How to Find a Black Financial Advisor - NerdWallet (2024)

“That’s just too few CFPs,” says Lazetta Rainey Braxton, a certified financial planner and co-founder and co-CEO of 2050 Wealth Partners.

Braxton is among that group of Black CFPs, and she’s enthusiastic about raising awareness of and solving a twofold problem: We need more Black CFPs, and we must improve access to financial planning services.

And to Braxton, this isn’t an “either/or” situation. The solution is undoubtedly a “both/and” approach.

Why finding a Black financial advisor matters

Braxton says some of her Black clients have expressed that a Black advisor may better understand small cultural nuances that could have big economic impacts.

“That adds a degree of trust, that they understand where you’re coming from, will listen to you and then make suggestions according to that deep understanding,” Braxton says. “Often clients may wonder, ‘Who can help me? There’s not a lot of Black advisors, and there aren’t white advisors who understand what’s going on with me.’”

For such a client, the embedded trust and familiarity of having a Black advisor could mean the difference between seeking out financial advice and forgoing it. However, Braxton makes clear that this can’t be a blanket statement.

“I also know that there are Black clients who may not prefer a Black advisor,” she says. “They just want to be served well like any other client would be served.”

So the argument, she says, isn’t necessarily that we need more Black CFPs because that’s what Black clients are looking for. We need more Black CFPs so clients have options for any preference they may have when they start looking for an advisor, she says.

As the number of Black CFPs grow, so does their impact on families and communities seeking financial advice, CFP Board CEO Kevin R. Keller, said in a prepared statement.“At CFP Board, we firmly believe that a diverse and inclusive profession will enhance the quality of financial advice and contribute to a more equitable society. Our vision is a financial planning profession that shares the diversity of our country.”

How to find a Black financial advisor

Chris Woods, a member of the Financial Planning Association, says you don’t have to compromise on qualifications or personal preference in any way, shape or form to find a Black advisor. Whether you're looking for a certain designation such as CFP, registered investment advisor or broker-dealer; years of experience; a particular payment model; or any other preference, he says, you’ll find a Black advisor who can meet that criteria.

“Qualified Black financial advisors are everywhere,” says Woods, who is a certified financial planner. “It’s just a matter of people searching for the advisor for them.”

So how do you find a Black financial advisor? The best place to start your search is the Association of African American Financial Advisors' Find a Financial Advisor tool. Once you fill out your contact information, you’ll enter your ZIP code and indicate any specialties you may be looking for, such as comprehensive financial planning, insurance, investment management, inheritance or taxes.

One of the best parts about this tool is the “Virtual Advisem*nt” option. If there’s no Black financial advisor in your area, no problem. Check the Virtual Advisem*nt box, and you’ll see a list of Black advisors who will meet with you virtually — a development in the world of financial planning that Braxton says could truly bring down barriers to financial advice. A client in Dallas could work with a CFP in New York, receiving financial advice in the comfort of their own home.

Beyond that, Braxton says it’s becoming more commonplace for financial planning firms to post pictures and bios of their advisors, and some are even offering details on the demographics and populations their advisors tend to serve most. When sifting through advisors, feel free to get in touch with the firm to ask if these details are available.

It may also be helpful to look into financial planning networks and firms with an outward commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.

Why finding a Black financial advisor matters to white allies, too

Braxton summed up in a single word why it’s also important for white allies to consider Black advisors: intentionality.

“If you’re intentional about being intentional and getting out of your comfort zone, then yes, you should open yourself up to other service providers,” she says. “That takes effort.”

Braxton says she’s had white clients who intentionally spend their money with her firm for social impact. She recalled yet another client who said (and who worried their comment might sound strange) that they wanted to work with a Black woman. And to both these instances, Braxton responded optimistically.

“There’s nothing strange about this,” she says. “What we’re building is an alternative that can only happen if there are clients who believe in what we’re doing.”

But this goes beyond just supporting Black businesses for social impact. If you’re looking for someone to define and implement your financial goals but your search is confined to the traditional majority, you could be missing out on top-notch financial expertise.