The National Endowment for Financial Education® (NEFE®) evolved from and served as the parent entity of the Denver-based, nonprofit College for Financial Planning® from 1992 to 1997. The College was established in 1972 as the nation's first financial planning educational institution. At that time, the College also created the standard-setting CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification, which helped define the concept of financial planning and establish it as a profession.
The growth, diversification, and success of the College over two decades resulted in the creation of an endowment—and the subsequent establishment of the National Endowment—to develop and perpetuate educational programs in financial planning for professionals throughout the financial services field. NEFE also greatly expanded the College's previous consumer financial education efforts.
Through the organization's work with the public, the board and management of the National Endowment recognized that a critical need existed for an ongoing educational effort to provide reliable and impartial personal finance information to consumers—particularly those segments of the population whose needs were not being met by others. Consequently, in 1997 NEFE's Board of Trustees made the bold decision to focus the institution's efforts solely on its public service mission. NEFE transferred ownership of the College for Financial Planning and several related divisions to another organization. The proceeds of this transaction, together with the endowment built up over the years, today fund NEFE's public service work.
The National Endowment for Financial Education is the culmination of more than a quarter-century of dedication to the public good. Today, this legacy of service continues with NEFE's unwavering commitment to providing, through its collaborations with others, financial education and real-world information to people at all societal levels. It is NEFE's strong conviction that, through an increased understanding of personal financial issues, all Americans can enjoy better, more secure, and more satisfying lives.
Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc., owns the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, and federally registered CFP (with flame logo), which it awards to individuals who successfully complete initial and ongoing certification requirements.