About the Institute
The Blended Family Financial Institute™ helps financial professionals better understand and serve blended families. Through professional education, practical resources, and research-informed guidance, the Institute connects knowledge with professional practice.
Our Mission
To equip financial professionals with the knowledge, skills, and resources needed to address the financial and relational complexities of blended families.
Our Approach
Effective financial planning requires understanding more than financial assets, goals, and strategies. Family structure, relationships, competing obligations, and individual experiences can all influence financial decisions.
To address these complexities, the Institute bridges research and practice. We translate insights from financial planning, financial behavior, and family relationships into practical education and tools for professionals.
Who We Serve
The Blended Family Financial Institute primarily serves financial planners, financial counselors, financial therapists, and other professionals who work with blended families.
In addition, we provide educational resources to help blended families better understand and navigate their own financial decisions.
Explore our Professional Education and Research & Insights pages to learn more about the Institute’s work.
Our Founder
Dr. Mikel Van Cleve, CFP®, is a financial planning researcher, educator, and practitioner. His work focuses on blended family financial dynamics and decision-making.
Drawing on more than 20 years of financial services experience and academic research, he founded the Institute to advance professional education and improve financial planning practices for blended families.
Learn more at mikelvancleve.com.
Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Center for Financial Planning, Inc. owns and licenses the certification marks CFP® in the United States to Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc., which authorizes individuals who successfully complete the organization’s initial and ongoing certification requirements to use the certification marks.