Why Work with a
CFP® Professional?
The CFP® mark is one of the most respected credentials in financial planning — earned through rigorous education, examination, experience, and a commitment to placing your interests first.
The CFP® Standard
More Than a Title
The CFP® designation distinguishes a financial professional from their peers. It signals that a practitioner has voluntarily met demanding requirements set by the CFP Board of Standards — and has committed to upholding them throughout their career.
A Fiduciary Commitment to You
CFP® practitioners agree to a fiduciary standard of care, meaning they are required to act in their clients' best interests — not merely recommend what is "suitable." This distinction matters when it comes to advice on investments, retirement income, insurance, and long-term planning.
The CFP Board's Requirements
Earned Through the 4 E's
CFP Board refers to its certification requirements as "the 4 E's." Each one reflects a meaningful commitment — not just a checkbox.
Education
CFP® professionals complete a comprehensive education requirement covering both the theoretical and practical foundations of financial planning. To maintain the certification, a minimum of 30 hours of continuing education is required every two years.
Examination
Every CFP® professional has passed a rigorous exam administered by CFP Board covering the full scope of financial planning: the planning process, tax strategies, employee benefits, retirement and estate planning, investment management, and insurance.
Experience
Before earning the CFP® certification, candidates must fulfill a minimum of three years of direct experience in the financial planning process — working with real clients through real financial decisions.
Ethics
CFP® professionals are bound by CFP Board's Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility, requiring them to act with fairness, integrity, and objectivity, and to disclose any investigations or legal proceedings related to their professional conduct.
To verify a CFP® professional's credentials, visit LetsMakeAPlan.org — CFP Board's official consumer resource. To learn more about what the certification requires, visit cfp.net/certification-process.
Meet Your Financial Planner
The Person Behind the Credential
The CFP® mark means more when it belongs to someone who has built their practice around the values it represents. We invite you to learn more about Wilson and his approach to financial planning.
Wilson L. Lea, CFP®
Financial Planner — Parallax Wealth Management
Wilson holds the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification and has built his practice on a straightforward principle: that financial advice should serve the client's interests first, always. His work spans retirement planning, investment strategy, business owner planning, and multigenerational wealth — bringing a fiduciary standard to every engagement.
Issued by CFP Board · Active since July 2002
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