Celebrating five years of LearnLux CFP® Opportunity Scholarship alumni. Where are they now?

The LearnLux CFP® Opportunity Scholarship has supported aspiring Certified Financial Planner® professionals since 2021 with funds to fully cover exam and prep costs. Five years in, scholarship alumni are now practicing financial planners and educators delivering the same trusted 1:1 guidance from a CFP® professional that LearnLux brings to employees through its workplace financial wellbeing program.

Celebrating Five Years of CFP® Opportunity Scholarship Winners

Five years ago, LearnLux made a commitment to expanding opportunity in financial planning by supporting the very first CFP® Opportunity Scholarship recipient with a $3,000 award. The reasoning was simple: there are people who would be excellent planners and would serve clients the industry has historically left behind. Credentialing cost was the barrier.

Since then, the scholarship has supported many Certified Financial Planner® professionals on their journey. Still today, women account for just 23.8% of all CFP® professionals, and fewer than 0.1% of CFP® professionals are non-binary. Only 1.9% of CFP® professionals are Black, and 3.1% of CFP® professionals are Latino.

The scholarship is aligned with LearnLux's core mission because the candidates it supports are the same kind of fiduciary, certified professionals LearnLux pairs with employees through its workplace financial wellbeing program. LearnLux is built on 1:1 guidance from a CFP® professional and personalized money management tools, with no commissions, no product sales, and no conflicts of interest. The scholarship is an investment in the next generation of planners who will deliver this same kind of guidance.

To celebrate five years of the LearnLux CFP® Opportunity Scholarship program, hear from four of the previous recipients about where they are today and how the funds supported them on their personal and professional journeys.

Adrienne Hill

Adrienne is now a Financial Planner at a Philadelphia RIA built around a specific mission: serve the people the industry has historically left out. Her clients are mostly women, people of color, first-generation wealth accumulators, and as she puts it, "high-earners who aren't rich, yet."

Her daily work is comprehensive planning: understanding what clients want, mapping the path to get there, and teaching along the way. That planner-to-client relationship is exactly the model LearnLux brings to leading workplaces, where employees can book 1:1 guidance from a CFP® professional.

"The CFP® certification gave me the tools to become a well-rounded CFP® professional, understanding the many topics and complexities that go into not only crafting the financial plan, but also being a fiduciary and looking out for our clients' best interests," she said. "It's also a differentiator when prospective clients are meeting with me to choose a financial partner. They can feel confident knowing that I have the education and experience to be a thought partner for them."

The scholarship hit at a real pressure point. Adrienne wasn't employed with a firm when she sat for the exam, so the study course would have come straight out of her own pocket. The scholarship fully covered it.

Her guidance to potential scholarship applicants: "DO IT. When I first saw the scholarship, I had thoughts like 'why would I be the one to get this?', but in the spirit of not counting myself out before I put myself out there, I decided to apply anyway. You never know what can happen."

Daniel Martinez

Daniel is a Flex Financial Advisor at a leading firm, and on track to earn his CFP® marks this summer. In the role, he supports Certified Financial Planner® professionals with client relationships and books the experience hours that count toward his own certification. The work has built the foundation for him to step into the CFP® professional seat with his own book of clients.

"Earning my CFP® certification has deeply shaped both how I show up for clients and the impact I strive to make," he said. "It's strengthened my knowledge of personal finance while grounding me in the ethical standards and fiduciary responsibility required to truly act in my clients' best interests. More importantly, it has equipped me to do what matters most to me, which is to empower individuals and families to take control of their financial lives with confidence."

That fiduciary, confidence-building approach is the same one LearnLux brings to employees through 1:1 guidance from a Certified Financial Planner® professional. Growing the community of trusted planners like Daniel is exactly what the scholarship invests in.

"This opportunity reminded me that I belong in this space. Now, as I work toward earning my CFP® marks, I'm not only reaching a personal milestone, I'm helping increase the 3.1% of CFP® professionals who are Latino. Representation creates visibility, and visibility creates possibility. When individuals from underrepresented backgrounds can see someone who looks like them, shares similar experiences, and has walked a similar path, it makes this career feel more attainable."

His guidance for prospective applicants: "If you're considering applying, I'd truly encourage you to go for it. I know how intimidating the CFP® journey can feel. I've had moments where I questioned if I was ready or deserving of an opportunity like this. But I've learned that growth comes from taking the step even when you're unsure. The LearnLux CFP® Exam Opportunity Scholarship is more than financial support. It's someone believing in your potential and the impact you can make. Bet on yourself, apply, and trust that you're capable of more than you think."

Wahidah Aziz

Wahidah's path has covered many sides of the space, from wealth management to fintech doing financial education content, then a layoff round that's fundamentally changed how her professional life looks. She's put more energy into her video content, teaching first-generation daughters what she calls "the wealth playbook nobody handed us." She also vibe-coded her own AI Financial Advisor as a side project.

She's in the final stretch of her CFP® certification, transcripts and hours pending. She's been a licensed financial planner for years, but says the coursework changed something about how she shows up for her audience.

"Going through the coursework and passing the exam has really solidified my knowledge and given me so much confidence that I'm giving the best possible information to my community. The CFP® standard is a different bar, and being held to it changes how you teach."

That bar is the same one LearnLux holds for every planner it puts in front of an employee. LearnLux members get matched with a Certified Financial Planner® professional who provides 1:1 guidance, not product pitches, plus the confidence to take action on whatever life stage or money question they're working through.

At the time she applied for the scholarship, Wahidah was transitioning out of nonprofit higher education while covering the full cost of the CFP® program on her own. "The scholarship gave me a real cushion to actually focus on studying instead of stressing about how to pay for the next module. It's hard to overstate what that breathing room meant."

Her guidance to scholarship hopefuls: "Apply even if you don't think you'll get it. The same goes for jobs, opportunities, all of it. The world rewards audacity. The people who get these things aren't always the most qualified on paper; they're the ones who actually hit submit. Be one of the people who hits submit."

Jasmine Smalls

Jasmine is now a Wealth Management Advisor, working with high-net-worth educators and public servants on retirement planning, investment strategy, and wealth preservation. Her practice is built on relationships and on helping clients align money decisions with what they actually care about.

The CFP® certification opened a second door, too. She now teaches in UCLA Extension's Personal Financial Planning program, helping both working planners and aspiring ones prep for the same exam she once sat for.

"Earning my CFP® certification has been transformative both professionally and personally," she told us. "It not only strengthened my technical expertise, but also deepened my commitment to providing holistic, client-centered guidance. It is incredibly meaningful to join the small percentage of CFP® professionals who are Black, and to contribute to increasing representation within the field. I have been able to mentor and encourage other Black financial professionals to pursue the designation."

The persistent lack of diversity in the financial planning profession that Jasmine names is exactly why LearnLux invests in this scholarship. Employees deserve access to planners who reflect the workforce and each individual within it, and the only way to get there is to fund the next generation of CFP® professionals. Every recipient who earns the certification expands the pool of planners who can deliver 1:1 guidance to the employees and clients who need it most.

When the scholarship came through, Jasmine was an independent financial planner weighing the real cost of the review course and exam. "The scholarship provided the final push I needed to move forward with confidence. It reduced the financial barrier and allowed me to invest in high-quality preparation resources, which ultimately played a key role in my success."

Her guidance for the next round of applicants: "Apply, without hesitation. It's easy to underestimate the total cost of completing the CFP® certification. If you're on the fence, just apply. Opportunities like this can be a catalyst for your career in ways you might not fully realize yet."

Five Years of CFP® Opportunity Scholarship Impact

Look at where these recipients are now and the variety is striking. An expert advisor and adjunct instructor at UCLA Extension. An RIA planner serving first-generation wealth builders. A video content creator teaching the daughters of immigrants what their parents couldn't. A Flex Financial Advisor at Vanguard on track to grow the small share of Latino CFP® professionals. All supported by a scholarship that removed a financial barrier so they could stop calculating costs and start studying.

Those diverse perspectives matter for the people LearnLux serves. When a benefits team brings LearnLux to their workforce, employees can be matched with a planner who fits their situation, language, and life stage. That diversity of background is what makes 1:1 guidance from a CFP® professional work for every employee a benefits team serves, and the scholarship is a five-year investment in that bench.

How LearnLux Delivers 1:1 Guidance From CFP® Professionals

LearnLux is a workplace financial wellbeing program built on 1:1 guidance from a CFP® professional and personalized money management tools. Employees can book a private one-on-one session with a Certified Financial Planner® professional and walk through any money question, from debt payoff to retirement planning to navigating equity comp to caring for aging parents. The sessions are confidential, unlimited, and included in the benefit.

What makes LearnLux different from much of what HR teams encounter in the financial wellbeing category: LearnLux planners are fiduciaries. They are not commissioned contractors and they do not sell products. The guidance employees receive is always in their best interest. That fiduciary model is the same one LearnLux scholarship alumni practice in their own firms, and it is the model HR and benefits leaders should expect from any financial wellbeing partner.

The result employees describe most often is confidence: the confidence to take action on the money decision in front of them, with a credentialed CFP® professional in their corner. For benefits leaders, that translates into measurable outcomes on financial stress, retention, and retirement readiness. The Workplace Financial Wellbeing Buyer's Guide and the Ultimate Guide to Evaluating Financial Wellbeing Solutions walk through how to vet any financial wellbeing partner against that fiduciary, 1:1 guidance standard.

Applications for Next Year's Scholarship Are Open

If you are an aspiring fiduciary financial planner who will sit for the CFP® exam next year, you're eligible. Winners receive $3,000 toward prep and exam fees, and join the alumni network of past recipients and LearnLux planners. Apply here.

For HR and benefits leaders who want to bring 1:1 guidance from trusted CFP® professionals to their workforce, request a demo of LearnLux and see the program in action.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the LearnLux CFP® Opportunity Scholarship?

The LearnLux CFP® Opportunity Scholarship is a $3,000 award supporting individuals pursuing CFP® certification. It covers prep course and exam costs. LearnLux founded the scholarship in 2021 to expand access to the profession for women, people of color, and other groups underrepresented among Certified Financial Planner® professionals.

Who is eligible to apply?

Anyone planning to sit for the CFP® exam in the year following the award is eligible. Past recipients have ranged from career-changers to experienced financial planners taking the final step toward certification, and from independent planners to professionals working inside firms.

How much is the scholarship award?

The award is $3,000 applied toward CFP® certification prep courses, study materials, and exam fees.

What does a CFP® professional do?

A Certified Financial Planner® professional provides comprehensive financial planning and holds a fiduciary duty to act in clients' best interests. CFP® professionals cover topics like retirement, investments, taxes, insurance, equity compensation, and estate planning, and are bound by the CFP Board's standards of conduct.

Why does CFP® representation matter for employees?

Only 23.8% of CFP® professionals are women, 1.9% are Black, and 3.1% are Latino. Employees often want to work with a planner who understands their situation, and a more representative workforce of CFP® professionals broadens access to fiduciary guidance across every group an employer serves.

How does LearnLux provide 1:1 guidance from CFP® professionals?

LearnLux is a workplace financial wellbeing program that pairs employees with Certified Financial Planner® professionals for confidential one-on-one guidance, supported by personalized money management tools. LearnLux planners are fiduciaries on staff, not commissioned salespeople, so the guidance is always in the employee's interest. Employees can use LearnLux as much as they need at no cost to them.

Is the financial guidance from LearnLux really free for employees?

Yes. LearnLux is paid for by the employer as a benefit. Employees do not pay anything to book a 1:1 session with a CFP® professional, use the personalized money management tools, or access the program in any other way.

How can my company offer LearnLux to employees?

HR and benefits leaders can request a demo to see the program. LearnLux supports a global workforce and integrates with the major HR and benefits platforms.

Methodology

CFP® professional demographic figures cited (23.8% women, 0.1% non-binary, 1.9% Black, 3.1% Latino) reflect CFP Board demographic reporting as of 2026. Scholarship program timeline reflects LearnLux records from inception in 2021 through the 2026 awards cycle. Alumni quotes were gathered directly from recipients in May 2026.