Real-world cases. Real plans. Real feedback from Fee-Only advisors.

The NAPFA Student Financial Planning Competition gives students in CFP Board Registered Programs nationwide a chance to do the work of a financial planner before they graduate. Students work through a real-world client case, build a comprehensive plan, and present their recommendations on video. Experienced NAPFA members judge every submission and coach the finalists. Along the way, students get an honest look at what a career in Fee-Only financial planning is like.

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How it works

1. Students sign up during the fall semester.
2. The case study arrives in the first week of January.
3. Students submit a 10-20 minute video presenting their plan in late February.
4. Finalists are paired with a NAPFA mentor in early March, then submit a refined presentation in early April.
5. Winners are announced in mid-April.

The prize

The winning student or team receives registration and travel to the NAPFA 2027 National Conference, May 5–8, 2027, in San Diego, CA. There, they will be recognized in front of hundreds of Fee-Only advisors from across the country.

Find your path

Students

Check your eligibility, see the full timeline and what judges look for, and get answers to common questions.

Explore the Competition

Professors and Program Directors

Learn why programs participate, how the case study fits into a second-semester course, and what other NAPFA resources are available to your students.

Information for Professors

NAPFA Members

Volunteer as a judge or mentor. Judges score video submissions on their own schedule. Mentors coach a finalist team through two sessions, up to three hours each. You can also help by sharing the competition with students and professors you know.

Become a Judge or Mentor

Why it matters

NAPFA is the nation’s leading professional association of Fee-Only financial advisors, with more than 4,300 members who act in their clients’ best interest, with no commissions and no sales. This competition is one way our members help introduce the next generation of planners to the profession and to the NAPFA community.

Questions? Email membership@napfa.org