More information and FAQs on the new CFP certification pathway, including all transitional informationThe CFP certification is an internationally recognised licence overseen by the Financial Planning Standards Board (FPSB) in Denver, US. It is considered to be the global standard of excellence in financial planning, demonstrating to the consumer that the CFP practitioner is committed to professionalism and that they have met rigorous competence, ethics and professional practice standards to provide comprehensive financial planning services. At the end of 2018 there were 181,360 CFP professionals worldwide, with organisations delivering or preparing to deliver the CFP certification in 26 countries and territories.
The CFP credential qualifies professionals to work with both individuals and families to help review all aspects of their financial affairs. The aim is to recommend to the consumer practical, easy-to-understand, holistic solutions for every life stage.
Jacqueline Lockie CFP™ Chartered FCSI, CISI head of financial planning, said: “The 360 degree, holistic approach offered by the CFP certification pathway means that consumers are engaged in a two-way conversation with a financial planning professional who puts their financial wellbeing and life goals first, with any discussion on products featuring at the end of this advice process. The new generation of young people choosing financial planning as a career want to act with integrity and do the right thing for the consumer, and the CFP designation is the globally respected credential which can match their personal ethics.”
"The new pathway reflects the inclusion of the application of a broader range of knowledge"
“The new pathway has been renewed and redesigned to nurture our existing financial planning community by building a larger and stronger community of financial planners where best practice can be more widely shared and new ideas can be developed to move the profession forward for the benefit of the public.”
The pathway to CFP certification has been restructured to raise the CISI’s Diploma in Financial Planning from level 6 to level 7, reflecting the inclusion of the application of a broader range of knowledge.
Candidates for CFP certification who fulfil the following requirements are eligible:
- have achieved the level 7 Diploma in Financial Planning, along with having completed three years’ relevant experience
- have taken the CISI Integrity Test, are CISI members and log annual CPD – the CFP certification is an annually renewable licence with the CISI in the UK.
Jacqueline said: “It has been ten years since the CFP certification was last reviewed. During this time both the market and the complexity of the financial advice required has changed. The new level 7 recognises this complexity and now equips the licence holder with the skills to meet this demand.
“As a global certification there is nothing which matches the CFP designation for the breadth and depth of financial planning knowledge, putting the consumer experience and wellbeing at the heart of this process. The new improved CFP certification meets the FPSB requirements on four key levels: exam, ethics, education and experience. It is also now on a par with the CISI’s other high-level qualification, the level 7 Chartered Wealth Manager.”
The CFP certification workbook is now available, with a sample exam paper ready in July 2019. The first exam sitting is 19 September 2019. Those interested in further details about this first September 2019 sitting will need to check that they meet the eligibility requirements by emailing fpexams@cisi.org