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May 21, 2025
In June 2024, we announced the Tax Planning Certified Professional™ (TPCP™) Program. One year later, tax planning is of greater importance than ever.
Launching TPCP™
Last year, we shared several key findings that spoke to the importance of tax planning at The American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) Engage conference. Included amongst this data were several key points that highlighted Americans’ demand for tax planning services.
One such statistic, found in a survey conducted by Orion in 2021 stated that 80% of investors believe their advisors should be focused on minimizing their tax obligations.1 Another data point shared during this presentation originated in a 2023 Herbers & Company Service Market Growth Study and stated that more than 7 in 10 consumers with at least $250,000 in investable assets want help with tax and retirement planning.2
This research set the table for a monumental announcement: the introduction of a new professional certification that would allow advisors to address this need for tax planning services — the TPCP™, which would launch in January 2025.
Within months, the TPCP™ buzz was palpable. ThinkAdvisor’s article “What to Expect From American College’s New Tax Certification” became their most-read article in years. Additionally, when Professor of Practice Jeffrey Levine, CFP®, CPA/PFS, ChFC®, RICP®, CWS, AIF, BFA™, MSA offered a live demonstration detailing the components included in the program, the number of registrants exceeded Zoom capacity, requiring an upgrade to accommodate the large crowd of eager viewers.
The program opened for enrollment in November of 2024. Since then, 800 students have enrolled in the program and many trailblazers have already completed it, becoming the first to earn this exciting new certification.
Honoring the Inaugural TPCP™ Class
Included among this group of pioneers are 26 financial professionals from a variety of backgrounds. Several spoke about the importance of tax planning and what earning the TPCP™ could do for them and other financial professionals looking to advance their careers.
“The program was excellent. The concepts and strategies taught in the TPCP™ courses were immediately applicable to many current client and prospective client situations. If I was looking for a financial advisor, I would only work with one that focuses on tax planning.”
- Gregory J. Harris, JD, MBA, TPCP™
“TPCP™ is a fantastic program. I have been a CFP® Professional for many years, yet I learned so much from the information presented. This program really focuses on the nuances of the tax law and provides excellent guidance on how to apply the tax code in specific client situations. Well worth the time, energy, and money spent.”
- Clark Randall, CFP®, MJur, TPCP™
“The TPCP™ Program is fantastic, broadening my knowledge on the accumulation and distribution aspects of comprehensive retirement planning. The course moves along and provides up-to-date content, staying relevant with current rules and regulations.”
- John Knoll, CFP®, ChFC®, RICP®, TPCP™
These testimonials shine a light on one of the most important aspects of the TPCP™ program that makes the certification particularly useful for those looking to acquire a professional credential: tax planning is more important than ever.
Bringing Value in Times of Volatility
With updates to tax laws and regulations ongoing, economic uncertainty is the current reality many are attempting to deal with as they work to plan their financial futures. According to the director of the TPCP™ program, Sophia Duffy, JD, CPA, AEP®, the education provided in the program serves as a huge boon for anyone looking to navigate these updates: “The recent tax proposals mean big changes could be implemented in the near future, and staying up-to-date allows you to jump quickly on opportunities to improve tax outcomes for your clients.”
Fortunately for the inaugural class of TPCP™ holders, this could spell opportunity, as tax planning is especially critical during times like these.
According to Aaron Hall, JD, in an article titled “The Importance of Tax Planning in Crisis Situations,” tax planning is a “vital part of survival strategy” for businesses during times of economic uncertainty. Minimizing tax liabilities can be crucial during times of volatility, as aggressive tax collections can make a precarious situation even more challenging, according to Hall.
The Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise also espouses the importance of tax planning in their article, “Building Business Resilience to Tax Complexity and Uncertainty.” As stated in this article, “... taxation is somewhat predictable, and businesses build resiliency by reducing uncertainty about how much they owe, this year and in the future. Tax knowledge is therefore foundational for resilience to taxation.” The importance of tax planning to small businesses was corroborated by The College’s 2024 Advisory Services Survey, which found that advisors were lacking in the necessary tax planning knowledge to serve business owners.
By making the appropriate preparations through tax planning, businesses and individuals can reduce the amount of uncertainty they contend with during times of market volatility and establish a resilience that will offer them better odds of meeting their financial goals moving forward.
Why the TPCP™ is Important
As the initial class of TPCP™ holders know and others soon will learn, a strong understanding of tax policy and regulations can improve all aspects of financial planning. From retirement planning or special needs planning to legacy and estate planning, tax planning touches all components of a client’s comprehensive financial planning.
When asked about the importance of the TPCP™, Jared Trexler, our senior vice president and chief marketing and strategy officer, said, “Tax planning is financial planning. The interconnectedness of holistic, comprehensive advice and tax consequences has never been more clear. The public today wants their advisor to provide tax advice. And those who don't are at risk of losing out to those that do. This applied program provides immediate value to an advisor's business and client service model.”
The First TPCPs™
The names below comprise the trailblazers that make up the first-ever holders of the TPCP™ designation:
- Robert Alderfer, JD, CFP®, MSFS, WMCP®, QPFC, CAIA®, TPCP™
- Michael Bins, CFP®, RICP®, TPCP™
- Kay Blunck, CFP®, CAP®, CRPC®, ChFC®, AEP®, TPCP™
- Kathleen Cashatt, CFP®, CPA, PFS, TPCP™
- Jonathan Davis, CFA®, CFP®, CTFA™, ChFC®, TPCP™
- Harris Doobrow, CFP®, TPCP™, RICP®, ChFC®, MBA
- Wendy Dudley, ChFC®, TPCP™
- Cole Ferrier, MSFP, ChFC®, RICP®, TPCP™
- Nolin Frias, CFP®, CPWA®, TPCP™, CIMA®, CSRIC
- Gregory Harris, JD, MBA, TPCP™
- Stuart Hunsicker, CFF®, ChFEBCSM, CEPA®, ASBC®, TPCP™, NSSA®, IRMAACP
- Steven Kibbel, CFP®, ChFC®, RICP®, CLU®, TPCP™
- John Knoll, CFP®, ChFC®, RICP®, TPCP™
- Abduhl Mashhoon, CFP®, TPCP™, CEPA®, CRPSSM
- Brian McKinney, CFP®, RICP®, TPCP™
- Brad Pistole, RICP®, TPCP™, CFF®, CAS®, IRMAACP
- Clark Randall, CFP®, MJur, AIF, CRPC®, CLU®, AEP®, RSSA®, TPCP™
- Christopher Reddick, CFP®, RICP®, TPCP™
- Robert Smith, TPCP™
- Christopher Sparks, CLU®, ChFC®, RICP®, CRPC®, TPCP™
- Louis Spence, CFP®, RICP®, TPCP™
- William Spencer, CFP®, TPCP™, CFT™, FBS®
- Sima Tamaddon, CFP®, ChFC®, RICP®, TPCP™
- Benjamin Wacek, CFP®, CKA, TPCP™
- Rock Wang, TPCP™
- Todd Yeiter, CFP®, CASL®, CEPA®, ChFC®, CLU®, TPCP™
Others can get started on earning their TPCP™ certification by exploring the exciting new program.
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Related Posts
1 Orion Study. 2021.
2 Herbers and Company Service Market Growth Study. 2023.