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Firm Announcements

Mission Wealth Announces Fall 2024 Scholarship Recipients, Supporting the Next Generation of Financial Planning Professionals

Mission Wealth is excited to announce that we’ve awarded four recipients of the Fall 2024 Mission Wealth Scholars Program: Asa Hodrick, Andre Massicott, Kathryn Grover, and Samuel Vance. In partnership with the CFP Board Center for Financial Planning, this impactful program aims to advance the financial planning profession by providing financial assistance to individuals aspiring to become a CFP® professional with a financial need and/or from populations underrepresented in the profession.

At Mission Wealth, we believe that diversity in the financial planning profession is essential for innovation, inclusivity, and fostering stronger client relationships,” said Seth Streeter, Mission Wealth Co-Founder and Chief Impact Officer. “We are honored to support aspiring financial professionals through this scholarship program, helping to create a more dynamic and accessible future for our industry.”

About the Mission Wealth Scholars Program

The Mission Wealth Scholars program reflects our commitment to fostering a more diverse and sustainable financial planning profession. The program provides scholarships of up to $5,000 to students enrolled in CFP Board-Registered undergraduate or certificate-level programs, helping recipients take the next step toward achieving CFP® certification.

The fall 2024 cohort of four scholarship recipients increased our overall impact to 12 scholarships since the inception of Mission Wealth Scholars in 2022.

Recipients also benefit from mentorship opportunities that offer career guidance, professional development, and financial support. This combination ensures that each scholar is equipped with the tools needed to excel in their financial planning journey.

CFP Board’s partnership with Mission Wealth represents another step forward in our efforts to expand the financial planning talent pipeline and diversify the profession,” said CFP Board CEO Kevin R. Keller. “The Mission Wealth Scholars program will help us usher in the next generation of talented CFP® professionals.”

Our Commitment to Impact

The scholarship program represents more than financial support; it underscores the firm’s mission to inspire, educate, and empower others. By championing education, we foster a financial planning profession that better reflects and serves its clients worldwide.

The ripple effect of this impact extends beyond individual recipients. Each scholar contributes to a broader vision of inclusivity, offering their unique perspectives and talents to the profession while inspiring the next generation of financial planners.

Looking Ahead

Mission Wealth remains dedicated to creating meaningful opportunities for aspiring financial professionals, breaking down barriers, and supporting growth. We are proud to celebrate the 2024 Mission Wealth Scholars and eagerly anticipate the impact they will have as they advance in their careers.

This program will accept applications again in the fall. If you want to apply sooner, the CFP Board’s spring cycle opens on February 25, 2025, at cfp.net/scholarships.

Please visit our website for more information about the Mission Wealth Scholars program and our ongoing efforts to make a difference.

About the CFP Board

CFP Board was founded in 1985 as a non-profit organization that serves the public interest by promoting the value of professional, competent, and ethical financial planning services, as represented by those who have attained CFP® certification.

There were more than 100,000 CFP® professionals in 2024, representing about 1 in 3 financial advisors in the U.S. and marking a 4.3% increase from the previous year.

CFP Board of Standards sets and enforces the requirements for CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification. These standards uphold the competency and ethics of financial planners, ensuring they are committed to putting their clients’ best interests first.

The CFP Board Center for Financial Planning advances the profession by promoting competent and ethical financial planning while expanding diversity among CFP® professionals for the benefit of the public.

Scholarship Eligibility Requirements

  • Must be a U.S. resident;
  • Must be enrolled in an undergraduate or certificate-level CFP Board Registered Program at a college or university;
  • Or must be a resident of one of the above states and enrolled in an online undergraduate or certificate-level CFP Board Registered Program at the time the award is issued;
  • If not enrolled at the time of applying, scholarship awardees will have up to 3 months to enroll or forfeit the award;
  • Must provide documentation of program enrollment and costs prior to receiving the award;
  • Must have a demonstrated financial need OR be from an underrepresented population within the financial planning profession in terms of gender, race, ethnicity, disability, or sexual orientation, as explained in an essay to be submitted during the application process;
  • Must demonstrate commitment to the financial planning profession, as explained in an essay to be submitted during the application process; and
  • Must exhibit professionalism and the ability to enhance and maintain the profession’s public image as demonstrated in an essay to be submitted during the application process.

Mission Wealth is a Registered Investment Adviser. This commentary reflects the personal opinions, viewpoints, and analyses of the Mission Wealth employees providing such comments. It should not be regarded as a description of advisory services provided by Mission Wealth or performance returns of any Mission Wealth client. The views reflected in the commentary are subject to change at any time without notice. Nothing in this commentary constitutes investment advice, performance data, or any recommendation that any particular security, portfolio of securities, transaction, or investment strategy is suitable for any specific person. Any mention of a particular security and related performance data is not a recommendation to buy or sell that security. Mission Wealth manages its clients’ accounts using a variety of investment techniques and strategies, which are not necessarily discussed in the commentary. Investments in securities involve the risk of loss. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

MISSION WEALTH IS A REGISTERED INVESTMENT ADVISOR. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 00674928 01/25

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Michelle Winkles
ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Michelle Winkles

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Michelle Winkles

Michelle Winkles is an innovative marketing leader with more than 20 years of experience helping organizations grow through strategic marketing, brand development, digital transformation, and AI-forward innovation. As Partner and Chief Marketing Officer at Mission Wealth, she leads the firm’s enterprise marketing strategy, supporting both organic and integration-driven growth while expanding the company’s national reach.

Michelle is known for building modern marketing organizations that combine data-driven insights, emerging technologies, and authentic storytelling to create meaningful client experiences. She has developed a sophisticated marketing technology ecosystem that strengthens brand visibility, improves engagement, and helps transform prospects into long-term client relationships. Today, she is leading Mission Wealth’s AI-forward marketing initiatives, integrating artificial intelligence across content strategy, advisor enablement, digital experiences, and marketing operations to drive scalable growth while keeping the human connection at the center.

Passionate about advancing the marketing profession within wealth management, Michelle is the co-founder of the CMO Collective, the RIA industry’s first peer community dedicated to bringing marketing leaders together to share ideas, challenge one another, and elevate the profession. She also hosts a monthly virtual Marketing Leaders Meetup, where chief marketing officers and senior marketing executives from leading wealth management firms collaborate on emerging trends, best practices, and the future of the industry. In addition, she authors The State of Wealth Management Marketing, a thought leadership series highlighting the evolving strategies, technologies, and conversations shaping the next generation of marketing in the RIA space.

A respected voice in the industry, Michelle is frequently invited to speak at national conferences, participate in executive leadership panels, and join podcasts focused on AI, growth strategy, digital transformation, advisor enablement, and innovation in wealth management.

Michelle’s leadership has earned national recognition. She was named RIA Chief Marketing Officer of the Year at the WealthManagement.com Industry Awards and has been honored by the Pacific Coast Business Times as both a Top Woman in Business and a 40 Under 40 recipient.

She holds a Master of Business Administration degree in Entrepreneurship, Strategic Management, and Nonprofit Social Business from Antioch University, Santa Barbara.

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