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In Episode #31 of NAPFA Nation, host Marie Swift speaks with Dan Moisand, CFP®️, a prominent leader in financial planning, former chairman of the CFP Board of Standards, and principal at his wealth management firm, Moisand Fitzgerald Tamayo, LLC.

Moisand reflects on his 25 years as a NAPFA member and his longstanding advocacy for the fiduciary standard. He identifies two of the profession’s most significant wins: the Financial Planning Association’s (FPA) successful lawsuit against the SEC in 2007, which ensured brokerage firms offering fee accounts could not sidestep the fiduciary standard, and the CFP Board’s decision to require the fiduciary standard for all forms of financial advice, not just financial planning activities. While the latter has not yet resulted in major enforcement actions, Moisand believes it holds enormous potential for future consumer benefits.

He emphasizes that the real progress is driven by everyday advisors who consistently act in their clients’ best interests. The conversation highlights how the marketplace has evolved over the years, with consumers increasingly expecting fiduciary CFP®️s as a baseline standard. Moisand notes the growing popularity of the CFP®️ credential, with approximately 10,000 people sitting for the exam last year, attributing this to increased public awareness and outreach efforts.

The discussion also covers Moisand’s recent article in Financial Advisor magazine, where he explores the distinction between being a true professional and merely selling financial products. He argues that financial planning deserves recognition as a profession on par with medicine and law and encourages advisors to reflect on their own professional identity and conduct.

In a nutshell:

• Landmark legal and regulatory victories have shaped the fiduciary landscape

• The CFP mark is now a baseline expectation for clients

• Business models are evolving to make fiduciary advice accessible to all

• Peer-driven enforcement and ongoing professionalization are key to industry credibility

• Financial planning is positioned to be recognized as a true helping profession

Dan Moisand, CFP®️, is a nationally recognized leader in the financial planning profession and a passionate advocate for the fiduciary standard and professionalism within the industry. A happily married father of two, he was the 2023 Chairman of the Board of Directors of CFP Board, the body that grants the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER®️ and CFP®️ mark of distinction to 100,000 professionals in the U.S. Moisand is a past national President of the Financial Planning Association, and has been featured as one of America’s top financial planners by at least 10 financial planning publications. Moisand has championed the accessibility of high-quality, client-centered financial advice and has been instrumental in shaping the profession’s ethical and regulatory landscape. He is widely respected for his commitment to advancing the profession, supporting the next generation of planners, and ensuring that financial planning is recognized as a true helping profession on par with medicine and law. Learn more about Moisand at www.MoisandFitzgerald.com.