Kayla Walter

I grew up knowing finance would be my major in high school, but I had no idea what I would do with a finance degree. Around my sophomore year of college, I was introduced to a CFP Board Registered Program, which allowed me to take the education courses required to sit for the CFP exam (Certified Financial Planner). That's where I learned about financial planning and financial literacy - things I had no idea about growing up because I didn't come from a super affluent town where people had financial advisors. Through the coursework, I developed a deep passion for financial planning and making sure people had access to this information so they could do right for their families, save for their goals, and properly plan for the kind of life they wanted. After finishing my master's degree in 2016, I moved from Louisiana to Maryland with very few family members in the area to start my career. I learned the business, got certified with Series 7 and Series 66, and eventually earned my CFP certification in 2019. I worked for top 50 advisors at firms like Raymond James and Lincoln Financial as a second chair advisor. Now I've pivoted to working for the CFP Board itself, advocating for the profession from a different angle. I believe people should have advisors that look like them and know their lived experience, because money is a very emotional topic and people want to talk to somebody who understands their plight and their issues. My team works with major firms across the United States, helping them create internal cohorts to get their advisors certified by guiding them through the four E's: education, experience, exam, and ethics attestation. My day-to-day involves planning events for current and aspiring CFP professionals, working with our public policy team on initiatives like the elder fraud law to protect seniors, meeting with firms to discuss their CFP certification progress, and supporting future financial planners through webinars, email support, and exam preparation. I help prepare the future financial planner and get them ready for certification.