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.
Wilson L. Lea, CFP® — the founding partner at Parallax Wealth Management — holds the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification and brings that standard of care to every client relationship.
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 4Es
CFP Board refers to its certification requirements as “the 4Es.” Each one reflects a meaningful commitment — not a checkbox.
Education
I completed a comprehensive education requirement demonstrating both theoretical and practical knowledge in financial planning. To stay current, I complete a minimum of 30 hours of continuing education every two years.
Examination
I 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, I fulfilled a minimum of three years of direct experience in the financial planning process — working with real clients through real financial decisions.
Ethics
I am bound by CFP Board’s Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility, which requires me to act with fairness, integrity, and objectivity. I have agreed to background checks and am obligated to disclose any investigations or legal proceedings related to my professional conduct.
Meet Your Advisor
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®
Founder & 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.
View Wilson’s Full Bio