CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® / CFP®
The CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER®, CFP® and federally registered CFP (with flame design) marks (collectively, the “CFP® marks”) are professional certification marks granted in the United States by Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. (“CFP Board”).
The CFP® certification is a voluntary certification; no federal or state law or regulation requires financial planners to hold CFP® certification. It is recognized in the United States and several other countries for its (1) high standard of professional education; (2) stringent code of conduct and standards of practice; and (3) ethical requirements that govern professional engagements with clients. Currently, more than 71,000 individuals have obtained CFP® certification in the United States.
To attain the right to use the CFP® marks, an individual must satisfactorily fulfill the following requirements:
- Education – Complete an advanced college‐level course of study addressing the financial planning subject areas that CFP Board’s studies have determined as necessary for the competent and professional delivery of financial planning services, and attain a Bachelor’s Degree from a regionally accredited United States college or university (or its equivalent from a foreign university). CFP Board’s financial planning subject areas include insurance planning and risk management, employee benefits planning, investment planning, income tax planning, retirement planning, and estate planning;
- Examination – Pass the comprehensive CFP® Certification Examination. The examination includes case studies and client scenarios designed to test one’s ability to correctly diagnose financial planning issues and apply one’s knowledge of financial planning to real world circumstances;
- Experience – Complete at least three years of full‐time financial planning‐related experience (or the equivalent, measured as 2,000 hours per year); and
- Ethics – Agree to be bound by CFP Board’s Standards of Professional Conduct, a set of documents outlining the ethical and practice standards for CFP® professionals.
Individuals who become certified must complete the following ongoing education and ethics requirements in order to maintain the right to continue to use the CFP® marks:
- Continuing Education – Complete 30 hours of continuing education hours every two years, including two hours on the Code of Ethics and other parts of the Standards of Professional Conduct, to maintain competence and keep up with developments in the financial planning field; and
- Ethics – Renew an agreement to be bound by the Standards of Professional Conduct.
The Standards prominently require that CFP® professionals provide financial planning services at a fiduciary standard of care. This means CFP® professionals must provide financial planning services in the best interests of their clients. CFP® professionals who fail to comply with the above standards and requirements may be subject to CFP Board’s enforcement process, which could result in suspension or permanent revocation of their CFP® certification.
Accredited Investment Fiduciary® (AIF®)
Investment fiduciaries and professionals are constantly exposed to legal and practical scrutiny. It is likely that complaints and/or lawsuits alleging investment mismanagement will continue to increase. Many can be avoided by having clear knowledge of who constitutes a fiduciary and what is required of one. The AIF Designation Training and designation help mitigate this liability with instruction covering pertinent legislation and best practices. Accredited Investment Fiduciary® (AIF®) designees have the ability to implement a prudent process into their own investment practices as well as being able to assist others in implementing proper policies and procedures.
Benefits of the AIF® Designation
In addition to the knowledge and business opportunities the AIF® designation represents, all active designees are entitled to the following services and benefits:
- Access to a library of materials focused on the fiduciary standard created by experts and continually updated based on advances in case law, regulatory activity and thought leadership.
- Listing in online Designee Search Library accessible to prospective and current clients, media, potential employers and referrals.
- Continuing education courses and lectures.
- One‐on‐one service and support from Fi360 staff.
- Access to Fi360’s software tools and annual Conference and bookstore
AIF® designees adhere to both the Code of Ethics and Conduct Standards. The Code of Ethics consists of the tenets of ethical conduct expected of all credential holders, while the Conducts Standards pertain to any past criminal and civil litigation, regulatory events, and personal and professional conduct.
Continuing Education Requirement
AIF® designees must accrue a minimum of six hours of continuing education annually. The CE requirement is effective immediately upon attainment of the AIF® designation, and CE hours may be accrued from a variety of sources. All CE is subject to audit by, and final approval from, Fi360.
For more information, see the website of Fi360.
