Dr. Carolyn McClanahan is the founder of Life Planning Partners, Inc. She began her career as a physician practicing Family Medicine and Emergency Medicine. In 2000, Carolyn and her husband searched for a financial planner. Because most were mainly interested in managing their portfolio and not in providing the advice, she enrolled in the CFP® curriculum. Realizing the similarities between medicine and financial planning, and feeling empowered by helping people plan for their future, Carolyn made a career change.

Carolyn recognized the many intersections between health and personal finance, and began writing and speaking on topics such as insurability, health planning, and planning for illness and cognitive decline. She writes for numerous publications and serves on the CNBC and Investopedia Advisor Council. She is a highly sought-after speaker for industry conferences and is quoted regularly in multiple publications.

Carolyn has won numerous industry awards including the Alexandra Armstrong Lifetime Achievement Award, Investment News in 2024 and the NAPFA Special Achievement Award in 2016

Carolyn is a member of NAPFA, the FPA, and the American Academy of Family Physicians. She currently serves on the CFP® Board of Standards Resource Commission and continues to volunteer in medicine.

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