Psychology of Financial Planning Specialist by Brad Klontz

Psychology of Financial Planning Specialist by Brad Klontz: Transform Your Client Relationships Through Financial Psychology

What Exactly Is Psychology of Financial Planning Specialist?

The Psychology of Financial Planning Specialist is a comprehensive badge program designed to equip financial professionals with advanced knowledge and practical tools to better understand, engage, and serve a diverse range of clients. This on-demand program features over 7 hours of video instruction and interactive exercises, delivering 9 CFP® CE credits upon completion.

Developed by Dr. Brad Klontz, Psy.D., CFP®, and Dr. Charles Chaffin, this program is based on their acclaimed book “Psychology of Financial Planning: The Practitioner's Guide to Money and Behavior,” co-authored with Dr. Ted Klontz. The course introduces a comprehensive model for understanding client financial psychology and provides actionable strategies for integrating these insights into real-world financial planning practice.

The program addresses the growing recognition that psychology significantly impacts financial behavior, helping practitioners move beyond traditional financial planning approaches to create deeper, more effective client relationships through enhanced communication, cultural competence, and behavioral understanding.

Who Is Psychology of Financial Planning Specialist Really For?

This specialized program targets a diverse range of financial professionals seeking to enhance their client relationships and planning effectiveness:

• Certified Financial Planners (CFP®) looking to deepen their understanding of client psychology and improve planning outcomes • Financial advisors and wealth managers who want to build stronger, more meaningful relationships with their clients • Investment advisors seeking tools to help clients overcome behavioral barriers to financial success • Financial counselors and coaches who work directly with clients on money-related challenges • Banking professionals involved in client advisory services and financial wellness programs • Insurance agents who counsel clients on long-term financial security and risk management • Academic professionals teaching financial planning who need to incorporate psychology into their curriculum • Mental health professionals working with clients on money-related issues and financial therapy • Financial planning firms looking to differentiate their services and improve client retention

The program is designed for both seasoned professionals with 30 years of experience and those just beginning their journey in financial services. Whether you're working in a large institutional setting or running an independent practice, this program provides valuable insights for enhancing client relationships across all business models.

What Will You Learn Inside Psychology of Financial Planning Specialist?

The Psychology of Financial Planning Specialist program consists of 14 comprehensive modules that systematically build your understanding of financial psychology and its practical applications:

Module 1: Introduction to the Psychology of Financial Planning

This foundational module introduces a model of financial psychology that helps understand and predict client financial beliefs and behaviors. You'll learn the key components of psychology in financial planning and how to integrate these concepts into your practice.

Module 2: Client Values & Goals – The Planner's Role in Facilitating Financial Success

Discover how to identify the key factors that motivate your client's financial decision-making process and learn effective techniques for facilitating meaningful goal-setting conversations.

Module 3: Understanding Your Client's Background

Explore how past experiences around money impact current financial beliefs and behaviors, including the profound effects of financial trauma on a client's relationship with money.

Module 4: Understanding Your Client's Money Beliefs

Learn about the main categories of money beliefs and their direct impact on financial behaviors and outcomes, including the four primary money scripts that drive financial decisions.

Module 5: Understanding Your Client's Financial Behaviors

Focus on applying financial psychology to explain, interpret, and evaluate financial behaviors while learning methods to help clients address problematic money disorders.

Module 6: Multicultural Competence in Financial Planning

Understand the impact of race, culture, gender, and sexual orientation on both client and planner financial experiences, money beliefs, and financial behaviors.

Module 7: Dealing with Client Money Conflicts

Develop skills for navigating and resolving financial conflicts that arise between clients, family members, or within the planning relationship itself.

Module 8: Six Steps to Help a Client Navigate a Crisis Event

Learn a systematic approach for supporting clients through financial crises and major life transitions that impact their financial well-being.

Module 9: Behavioral Finance for Financial Planners

Gain insights into cognitive biases, decision-making patterns, and psychological factors that influence investment and financial planning decisions.

Module 10: Client Learning Styles and Risk Tolerance

Understand how different learning styles affect client comprehension and engagement, and learn to assess risk tolerance from a psychological perspective.

Module 11: Principles of Effective Communication

Master communication techniques specifically tailored for financial planning relationships, including how to have difficult conversations about money.

Module 12: Counseling in Financial Planning Practice

Learn counseling techniques appropriate for financial planning clients and discover specific methods for helping clients change limiting financial beliefs and behaviors.

Module 13: Getting the Client to Take Action

Understand the six stages of the change process, learn to identify each stage in your clients, and discover how to respond effectively to motivate action while avoiding common conversational pitfalls.

Module 14: Implementing Financial Psychology into Practice

Synthesize all program learning into practical implementation strategies for integrating financial psychology concepts into your daily practice.

Key Benefits of Enrolling in Psychology of Financial Planning Specialist

Completing this comprehensive program provides numerous professional and practical advantages:

• Enhanced client relationships through deeper understanding of psychological factors affecting financial decisions • Improved client acquisition and retention by addressing the emotional and behavioral aspects of money management • Professional credibility with a displayable Psychology of Financial Planning Specialist Badge for websites and social media platforms • Continuing education credits with 9 CFP® CE credits included in the program • Practical tools and techniques for identifying client biases, beliefs, and behaviors that impact financial goals • Self-awareness development by identifying your own money beliefs and biases that may affect client relationships • Cultural competence enhancement for working effectively with diverse client populations • Crisis management skills for supporting clients through financial emergencies and life transitions • Communication improvement through specialized techniques for financial planning conversations • Behavioral change expertise with proven methods for helping clients modify limiting financial behaviors • Competitive advantage in a profession where understanding client psychology is increasingly valued • Evidence-based approach grounded in research and real-world financial planning applications

About the Creators: Brad Klontz and Charles Chaffin

Dr. Brad Klontz, Psy.D., CFP®, brings a unique combination of expertise as both a financial psychologist and practicing financial planner. He serves as Associate Professor of Practice in Financial Psychology and Behavioral Finance at Creighton University's Heider College of Business and is Managing Principal of Your Mental Wealth Advisors, a Registered Investment Advisor firm where he works directly with clients.

Dr. Klontz is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association and former President of the Hawaii Psychological Association. He has received awards from both the American Psychological Association and the Financial Planning Association for his groundbreaking work in financial psychology. His research and insights have been featured in major media outlets including ABC News' 20/20, Good Morning America, USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Washington Post, and NPR.

As a prolific author, Dr. Klontz has co-authored seven books on the psychology of money, including “Mind Over Money,” “Money Mammoth,” and “Financial Therapy.” His work extends beyond academia into practical partnerships with major organizations like Capital One, JP Morgan Chase, and H&R Block to raise public awareness about financial health and psychology.

Dr. Charles Chaffin brings extensive expertise spanning educational psychology, cognitive psychology, and financial planning. His research focuses on learner cognition across various delivery methods and learning styles, as well as client behaviors and attitudes within financial planning. Dr. Chaffin has served as author or lead editor of six books within financial planning and cognitive psychology, helping practitioners become more client-centered and effective in their approach.

Both creators bring a unique perspective that bridges academic research with practical application, ensuring the program content goes beyond theory to provide directly applicable tools for real-world financial planning contexts.

What Makes Psychology of Financial Planning Specialist Stand Out?

Several factors distinguish this program from other professional development offerings in the financial services industry:

Research-Based Foundation: The program is grounded in peer-reviewed research and evidence-based practices, not just theoretical concepts or personal opinions. The creators' extensive academic backgrounds ensure the content meets rigorous scientific standards.

Dual Practitioner-Academic Perspective: Unlike purely academic programs, this course is developed by professionals who actively practice financial planning while teaching and researching. This ensures practical relevance and real-world applicability.

Comprehensive Scope: The 14-module structure provides thorough coverage of financial psychology topics, from basic concepts to advanced implementation strategies, making it one of the most complete programs available.

Professional Recognition: Partnership with the Financial Planning Association and CFP Board approval demonstrates industry acceptance and professional credibility.

Immediate Application: The program emphasizes tools and techniques that can be implemented immediately in practice, rather than requiring extensive additional training or certification.

Badge Credential: Upon completion, participants receive a displayable digital badge that demonstrates their specialized expertise to clients and colleagues.

Flexible Format: The on-demand structure allows busy professionals to complete the program at their own pace while maintaining their practice responsibilities.

Multicultural Focus: Dedicated attention to cultural competence and diversity issues addresses the evolving demographics of financial planning clients.

Crisis Management Training: Specific modules on helping clients navigate financial crises provide valuable skills for challenging situations.

Ethical Integration: Throughout the program, ethical considerations are woven into the practical applications, ensuring professional standards are maintained.

Final Thoughts on Psychology of Financial Planning Specialist

The Psychology of Financial Planning Specialist program represents a significant advancement in professional development for financial services professionals. As the industry increasingly recognizes that successful financial planning extends far beyond technical knowledge and investment expertise, this program provides essential skills for understanding and working with the human side of money.

For practitioners seeking to differentiate their services, build deeper client relationships, and achieve better outcomes for their clients, this program offers evidence-based tools and techniques that can be immediately applied in practice. The combination of academic rigor and practical application, delivered by recognized experts in the field, makes this an invaluable investment in professional development.

Whether you're looking to enhance your existing practice, transition into a more psychology-informed approach to financial planning, or simply better understand the behavioral factors that influence your clients' financial decisions, the Psychology of Financial Planning Specialist program provides a comprehensive foundation for integrating financial psychology into your professional toolkit.