Expanding Your Advisory Toolkit: Why I Pursued DACFP’s CBDA Designation

By Lindsay Wolf, CBDA | Financial Adviser, TSG Advice Partners
October 14, 2025

As financial advisers, our core responsibility is to act in our clients’ best interest and perform diligent research before recommending any investment strategy. In today’s rapidly evolving financial landscape, that responsibility increasingly includes digital assets.

Earlier this year, I enrolled in the Certificate in Blockchain and Digital Assets (CBDA) program through the Digital Assets Council of Financial Professionals (DACFP). DACFP, founded by Ric Edelman, is the leading provider of crypto and blockchain education for advisers. Their mission is simple: equip financial professionals with the knowledge and confidence to engage with clients on digital assets.

For me, the CBDA program did exactly that. It provided a solid foundation in blockchain technology, cryptocurrencies, stablecoins, DeFi, NFTs and beyond, while offering practical insights into regulation, compliance and client communication. Most importantly, it gave me the confidence to thoughtfully expand our firm’s investment philosophy into digital assets. If you still think digital assets are just about bitcoin or a passing fad, you need this course to change your perspective. Ric and his team have taken a complex topic and broken it down into practical, actionable insights that I use daily to help my team support both our existing clients and the next generation. It’s an incredible resource for understanding why digital assets belong in a diversified portfolio.

This isn’t about bitcoin alone. It’s about recognizing digital assets as a new asset class, underpinned by blockchain, a technology that has the potential to reshape global commerce, much like the internet did a generation ago. For advisers, this space presents challenges we haven’t had to navigate since the early days of the web. But fear of the unknown is no excuse to ignore it.

The digital asset space is evolving daily. Regulatory developments, new products and shifting market sentiment are part of the landscape. That’s why having a relationship with DACFP is so valuable: it helps us stay informed, credible and ahead of client questions.

Bottom line: Digital assets are here to stay, and as advisers, we owe it to our clients to understand them. For those looking to prepare for what’s next in wealth management, I strongly encourage exploring DACFP and their CBDA program.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position of DACFP or its affiliates. This content is provided for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute investment, financial, legal, tax, or accounting advice, nor an offer, solicitation, or recommendation to buy or sell any security or other asset. Information is current as of the date of publication and may become outdated; no representation is made as to its accuracy or completeness. Publication does not constitute an endorsement of the author, the author’s firm, or any product or service referenced, and the author may hold positions in the assets discussed. Readers should consult their own qualified professionals before making any financial decisions.