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[50],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4388","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-life-finances"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.soundcu.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4388","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.soundcu.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.soundcu.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.soundcu.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/13"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.soundcu.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4388"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.soundcu.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4388\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15190,"href":"https:\/\/www.soundcu.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4388\/revisions\/15190"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.soundcu.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4389"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.soundcu.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4388"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.soundcu.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4388"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.soundcu.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4388"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}