Emily Koochel, PhD, AFC®, CFT™, BFA™, serves as Director of Family Governance and Education, where she develops and delivers financial education curricula for ultra-high-net-worth families. Her work focuses on wealth and relationships, financial planning, and financial wellness.
Prior to joining Cresset, she was Manager of Financial Wellness and Education at eMoney Advisor, where she led strategic initiatives across financial wellness, professional development, and education.
Dr. Koochel is a Research Consultant for the CFP Board’s Client Impact Study, the first multiyear longitudinal study examining the effects of financial planning. She also serves as Adjunct Faculty in the Financial Planning MS program at New York University’s School of Professional Studies.
A recognized expert in financial planning and financial psychology, Dr. Koochel focuses on the intersection of personal finance and overall well-being. She has authored and peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters, and contributes to public scholarship. She contributed to the CFP Board’s The Psychology of Financial Planning and was a contributing author to the Research Handbook on Personal Finance.
Dr. Koochel holds a PhD in Applied Family Science from Kansas State University and an MS in Personal Financial Planning from Texas Tech University. She also earned a BS in Personal Financial Planning and an MS in Human Development and Family Studies from Kansas State University. She holds the Accredited Financial Counselor (AFC®), Certified Financial Therapist (CFT™), and Behavioral Financial Advisor (BFA™) designations.
She serves on professional boards, including Peer PowerED Financial Wellness and the Financial Therapy Clinical Institute. She is passionate about helping families build clarity, strengthen communication across generations, and create thoughtful structures that support both legacy and purpose.