Why a CFP® Matters More Than You Think

When it comes to your money, who you trust matters.

At Goodwin Investment Advisory, every advisor you work with is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional. That’s not by accident. It’s a deliberate decision rooted in care, responsibility, and a deep commitment to doing what’s right for our clients.

Because the truth is, not all financial advice is created equal.

Not all Financial Advisors are created equal

“Financial advisor” is a broad term that is not tightly regulated, and not everyone using that title has the same level of training, experience, or accountability.

Some advisors can offer guidance without having completed rigorous education. Others are not consistently held to a fiduciary standard. And many are not required to stay current as financial laws, tax strategies, and planning opportunities evolve. That can create confusion and risk for clients trying to make important decisions about their future.

This is exactly why the CFP® designation exists.

The CFP® difference: Higher standards

Becoming a CFP® professional is not easy and that’s the point.

It requires a combination of education, examination, experience, and ethics that goes far beyond the industry baseline. Estimates suggest that less than one-third of financial advisors are CFP® professionals, meaning the majority of advisors have not met the same rigorous standards. If you count broader financial roles, such as brokers and insurance agents, the percentage who are CFP® professionals is even smaller.

CFP® professionals must:

• Complete extensive financial planning coursework
• Pass a comprehensive, multi-hour exam covering real-life scenarios
• Accumulate thousands of hours of relevant experience
• Commit to ongoing continuing education
• Adhere to a strict Code of Ethics and Standards of Conduct

And most importantly, CFP® professionals are held to a fiduciary standard, meaning they are required to act in your best interest at all times.

This isn’t a one-time achievement. The CFP® Board continuously reviews and strengthens these requirements to ensure advisors are equipped to guide clients in an increasingly complex world.

In fact, ongoing updates to ethics training now include real-world scenarios involving technology, security, and evolving financial decisions, preparing advisors for the situations clients actually face today.

The CFP® mark itself is also highly protected and recognized as a trusted standard, reinforcing the level of credibility and responsibility behind it.

A higher standard of financial planning

At Goodwin Investment Advisory, we’ve chosen to build our entire advisory team around this standard. As shared earlier, every lead advisor you work with is a CFP® professional. That means every conversation, every recommendation, and every plan is shaped by a shared commitment to:

• Thoughtful, well-rounded advice
• Ongoing education and growth
• Ethical, client-first decision-making
• Long-term relationships built on trust

This is not the industry norm, but we believe it should be. Because when it comes to your life savings, your retirement, your family, and your legacy, you deserve more than basic guidance.

You deserve a higher standard.

What this means for you

When you work with a CFP® professional at Goodwin Investment Advisory, you’re not just getting investment advice. You’re getting a partner who is trained to look at your entire financial life and how your investments, taxes, retirement income, and long-term goals all connect.

It means that we can help you towards:

• More clarity in your decisions
• More confidence in your plan
• Fewer costly mistakes over time
• A greater sense of control over your financial future

Because at its core, financial planning isn’t just about numbers.

It’s about your life.

It’s about having the freedom to spend your time the way you want.
To be present with the people you love.
To give generously.
To move through life with less stress and more confidence.

Why we choose this standard

At Goodwin Investment Advisory, our mission is simple:

To lead people to financial peace, independence, and generosity.

We believe we can only do that if we hold ourselves to a high standard.

The CFP® certification isn’t just a credential. It says that we are committed to you.

• Committed to act with integrity.
• Committed to continuous learning.
• Committed to put our clients first, always.

Meet our team of CFP® professionals

If you’d like to learn more about the people behind that promise, you can explore our team here:

• Tim Goodwin → https://www.goodwininvestment.com/tim-goodwin

• Joe Beckford → https://www.goodwininvestment.com/joe-beckford

• Justin Pitcock → https://www.goodwininvestment.com/justin-pitcock

• Ray Brown → https://www.goodwininvestment.com/ray-brown

• ** Coby Sullivan → https://www.goodwininvestment.com/coby-sullivan

** Coby is on track to fulfill the CFP® requirements by Q4/2026

If you ever want a second opinion, a fresh perspective, or simply a conversation about where you are and where you’re headed, we’re here.

We’d love to hear your story and help guide you toward a more confident and intentional financial future. To begin the conversation, schedule a call here.

Disclosure – All investments have risk, and past performance does not guarantee future results. The CFP® designation is governed by the CFP Board, and you can find more details at cfp.net. While our team strives to provide you with the best possible service, your experience may be different.