The Academy of Financial Services is hosting the it's annual research conference in Chicago, Illinois (USA), from October 6 - 8th in collaboration with the CFP Board Connections Conference , with this year's theme “40 Years of Advanced Research in Financial Planning: Reflecting on the Past, Driving the Future”. This international meeting of researchers, practitioners, graduate students and leaders of financial planning practice and services provides a showcase for rigorous, relevant research within financial planning, as well as disciplines that directly or indirectly relate to the financial planning body of knowledge or financial planning practice. 

The Conference Committee welcomes completed papers on topics that relate directly or indirectly to the future of financial planning practice/the financial planning body of knowledge. Abstracts will not be considered as sufficient for submission. 

Panel discussions will be selected from submissions that focus on a particular theme or topic. For example, financial planning technology, financial planning education, financial planning process, financial planning standards. Important dates are as follows:

• Submissions are open
• April 15, 2025: Submission deadline (completed manuscripts and extended abstracts)
• June 15, 2025: Primary contact person on all submissions will be notified if their paper is accepted for Poster, Presentation, Pitch or Panel Discussion.
• July 1, 2025: At minimum one presenting author must be registered for the Conference (see below on Hybrid Conference). 

ACCESS THE SUBMISSION PORTAL HERE

HYBRID VIRTUAL & FACE-TO-FACE CONFERENCE:

The Academy of Financial Services is proud to have academic, student and practitioner members and Board of Directors members from multiple countries – USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom and more. In respect of our international membership and concerns about climate change, we offer a hybrid research conference to support both face-to-face attendance in Chicago, Illinois and virtual attendance of both presenters and attendees.

To cater for international time differences, AFS hopes to schedule presentations as reasonably as possible for reseachers in asian or European time zone. Sessions will be recorded to allow attendees to access sessions that are not streamed at suitable times in their location, at their own convenience.  As a result of the hybrid format, we welcome submissions and participation from our colleagues globally. The Conference Committee is working with CFP® affiliates in Canada, Australia and elsewhere to ensure maximum exposure of research to practitioners.    

2025 DOCTORAL PROGRAM 

The AFS encourages submissions from PhD students in Financial Planning and related disciplines and provides an opportunity to receive constructive critique on their research presentations. There will also be a dedicated Doctoral Session for students and junior faculty to gain insights and ask questions on professional practice from more experienced faculty. 

2025 BEST PAPER AWARDS

The Academy of Financial Services is pleased to announce some generous best paper award opportunities for the AFS 2025 Conference. Additional detail on awards, will be announced shortly:

• The Academy of Financial Services Emerging Scholar Best Paper Award will recognize the faculty member in their first five years in a faculty position, tenure-track or not, with the best research paper that directly or indirectly relates to financial planning practice. Authors who are in their first five years of a faculty position, tenure-track or not and regardless of academic focus, are eligible for this award.

• Multiple Best Paper Awards that recognize the best papers that relate directly or indirectly to financial planning practice/financial planning body of knowledge/financial planning education.

• Best Poster/Paper Award recognizes the best paper presented through a Poster that relates directly or indirectly to financial planning practice/financial planning body of knowledge.

• Best Pitch Award recognizes the best 5-minute research pitch, presented 'shark-tank' style, and voted by attendees as most important/impactful for financial advisors and the future of financial planning practice.

SUBMISSION PROCESS 

You will be required to upload a blind copy of the file in addition to a regular copy containing author information. The cover page of the regular copy should contain the names, addresses, and institutional affiliations of all authors with one author listed as the primary contact person. The blind copy should not contain any author identifying information on the file itself. Each submission will be reviewed anonymously by at least two peer reviewers.

For more information:

• Email: Conference@academyfinancial.org or Conference@cfpboard.org 

Registration Requirements: At least one author for all accepted papers must register for the conference on or before August 1st, 2025. As a courtesy to other authors, presenters of accepted papers should expect to serve as discussants or session chairs. There is no obligation for AFS to select a submission for presentation or publication. 

Submission Deadline: May 15, 2025 at 3:00 AM EDT