On April 24 through April 25, 2017, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), in partnership with the Center for Financial Security (CFS) and Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund (CFE Fund), hosted leaders, researchers, and funders in the field of financial coaching at the University of Wisconsin-Madison to discuss the state of the financial coaching field and share insights and learning from research and practice. Stakeholders in the field worked together to outline a path toward further advancement and professionalization for the field of financial coaching.

Event Report

Event Resources:

• 2017 Financial Coaching Symposium Agenda
• Symposium Attendee List
• Symposium Panelist and Speaker Bios

Resources, presentations, and publications were shared by many of the speakers and panelists participating in the symposium, which are available below:

Research Panel Presentations:

• Brett Theodos, Senior Research Associate, Urban Institute: Download Presentation
• Chris Walker, Director of Research and Assessment, Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC): Download Presentation
• Nicky Grist, Principal, CFE Fund: Download Presentation

Health Coach Presentation and Information:

• Sam Magill, MBA,MCC, Coaching Supervisor, Wellcoaches School of Coaching, Coaching Supervision Academy North America: Download Presentation
• International Consortium for Health and Wellness Coaching: Health and Wellness Coaching Job Task Analysis Findings

Financial Coach Training and Preparation Competencies:

• RAISE Texas Financial Coaching Definition & Core Coach Competencies and Standards
• CFS Financial Coaching Best Practices: Training
• CFE Fund’s Counselor Competencies
• AFCPE and Sage Financial Solutions Competency Standards for Financial Fitness Coach (FFC) & Accredited Personal Finance Coach (APFC) Certification Programs
• International Coach Federation (ICF) Core Coaching Competencies

Links to Research Publications and Referenced Literature:

• CFPB Financial Coaching RCT Briefs: Financial Coaching: A Strategy to Improve Financial Well-Being
• CFPB Outcomes Report: Tracking Success in Financial Capability and Empowerment Programs Report

Opportunities to Stay Engaged: 

The Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund (CFE Fund) is seeking interested partners to participate in two working groups to advance our mutual efforts at professionalizing the field of financial counseling and coaching for those with low incomes. The working groups will focus on two priority topics repeatedly identified by partners, both of which are critical for the ongoing maturation of a professional field:

• Counselor Training Evaluation Metrics
• Counseling Code of Ethics

Please contact Matthew Spring, Associate, at mspring@cfefund.org with questions, to express your interest in participating, and to contribute suggestions no later than Friday, May 26, 2017.

To learn more about CFPB’s financial empowerment work, or to sign up for the listserv, please visit: https://www.consumerfinance.gov/empowerment/

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