For Daniel Yerger, Ph.D., CFP®, ChFC®, AIF®, volunteering with NAPFA is more than service; it’s a way to amplify the Fee-Only mission. As President of the West Region Board, Daniel is passionate about creating programs that benefit members, strengthen the profession, and inspire the next generation of financial planners. His recent work supporting the launch of the NAPFA Academic Competition is a prime example of his dedication to building opportunities for others.
“The creation of the NAPFA Academic Competition in the West Region is something I’m incredibly proud of,” Daniel shares. “It’s coming to a region near you soon, and I’m excited about the impact it will have in engaging students and broadening awareness of Fee-Only planning.”
Daniel’s path into financial planning began in 2015, after he decided he didn’t want to pursue other areas of finance, such as banking or insurance. He earned his CFP® certification in 2018 and in 2019 took the leap to become a truly independent financial planner. That same year, he founded MY Wealth Planners, Longmont, Colo.’s first Fee-Only financial planning firm. “Going independent was when I became a real financial planner. It gave me the ability to fully align my work with my values,” he says.
That same year, Daniel also joined NAPFA. “I applied to join NAPFA in 2019, at the same time I went independent. Being a member has given me great professional and personal relationships, and helped me build my skill set as both a financial planner and firm owner,” he explains. “It has been invaluable in supporting my clients and helping the next generation of planners.”
As the first Fee-Only firm in Longmont, MY Wealth Planners serves a diverse client base. “It’s funny to say, but ‘everyone’ is our typical client,” Daniel says. “We can’t help but serve our community closely because if we said we only work with physicians or business owners, we’d be closing off most of the community from services it badly needs.”
Looking ahead, Daniel anticipates continued growth for his firm. “We’ve grown our team by over 100% in the past two years and plan to continue to do so,” he shares. “MY Wealth Planners is a name you’re going to recognize in the financial planning community.”
For Daniel, volunteering with NAPFA is a way to support the Fee-Only model and give back to the profession that has given him so much. “NAPFA is the sole organization advocating for the Fee-Only CFP® professional, and while it hits above its weight, it does so through the incredible contributions of its community,” he says. “Volunteering is an opportunity to be part of that impact.”
You can connect with Daniel on LinkedIn or follow him on X.