Empower a Future CFP: Laura Martinez

I am creating this GoFundMe to seek community support for funding my Certified Financial Planner (CFP) certification. I’ve turned to GoFundMe as a last resort after exhausting all other options. As a first-generation college graduate and a minority in a male-dominated industry, earning this designation would give me a competitive edge and help break the generational barriers I’ve worked hard to overcome. Your support in reaching this milestone would mean the world to me. I’ve always found a way to make things happen, but this challenge feels bigger than what I can do alone.

To provide some context, this year has brought many life changes. I relocated from San Antonio, Texas to Dallas for a new job opportunity. I secured a position with Goldman Sachs Ayco in Financial Planning, and during the process, I passed both my Series 7 and Series 66 licensing exams, all while moving my fiancée and our dogs to a new city. The moving process cost me thousands of dollars, despite receiving some relocation assistance from my employer.

Now, I’m ready to pursue my CFP designation, which requires 12 months of coursework and an exam prep course before I can even sit for the exam. This certification is key to my career progression, but I’ve run into financial and time-related obstacles. The classes cost about $6,500 at Kaplan, and while I initially hoped to receive a scholarship to cover the cost, I wasn’t awarded any of the five scholarships I applied for. My second option was to transfer the entire balance to a zero-interest credit card, but both my fiancée and I were denied because we had recently checked our credit for moving expenses and debt consolidation. My third attempt was to take out a student loan through FAFSA, but I learned today that the program doesn’t accept FAFSA loans. That leaves me with payment plans or personal loans—neither of which we can afford or qualify for.

I appreciate any support, whether it's financial or just sharing this with others. Thank you for helping me reach this important milestone in my career!

In addition to the coursework, there are other costs I need to save for:

Exam Prep: $1,200 - $1,900

Exam Cost: $925 per attempt

(I will receive a reimbursement from my employer if I enroll by the end of this year, but only after I pass the exam. My projected exam date is March 2026)

Statistics:

Number of CFP® Professionals: 101,708

Gender:

Male: 76.2%

Female: 23.8%

Non-Binary: <0.1%

Race and Ethics: