CFP Board Center for Financial Planning Releases Diversity Report

The CFP Board Center for Financial Planning  (“Center”) released today a new report titled, “Metrics that Matter: Best Practices From Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Practitioners and Academics.” The report is comprised of five articles that address the importance of metrics to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) work for individual financial planners and firms.

The financial planning profession will benefit from the best practices shared by the academic and practitioner authors, who drew from their unique research and experiences for the articles. The articles include insights for individuals, such as key traits of inclusive leaders. And they include practical guidance for firms, such as frameworks for quantitatively measuring the progress of diversity initiatives and guidelines to help identify the right metrics that benefit the communities that DEI programs are intended to impact.

“Elevating actionable solutions that advance workforce diversity is part of our commitment to increase the diversity of CFP® professionals to better serve the increasingly diverse American public,” said CFP Board CEO Kevin R. Keller, CAE. “These articles set strong examples for financial planning professionals and firms to learn from and follow.”

The featured articles include:
Inclusive Leadership Metrics: The Question of Self-Awareness
Ella Bell Smith, Ph.D. of Dartmouth College

Framework for Metrics: Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
Stefanie Johnson, Ph.D. of University of Colorado Boulder

Starting a DEIB Journey: The Wealthspire Story
Laura Barry, CFP®, CeFT® and Crystal Cox, MBA, CRPC®, CFP® of Wealthspire Advisors

DEI Signal: Assessing Managers on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Lisa Shalett; Emily G. Thomas, CFA; Adriane Parris, CFA, CAIA; Steve Edwards, CFA; and Emily M. Feczko of Morgan Stanley

Want More Asset Manager Diversity? Reevaluate Due Diligence Processes Using Metrics that Matter
Rachel J. Robasciotti of Adasina Social Capital

“We hope financial planning professionals will find inspiration in the report for their own DEI journeys,” said Center Managing Director D.A. Abrams, CAE. “Significant work remains to be done at the individual, firm and profession levels, and the authors share strategies and tactics that have proven effective in spurring positive change.”

The best practices outlined in the articles were first previewed at the Center’s 2021 Diversity Summit. These annual Diversity Summits bring together firms, academic institutions, partner organizations and CFP® professionals in a collective effort to create a more diverse profession through research, case studies, best practices and actionable initiatives.

“Metrics that Matter: Best Practices From Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Practitioners and Academics” is available to download here.