Sara Cortes

Background

About Sara Cortes

Ms. Cortes has over two decades of experience in financial regulation. She currently leads the development of standards and guidance materials for at CFP Board of Standards. Prior to joining CFP Board, Ms. Cortes spent over thirteen years protecting investors at the Securities and Exchange Commission in a variety of leadership roles. Ms. Cortes advised on regulatory initiatives in the asset management industry within the Commission's Division of Investment Management, where she served in key leadership roles. Ms. Cortes led work on the Commission's first formal, comprehensive interpretation of the fiduciary duty under the Investment Advisers Act. She was also the architect of the Commission's Investment Company Reporting Modernization initiative, which brought regulation of mutual funds and ETFs into the digital age and transformed the Commission's effective oversight of the asset management industry. As Senior Advisor to the Honorable Elisse Walter, Ms. Cortes advised the Commissioner on a variety of enforcement actions and domestic and international regulatory initiatives. During Ms. Walter’s tenure as Chairman, Ms. Cortes served as her Deputy on the Financial Stability Oversight Council. Before joining the SEC, Ms. Cortes handled a broad range of enforcement actions and regulatory matters at the Federal Reserve Board. In private practice, Ms. Cortes conducted internal investigations and advised underwriters and issuers in public offerings and private placements. Ms. Cortes lives in Bethesda, MD with her husband and two sons. She serves as a mentor and advocate in the breast cancer survivor community and is a triathlete.