Mach 1 Financial Group Celebrates First Advisor to Obtain the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® CertificationRogers, Arkansas — February 3rd, 2025
Mach 1 Financial Group, LLC of Rogers, Arkansas, celebrates its first financial advisor to obtain the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® certification.
Matt Walters, Partner and CEO of Mach 1 Financial Group, is a graduate of Harding University, where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Finance. His most recent educational feat, however, is earning the highly regarded CFP® certification. This achievement underscores Walters’ dedication to professional development and his commitment to delivering the highest standard of financial planning services to his clients.
The CFP® certification is awarded to financial planners who meet the rigorous criteria established by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. (CFP Board), a nonprofit organization founded in 1985. The CFP Board operates through two nonprofit entities: the CFP Board Center for Financial Planning, a 501(c)(3) organization, and the CFP Board of Standards, a 501(c)(6) organization. The CFP Board of Standards grants certification to financial planners who satisfy the “Four E’s”: Education, Exam, Experience, and Ethics (CFP Board, n.d.).
The first step in the certification process involves completing certain educational requirements. Along with obtaining a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university or institution, planners who wish to obtain the CFP® certification must complete coursework through a CFP Board Registered Program. According to the CFP Board (n.d.), on average, it takes 12–18 months to complete the coursework requirements.
Walter’s journey toward the CFP® certification was not linear. “I took my first class almost 10 years ago,” Walters recounts. “Because of a move from Brentwood, Tennessee, and having three children since that first class, it took me much longer than expected.”
After a planner has navigated the required coursework, it is time to sit for the exams. “There are seven courses that you go through,” Walters explains, “passing a final exam at the end of each course. Once you have passed all seven final exams, you can sit for the comprehensive exam.”
Along with meeting the educational requirements necessary to obtain CFP® certification, planners must fulfill the experience requirement by logging either 6,000 hours of professional experience related to the financial planning process or 4,000 hours of apprenticeship experience that meets additional requirements (Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, n.d.).
After completing coursework, passing required exams, and obtaining the necessary hours of experience to qualify for CFP® certification, candidates must sign an Ethics Declaration and agree to a background check conducted by the CFP Board. The Ethics Declaration affirms the advisor’s agreement to adhere to “high ethical and professional standards for the practice of financial planning” (CFP Board, n.d.). Advisors must also agree to act as fiduciaries, ensuring that they prioritize clients’ best interests when providing financial advice.
As the first of the firm’s advisors to obtain the CFP® certification in 2022, Walters catalyzed a movement for other advisors in the firm to pursue this distinguished certification. When asked about his vision for the firm as it relates to the CFP certification, Walters says that working towards obtaining the CFP credentials will be an expectation of all new associate advisors. “We have several who are working towards [this] right now, and we have had conversations with advisors we are looking to hire about this expectation.”
Mach 1 Financial Group remains committed to continuous learning. Walters encourages his advisors to pursue additional certifications that enhance their expertise and service offerings. “We want to demonstrate our commitment to the highest level of service possible,” Walters asserts. Among the additional certifications, Walters sees value in pursuing the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation and the Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA) certification. Walters has completed the educational requirements for the CIMA certification through the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and plans to sit for the exam later this year.
When asked about his vision for Mach 1, Walters shared that he would like to see the company become the “unquestioned leader in financial planning and investment management in Northwest Arkansas.” While he acknowledges that the CFP certification does not equate to absolute expertise, Walters believes it benefits clients as they pursue financial advice. “Working with a firm like Mach 1, which has multiple CFPs and several advisors working towards the certification, helps clients feel confident that their advisor is going the extra mile to educate themselves to the highest degree possible,” Walters concludes.
“My job is extremely rewarding,” Walters remarks. “I enjoy developing financial plans for clients that will help them toward achieving what is most important to them.” By earning the CFP® designation and fostering a culture of continuous learning and high ethical standards, Walters reinforces Mach 1’s mission to set the industry standard for excellence as he continues serving clients.
References
Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards. (n.d.). About CFP Board. Retrieved from https://www.cfp.net/about-cfp-board
Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards. (n.d.). Get Certified: Certification Process. Retrieved from https://www.cfp.net/get-certified/certification-process
Mach-1 Financial Group, LLC (“Mach-1”) is a registered investment adviser located in Rogers, AR. Mach-1 may only transact business in those states in which the firm maintains a notice filing or has qualified for an exemption or exclusion from registration. A copy of Mach-1’s current written disclosure brochure, which discusses among other things, Mach-1’s business practices, services, and fees, is available through the SEC website at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov and is also available at www.mach-1financial.com/disclosures