Sarah D. Asebedo, Ph.D., CFP®

About

Biography
Sarah D. Asebedo, Ph.D., CFP^®, is an experienced researcher, teacher, and practitioner in financial planning. Her goal is to connect research and practice through evidence-based methods that advance the financial planning profession and equip advisors to excel in client relationships. She is currently spearheading research focused on the application of positive psychology to financial planning, financial self-efficacy and the psychosocial environment, financial behavior change, and the financial planner/client interaction. Her work has been published in the Journal of Positive Psychology, Psychology and Aging, Journal of Consumer Affairs, Financial Planning Review, Journal of Financial Planning, Journal of Behavioral Finance, Journal of Financial Therapy, and Journal of Financial Counseling and Planning, among others. Her work has been recognized with the 2016 Montgomery-Warschauer Award (FPA/JFP); 2014, 2017, & 2018 Best Research Award (FPA/JFP); 2017 Top 40 Under 40 Award (Investment News); 2017 AARP Public Policy Institute Financial Services and the Older Consumer Award (ACCI); and the 2017 Robert O. Hermann Outstanding Dissertation Award (ACCI). Sarah is a current member and past-president of the Financial Therapy Association. She earned her Ph.D. in Personal Financial Planning from Kansas State University.

Research Interests

Research Topics and Methods: Psychosocial attributes (financial self-efficacy, personality, well-being/positive psychology) and financial behavior, financial behavior change, financial planner/client interaction theory and practice; structural equation modeling with confirmatory factor analysis, mediation modeling.

Select Publications

1. Chen, Y., Asebedo, S. D., Ning, W., Little, T. (Accepted/In Press). Fintech Use, Financial Knowledge, and Adequate Emergency Fund Savings: Financial Anxiety as a Moderator. Journal of Financial Counseling and Planning.

2. Asebedo, S. D., & Gramse, B. (Accepted/In Press). Capstone as project-led problem based learning: Theory and application in Personal Financial Planning. Financial Services Review. Special Issue.

3. Asebedo, S. D. (2025). Personal financial planning theories: A scoping review. Special Issue: The Value of Financial Advice. Financial Planning Research Journal, 11(2), 1-28.

4. Chen, Y., Asebedo, S. D., Ning, W., Little, T. (2025). From intention to adequate emergency fund savings through fintech use: Evidence from a survey study. Financial Services Review, 33(3), 20-47. https://doi.org/10.61190/fsr.v33i3.4050

5. Cherry, P., Asebedo, S., Pearson, B. (2025). Personality traits and annuity adoption: Unlocking behavioral insights of retirement income strategies. Journal of Financial Planning,

6. Pearson, B., Korankye, T., & Asebedo, S. D. (2025). The role of personality and late-life categorical spending regret. Psychological Studies. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12646-025-00820-x

7. Chen, Y., Asebedo, S. D., Ning, W. (2024). Associations between fintech use and financial knowledge and emergency fund savings adequacy: Expected and unexpected findings. Journal of Personal Finance, 23(2), 44-65.

8. Pandey, S., Guillemette, M., Asebedo, S. D. (2024). Human capital and pandemic-related stimulus usage. Financial Planning Review, 7(2), 1-14. http://doi.org/10.1002/cfp2.1178

9. Asebedo, S. D. (2024). The value of financial planning: A theoretically-grounded approach. Australasian Accounting, Business and Finance Journal, 18(1), 26-43. http://dx.doi.org/10.14453/aabfj.v18i1.03