The Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards announced Thursday that CEO Kevin Keller will retire on April 30, 2026.
The Board of Directors said it has initiated a planned succession process to ensure a smooth leadership transition after Keller retires. A search committee will engage an executive search firm later this year to assess internal candidates and conduct a national search.
“It has been the privilege of my career to serve the CFP professional community as CFP Board’s CEO and work alongside our dedicated Board of Directors, thousands of volunteers, stakeholders and staff to expand access to competent, ethical financial planning,” Keller said in a statement. “CFP Board is stronger than ever, with robust leadership, clear strategic direction and momentum that will carry the organization forward. I am confident that the Board of Directors will select a successor who will lead CFP Board to even greater heights.”
Under Keller’s leadership, CFP Board has achieved numerous milestones, including:
- Nearly doubling the number of CFPs to more than 103,000, with a record 10,400 candidates sitting for the CFP exam in 2024
- Relocating CFP Board's headquarters from Denver to Washington
- Creating the Center for Financial Planning
- Introducing scholarship programs that have awarded over $2 million to people pursuing CFP certification, with a particular focus on attracting diverse candidates.
“Kevin's visionary leadership has transformed CFP Board and the financial planning profession,” added Liz Miller, chair of the Board of Directors. “Under his stewardship, CFP Board has achieved unprecedented growth and awareness while elevating the standards of the financial planning profession. The organization is well-positioned for its next chapter of leadership and continued success.”
Keller joined CFP Board in 2007 after serving 16 years with the Association for Financial Professionals (AFP).
Before CFP Board, Keller held senior staff positions at several associations, earning the Certified Association Executive (CAE) credential in 2000. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in agriculture and a Master of Science degree in agribusiness, both from The Ohio State University.
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