Why Choosing a Certified Financial Planner Can Make All the Difference

If you’ve built substantial wealth through business ownership or investment assets, real estate or securities, you know one thing well: the stakes are high. Mistakes compound faster, risks weigh heavier and uncertainty, market gyrations, tax law shifts, inflation, can erode what took you years to build. That is exactly why many successful individuals turn to a Certified Financial Planner® (CFP®) to not simply manage money, but to protect, grow and align it with deeper life goals.

What Is a CFP®?

A CFP® isn’t just another financial adviser. To earn the CFP® credential one must complete advanced coursework, pass a comprehensive exam, obtain years of verifiable experience and agree to abide by high ethical and fiduciary standards. A CFP® sees your full financial ecosystem, not just investments or tax returns, and builds strategy around everything from business succession and estate planning to lifestyle goals, charitable giving and intergenerational wealth.

How Planning & Professional Advice Pay Off

Here are recent findings that illustrate why the decision to work with a CFP® often isn’t just nice, it can be transformative.

  • Higher preparedness and lower anxiety. According to the 2025 Financial Planning Longitudinal Study (FPLS), 78% of clients advised by CFP® professionals maintain a three-month emergency fund, versus 68% for non-CFP® clients and 53% for people who work without professional financial advice.
  • More comprehensive planning. In that same study, 55% of CFP® clients have detailed retirement plans compared with 38% of non-CFP advised clients. Likewise, 52% of CFP® clients maintain comprehensive investment strategies versus 30% for non-CFP clients.
  • Retiring sooner with confidence. A 2024 Northwestern Mutual study found that Americans with any financial advisor expect to retire two years earlier than those without. Among those with investable assets over $1 million, 92% with advisors feel prepared for retirement compared to 77% without.
  • Better financial literacy and well-being. Ongoing advisory relationships increase retirement income literacy and reduce stress, according to research from The American College of Financial Services.

The Benefits of Working with a CFP®

  • Holistic Planning for Complex Situations
    With wealth comes complexity. Multiple income streams, real estate, business exits, philanthropic goals, estate tax exposure, cross-generation transfer—these interlock. A CFP® and team at Adams Brown will weave all of these threads together.
  • Fiduciary Duty You Can Count On
    When large sums and reputations are on the line you want someone obligated to act in your best interest. CFP® professionals are bound by a fiduciary standard.
  • Tailored Strategies, Not Off-the-Shelf Models
    A CFP® will model scenarios such as a business sale, liquidity event, generational wealth transfer, shifting tax regimes or the use of alternative investments to strengthen and diversify a portfolio.
  • Adaptability Over Time
    Markets, tax law, healthcare costs, family structure—all change. CFP® clients review their plans nearly twice as often as non-CFP advised clients.
  • Confidence in Outcomes, Not Hopes
    Having a CFP® framework turns guesswork into a disciplined process, giving you clarity even when markets or circumstances do not cooperate.

What This Means for You

If you’re a business owner preparing for succession, an executive considering early retirement or a family looking to ensure wealth passes smoothly to the next generation, working with a CFP® provides sharper insight, stronger safeguards and more confidence.

At Adams Brown Wealth Consultants, our CFP® professionals partner with business owners and families across the Midwest who want their wealth to do more than sit idle. We bring the technical advice and personal perspective needed to help you protect what you’ve built, grow what you’ve invested and shape the legacy you envision.

Your future deserves more than a guess. Let’s start a conversation today.

 

About Adams Brown Wealth Consultants

Adams Brown Wealth Consultants is a nationally recognized financial advisory firm delivering holistic wealth management solutions for individuals, families and business owners. As a division of Adams Brown, a top CPA firm, the team integrates tax strategy, financial planning, estate planning, insurance and risk management and retirement plans into a seamless experience. As a fiduciary, the firm operates under a fee-based model and is committed to providing objective, client-first advice. At Adams Brown Wealth we go above+beyond® for our clients, acting as true strategic allies dedicated to supporting their growth at every stage of their journey.