DENVER – 23 July 2010 – FPSB convened an international panel of financial planning practitioners, educators and certification experts this week to develop an integrated financial planning education course.

VIEW VIDEO

Read more...

DENVER – 23 July 2010 – FPSB convened a panel of international financial planning experts this week to develop tools and content to guide entrants to the financial planning profession on how to develop viable financial plans.

VIEW VIDEO

Read more...

DENVER - 8 July 2010 - FPSB Members in Brazil, India, Indonesia and China achieved an average of 19.25 percent growth in the number of CFP professionals in the first three months of 2010.

Read more...

TAIPEI - 29 April 2010 - FPSB announces 20 recommendations to drive financial planning's emergence as a recognized profession globally. World Financial Planning Summit attendees developed the recommendations during the one-day event in Taipei.

Read more...

FPSB hosted its inaugural World Financial Planning Summit on 21 April in Taipei.  Download Summit speech transcripts and PowerPoint presentations, news releases and other information here.

Download the 2010 Summit Wrap Up

While the 14 April Icelandic volcano eruption prevented many European representatives from reaching Taipei, FPSB's April 2010 meeting still attracted regulators from Chinese Taipei and Thailand, along with delegates from 18 FPSB Member organizations around the world. 

Read more...

TAIPEI - 27 April 2010 - At FPSB's World Financial Planning Summit, Wessel Oosthuizen, CFP, challenged financial planning leaders to support the formation of a global financial planning body of knowledge with sustainable career-path development opportunities.

Oosthuizen's Speech Video Clip

Read more...

TAIPEI - 26 April 2010 - FPSB seeks nominations for two open positions on FPSB's Board of Directors, starting 1 April 2011.  Nominations must be submitted no later than 18 June 2010.

View Board Member Job Description

Read more...

TAIPEI - 26 April 2010 - Gautam Chikermane advocated on behalf of the clients and potential clients of financial planners at FPSB’s World Financial Planning Summit in Chinese Taipei.

Video Clip of Chikermane's Speech

Read more...

TAIPEI - 23 April 2010 - FPSB Board chairperson Corinna Dieters urged attendees and online viewers to take responsibility for raising the bar on standards, education, regulation, the practice and delivery of financial planning and client care at FPSB's World Financial Planning Summit.

Summit Highlight Video

Read more...

TAIPEI - 23 April 2010 - At FPSB's World Financial Planning Summit, Ian Johnston of the Dubai Financial Services Authority urged financial planners to be proactive in shaping the future of their profession - adding that if they don't regulators will shape the future for them.

Video Highlight of Johnston's Speech

Read more...

TAIPEI - 21 April 2010 - Icelandic volcano eruption limits European attendance, but not participation.  Participants who hoped to attend the World Financial Planning Summit in Taipei will have an opportunity to watch the proceedings online at WorldFPSummit.org after the event.

Read more...

Download FPSB's Stakeholder Report

DENVER - 15 March 2010 - FPSB convened an international working group to develop a global framework, written protocols, guidance documents and templates to help educators train the next generation of financial planners and certifying bodies to assess potential financial planners’ competency to deliver viable financial plans to clients.

Read more...

DENVER – 12 March 2010 – FPSB held a two-day meeting for financial planning academic, practitioner and certification specialists to develop guidance documents to assist certifying bodies in evaluating the work experience of candidates for financial planner certification worldwide.

Read more...

TAIPEI - 3 March 2010 - FPSB's World Financial Planning Summit to foster international dialogue about how best to establish financial planning as a professional practice worldwide.  Global summit scheduled for 21 April in Taipei. {/summary} {summary [full="0" link="0" class="class"]}
{/summary}

Read more...

DENVER - 22 February 2010 - With an eye toward the future of the financial planning profession, Australian strategic consultant Corinna Dieters assumes her role on 1 April as 2010 board chairperson for FPSB.

Read more...

6 Percent Growth Rate Yields 118,506 CFP Professionals in 20 Territories

DENVER,CO, USA, 5 MARCH, 2009 – Financial Planning Standards Board Ltd. (FPSB), owner of the CFP, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER and CFP Logo Marks outside the United States, announced the global number of CFP professionals reached 118,506 by year end 2008. With an average 6 percent global growth rate, the number of CFP professionals roughly doubled in the past eight years to its current all-time high, with the majority of CFP professionals (59,676) now doing business outside the United States.

“From 42 CFP professionals in the United States in 1973 to the current 118, 506 CFP professionals practicing in some 20 territories around the world, CFP certification has emerged as the global symbol of excellence for financial planning,” said New Zealand-based Stephen O’Connor, CFP, chairperson of FPSB’s Board of Directors. “FPSB and the network of nonprofit standards-setting bodies that administer CFP certification globally build on 35 years’ of commitment to public-interest standards, a commitment that is being recognized by practitioners and consumers looking to manage their finances amidst the continuing global financial crisis,” he added.

“FPSB develops, promotes and enforces rigorous competency, ethics and practice standards that support enhanced professionalism and client-centric behavior by financial planners globally,” said Noel Maye, FPSB CEO. “FPSB is committed to collaborating with professional bodies, educators, financial services firms, consumer advocacy groups and regulators to ensure that consumers benefit from the financial planning process.”

As the need for long-term approaches to managing finances and to work with competent, ethical advisors that put the client first, consumers are seeing the value of working with a CFP professional. The number to CFP professionals has roughly doubled every five years for the past 12 years.

FPSB is governed by a nine-member board, and is supported by the FPSB Council, an advisory group representing 23 organizations that manage, or are preparing to manage, CFP certification programs in their respective territories. Territories where FPSB has a nonprofit member organization include: Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, Chinese Taipei, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Netherlands, the People’s Republic of China, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, South Africa, Switzerland, Thailand, the United Kingdom and the United States.

About FPSB

FPSB manages, develops and operates certification, education and related programs for financial planning organizations to benefit the global community by establishing, upholding and promoting worldwide professional standards in financial planning. FPSB demonstrates its commitment to excellence with the marks of professional distinction – CFP, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER and CFP (Logo).

Global Growth [1973 - 2008]

CFP Certificant Global Growth [US/FPSB Territories]

2008 CFP Certificant Count by Territory

CFP^® Certification - Global Excellence in Financial Planning

DENVER,CO, USA, 3 MARCH 2009 – Financial Planning Standards Board (FPSB), owner of the CFP, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER and CFP Logo marks outside the United States announced the addition of Carlos Gomez to its communications team in the role of technical writer. Gomez’ responsibilities will include drafting educational materials, policies and procedures and process documents for FPSB’s global certification program.

"Carlos brings significant experience in the area of technical communication and his background complements our strategy to substantially improve the support we provide our Members as they work to promote excellence in their CFP certification programs,” said Ramey Becker, director of communications.

Gomez has more than 15 years of writing and editing experience, including development of technical materials in the telecommunications and engineering industries. Prior to joining FPSB, he served as sales communications manager for a national health care insurance company where his duties included Web site, newsletter and collateral development.

About FPSB

FPSB manages, develops and operates certification, education and related programs for financial planning organizations to benefit the global community by establishing, upholding and promoting worldwide professional standards in financial planning. Territories where FPSB has a nonprofit member organization include: Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, Chinese Taipei, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Netherlands, the People’s Republic of China, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, South Africa, Switzerland, Thailand, the United Kingdom and the United States. FPSB demonstrates its commitment to excellence with the marks of professional distinction – CFP, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER and CFP (logo).

CFP^® Certification - Global Excellence in Financial Planning

FPSB regularly develops publications and compiles data of interest to its members and, where appropriate, makes that information available to stakeholders. If you are interested in knowing more about a particular financial planning, certification or standards-setting topic, let us know.

FPSB Global Standards

• Financial Planning Practice Standards

• Financial Planner Work Experience Standard

• Financial Planner Continuing Professional Development Standard

• Financial Planner Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility

• Model Rules of Conduct for CFP Professionals

• Financial Planner Competency Profile

• Financial Planner Assessment Framework

• Financial Planning Curriculum Framework

Position Paper

• The State of the Financial Planning Profession in the 'Post Trust' Era (December 2009)

• Portuguese Version: The State of the Financial Planning Profession in the 'Post Trust' Era

Stakeholder Report

• 2009 FPSB Stakeholder Report

Brochures

• FPSB: Global Excellence in Financial Planning 

• Faces of Financial Planning and CFP Certification
  

FPSB's Program Management Manual

• Model and guidance documents, policies and procedures and template documents to support your efforts in developing and maintaining a quality CFP certification program

Miscellaneous

• 2010 World Financial Planning Summit Recap Materials

• Global Regulation of Personal Financial Planning 

• Education Programs for CFP Certification 

• Global Growth of CFP Professionals 

Other Publications

• FPSB's Strategic Plan

• Guide to Use of the CFP Marks 

Download FPSB's media kit for information on the international standards-setting organization and CFP certification.  If you need additional information or are interested in speaking with a FPSB spokesperson, please contact FPSB's media contacts.

Fact Sheet
Backgrounder
Frequently Asked Questions
2010 Board of Directors Biographies

FPSB's members are nonprofit organizations from 23 territories around the world that are committed to developing, promoting and enforcing world-class standards for financial planning professionalism. For more about FPSB Members, click on the links below:

FPSB Membership Classes

FPSB enters into licensing and affiliation agreements with nonprofit organizations (or their equivalent) around the world that allow the organizations to establish and operate the CFP certification program in a territory. FPSB Affiliates who meet and maintain FPSB’s affiliation criteria are authorized to administer the CFP certification program on behalf of FPSB in a territory.

FPSB Associates are organizations that are in the process of preparing to administer the CFP certification program on behalf of FPSB in a territory, and that have met FPSB’s association criteria. At present, FPSB has no members in the Associate category.

To log on to this site, you must be a member of FPSB. The e-mail and password you use to log in must match the one on file with FPSB. To verify or change the e-mail address we have on file for you, please contact us.

Financial Planning Association of Australia Limited (FPA)
Level 4, 75 Castlereagh Street, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia
Tel: +61 02 9220 4500
Fax: +61 02 9220 4582
E-mail: fpa@fpa.asn.au

FPA was founded in 1992 by merger of the International Association for Financial Planning and the Australian Society of Investment and Financial Advisors Limited and is the only professional body for financial planners in Australia. FPA develop professional, compliance and ethical standards for CFP professionals, and represents members’ interests with legislators, regulators and consumer bodies.

Österreichischer Verband Financial Planners (Austrian Financial Planners (AFP))
c/o BWG, Esslinggasse 17/5, 1010 Vienna, Austria
Tel: +431-533-5050
Fax: +431-533-5033
E-mail: office@fpsb.at

Established in 2000, the AFP is a nonprofit, professional regulatory organization, which is supported by the whole financial services industry in Austria, including banking, insurance, independent financial consultants as well as the legal profession and academics.

Instituto Brasileiro de Certificação de Profissionais Financeiros (IBCPF)
Av. das Nações Unidas, 8.501, 21 andar, 05425-070, São Paulo, Brazil
Tel: +55-11-3471-4200
Fax: +55-11-3471-4230
E-mail: ibcpf@ibcpf.org.br

A nonprofit private entity, IBCPF was founded in May 2000. The mission of IBCPF is to promote the highest professional and ethical standards in the field of financial planning for individuals, contributing towards the attainment of individual financial and financial planning goals.

Financial Planning Standards Council (FPSC)
902-375 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M5G 2J5 Canada
Tel: +1-416-593-8587
Fax: +1-416-593-6903
E-mail: inform@fpsc.ca

Incorporated on November 10, 1995, FPSC is a not-for-profit organization that benefits the public by leading the evolution of the financial planning profession in Canada through the development, enforcement and promotion of the highest competency and ethical standards in financial planning as defined by individuals who have earned the Certified Financial Planner certification. FPSC is supported by: The Financial Advisors Association of Canada (Advocis); The Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants; The Canadian Institute of Financial Planning; Certified General Accountants Association of Canada; Certified Management Accountants of Canada; and Credit Union Institute of Canada.

Financial Planning Standards Board China Ltd. (Shanghai)
Unit 304, 3/F Cham Time International Finance Center,
1589 Century Avenue, Pudong New Area, Shanghai, P.R. China
Tel: +86-21-6093-0818
Fax: +86-21-6093-0811
E-mail: info@fpsbchina.cn

Established in 2009, FPSB China Ltd. is transformed from FPSCC (Established in 2004). It assumes all of the rights and responsibilities originally given to FPSCC by the 15 June 2006 agreement to establish, uphold and maintain practice standards and code of ethics in the field of financial planning; to accredit and authorize educational institutes to offer professional training; to organize and operate uniform professional certification examination; to license certificates to eligible professionals; and to offer re-education and re-certification to certificants so that the public values, has access to and benefits from competent and ethical financial planning.

Financial Planning Association of Taiwan (FPAT)
1306 room, 13th floor, No. 88, Sec. 2, Chung Hsiao E. Road
Taipei 100, Chinese Taipei
Tel: +886 (2) 2396-5698
Fax: +886 2 2396 5606
E-mail: kp.liu@ipac.com.tw

FPAT is a nonprofit organization formed, with approval from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, by a group of quasi-government organization, leading educational institutes in financial services training and education, leading global and local financial services companies, and leading financial services industry executives and professionals to enhance the professional standards of financial planning practitioners and educate the public about the importance of personal financial planning.

Association Francaise des Conseils en Gestion de Patrimoine Certifiés (CGPC)
5 rue Tronchet, 75008 Paris, France
Tel : +33 (01) 40 06 08 08
Fax : +33 (01) 40 06 96 23
E-mail: info@cgpc.net

CGPC was founded in 1997 as an independent national association and certification body for financial planning in France. CGPC is dedicated to raising standards of financial planning, raising consumer awareness of the value of financial planning services and promoting its membership as the most qualified and reliable financial planners in France.

Financial Planning Standards Board Deutschland e.V. (FPSB Deutschland)
Eschersheimer Landstrasse 61-63, 60322 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Tel: +49 69 9055 9380
Fax: +49 69 9055 938-10
E-mail: info@fpsb.de

FPSB Deutschland e.V. was founded as DEVFP in October 1997 to license financial service practitioners at the highest internationally recognized standard to protect the public. FPSB Deutschland develops and supervises quality standards for professional training and education, qualification requirements, and ethical and practice standards for CFP professionals in Germany.

The Institute of Financial Planners of Hong Kong (IFPHK)
Unit 2601, Bank of East Asia Harbour View Centre, 56 Gloucester Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2982 7888
Fax: +852 2982 7777
E-mail: info@ifphk.org

A non-profit self-regulatory organization set up in June 2000, IFPHK fosters professional standards in personal financial planning to benefit the public and is the sole licensing body in Hong Kong authorized by the Financial Planning Standards Board Ltd. (FPSB) to grant the CFP certification to qualified financial planning professionals in Hong Kong and Macau. It is committed to promote the CFP designation as the highest level of competence in the financial planning profession in Hong Kong.

Financial Planning Standards Board India (FPSB India)
702, 7th Floor, Leela Business Park, Andheri Kurla Road, Andheri East, Mumbai 400 059, India
Tel: +91 22 61712424
Fax: +91 22 61712444
E-mail: info@fpsbindia.org

FPSB India is a professional membership and certification/standards setting body, established by prominent financial service corporations with an objective to professionalize the concept of financial planning by guiding the development and promotion of standards for financial planning professionals to benefit and protect the public in India. FPSB India is committed to maintaining high standards of technical competence, fair dealing and integrity among its members. FPSB India works with Regulators, Industries/Associations, Corporations, Media and the public to achieve its objectives.

FPSB Indonesia (FPSB Indonesia)
Ruko Galeri Niaga Radio Dalam, Jl. Haji Nawi Raya No. 9R, Jakarta Selatan, 12420 Indonesia
Tel: +62 21 7087 2149/50
Fax: +62 21 7591 0832
E-mail: info@fpsbindonesia.org

FPSB Indonesia is a nonprofit foundation facilitated, founded and funded by Financial Planning Association Indonesia (FPAI) and Institute Financial Planning Indonesia (IFPI) to affiliate with FPSB and administer the CFP certification program to benefit consumers and establish financial planning as a profession in Indonesia.

FPSB Ireland
Life Insurance Association (LIA), 183 Kimmage Road West, Dublin 12, Ireland
Tel: +353 (1) 456 3890
Fax: +353 (1) 455 4530
E-mail:

Two of the leading bodies in professional education in banking and financial services in Ireland are the Institute of Bankers and Life Insurance Association Ireland Limited (LIA). Responding to the demands of market participants, these bodies have established a new joint venture Financial Planning Standards Board Ireland Limited (FPSB Ireland). FPSB Ireland is a not-for-profit organisation whose mission is to promote the professional education, certification and regulation of financial planners in the Republic of Ireland.

Japan Association for Financial Planners (JAFP)
5F Toranomon Towers Office, 4-1-28 Toranomon, Minato-ku,
Tokyo, Japan 105-0001
Tel: +81-3-5403-9700
Fax: +81-3-5403-9701
E-mail: info@jafp.or.jp

A membership and certification/standards-setting body, JAFP was established in November 1987, and introduced CFP certification to Japan in May 1992. JAFP’s purpose is to promote financial planning to the general public and foster financial planners as financial planning professionals.

Financial Planning Association of Malaysia (FPAM)
Lot 16-02, 16th Floor, Block B, HP Towers
No.12 Jalan Gelenggang, Bukit Damansara
50490 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Tel: +6 03 - 2095 7713
Fax: +6 03 - 2095 7719
E-mail: info@fpam.org.my

Formed on 13 December 1999, FPAM is a non-profit organization with a mission to raise the standards of competency and ethical practice of qualified financial planners in Malaysia and to educate the public on the benefits of financial planning. FPAM is represented by a group of corporate and professional individuals representing diverse financial services industries such as insurance, unit trusts, banking, legal services, stockbroking, accounting services and asset management.

FPSB Nederland
Burgemeester Guljelaan 8, 4837 CZ BREDA, The Netherlands
Tel: +31 (88) 50 111 08
Fax: +31 (88) 50 111 09
E-mail: voorzitter@fpsb.nl

The Stichting FPSB Nederland is a nonprofit association that manages certification for financial planning to benefit and protect the Dutch community by establishing, upholding and promoting professional standards in personal financial planning. FPSB Nederland’s commitment to excellence is represented by the CFP marks. Stichting FPSB Nederland raises public interest in financial planning, promotes the financial planning profession, provides information about the high standards of competence, expertise and integrity of financial planners in the Netherlands, and prevents use of CFP’s trademark by unauthorized persons and organizations.

Institute of Financial Advisers (IFA)
Level 6, Technology One House, 86 Victoria St, Wellington New Zealand 6011
Tel: +64 4 499 8062
Fax: +64 4 499 8064
E-mail: info@ifa.org.nz

IFA (formerly FPIA) is the professional body representing financial planners, investment advisers and insurance advisers in New Zealand. Members are required to meet standards of education, experience, examination and ethics. IFA awards the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER certification and Chartered Life Underwriter designation to members upon qualification.

Financial Planning Standards Board Korea (FPSB Korea)
17th Fl. Seongji Bldg., 538 Dowha 2-dong, Mapo-gu
Seoul 121-743, Republic of Korea
Tel: +82-2-3276-7605
Fax: +82-2-3276-7620
E-mail: info@fpkorea.org

FPSB Korea is the certification and standards-setting body for CFP certification in the Repbulic of Korea, whose mission is to improve the professionalism of the financial services industry and benefit and protect the public and improving Korean citizens’ living standards.

Financial Planning Association of Singapore (FPAS)
146 Robinson Road, #04-02, Singapore 068909
Tel: +65 6372 1030
Fax : +65 6372 0121
E-mail: fpas@fpas.org.sg

Established on 01 December 1998, the Financial Planning Association of Singapore (FPAS) is a non-profit professional association dedicated to developing and promoting an industry providing unbiased financial advice to the Singaporean public. Since its inception, FPAS has received overwhelming support from many of the largest financial institutions in Singapore.

The Financial Planning Institute of Southern Africa (FPI)
Ground Floor, Block A, Palms Office Court, Kudu Street, Allensnek Ext. 27, 1705, Roodepoort, South Africa
Tel: +27 11-470-6000
E-mail: staylor@fpimail.co.za

FPI is the leading, independent representative body of professional financial planners that ensures South Africans have access to value competent financial planning. FPI was originally formed in 1981 as the Institute of Life and Pension Advisors (ILPA) to improve levels of professionalism. Many top financial institutions have adopted The Financial Planning Institute as an independent standards partner and members include both general practitioners and specialists in particular branches of financial planning.

Swiss Financial Planners Organization (SFPO)
Münzgraben 6, Postfach, 3000 Bern 7, Switzerland
Tel: +41 31 326 27 30
Fax: +41 31 326 27 31
E-mail: info@sfpo.ch

The SFPO is a credentialing, licensing, standards-setting and disciplinary body whose mission is to benefit and protect the public by: setting the qualification for initial professional certification; protecting the CFP certification mark and the service marks CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and CFP® in Switzerland; enhancing the professionalism of those engaged in the exercise and pursuit of personal financial planning; informing the public about ongoing national and international financial planning issues; and lobbying governmental entities in the field of financial planning.

Thai Financial Planners Association (TFPA)
11th Floor, The Stock Exchange of Thailand Building, 62 Ratchadaphisek Road, Klongtoey, Bangkok 10110, Thailand
Tel: +66 2 2292196
Fax: +66 2 6545345
E-mail: info@tfpa.or.th

The Thai Financial Planners Association (TFPA) aims to be a nonprofit regulatory organization that will set up high professional standards and an ethical framework for financial planning practitioners in Thailand. The organization has been established as an association, under the Ministry of Commerce, through the collaboration of The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) and the Thai Financial Planners Club (The Club).

The Institute of Financial Planning (IFP)
Whitefriars Centre, Lewins Mead, Bristol. BS1 2NT England
Tel: +44 (0117) 945 2470
Fax: +44 (0117) 929 2214
E-mail: enquiries@financialplanning.org.uk

Formed in 1986 as a non-profitable company, the IFP is a professional body of those committed to the development of the multi-discipline profession of financial planning. IFP’s mission is to develop and promote the profession of financial planning to the general public and to people involved in providing advice and guidance to clients to most effectively fulfill clients’ financial and lifestyle objectives. IFP works with members of the public, financial planners and IFP members to achieve recognition for the financial planning profession in the UK.

Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. (CFP Board)
1425 K Street NW, Suite 500, Washington, DC., 20005 United States
Tel: +1 (800) 487-1497
Fax: +1 (202) 379-2299
E-mail: mail@CFPBoard.org
The mission of Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. is to benefit the public by granting the CFP^® certification and upholding it as the recognized standard of excellence for personal financial planning. CFP Board owns the certification marks CFP^®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER^™, and CFP (with flame design)^® in the U.S., which it awards to individuals who successfully complete CFP Board's initial and ongoing certification requirements. CFP Board currently authorizes more than 57,000 individuals to use these marks in the United States.

Global Growth of CFP Professionals

FPSB holds two in-person Board of Directors meetings and two in-person FPSB Council meetings each year, and FPSB Members hold financial planning conventions and symposiums for practitioners and members of the public.  Click here to view a calendar of international FPSB events.

The spring FPSB Council meeting, held in Taipei 19-21 April 2010, was a success!  Click here to read more about the meeting.

The fall FPSB Council meeting is slated for 18-20 October 2010 in Seoul, Republic of Korea. 

To benefit the public, FPSB regulates how CFP professionals use FPSB’s CFP, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER and marks (the CFP Marks) outside the borders of the territory in which they first received CFP certification.  Download FPSB's Cross-Border Use Policy for detailed information about these rules.

Incidental Use

FPSB permits incidental use of the CFP Marks by CFP professionals outside the territory of their initial certification. Incidental use consists of displays of the CFP Marks in/on:

• articles published in a new territory;

• business cards or brochures distributed for purposes other than seeking financial planning business while traveling abroad; and

• websites targeted toward stakeholders in the territory of initial certification that are viewable outside the area’s borders.

Cross-Border Use

When a CFP professional displays the CFP Marks in a territory other than the one in which he or she was first certified while delivering, directly supporting or supervising the financial planning process or to hold himself or herself out as a CFP professional, FPSB considers this cross-border use of the CFP Marks. If an individual wishes to hold himself or herself out as a CFP professional or use the CFP Marks outside his or her territory of initial certification for anything other than incidental use, the CFP professional can pursue one of two options:

Across Borders Certification
An individual using the CFP Marks in more than one territory can become certified across borders by obtaining CFP certification from the FPSB Member in the new territory and abiding by the certification renewal requirements of both FPSB Members. Once the CFP professional has completed the process for certification across borders, he or she can identify himself or herself as a CFP professional in either territory as follows:

• Simon Lim, CFP* or

• Simon Lim, CFP* (Territory A and Territory B)
  (*Trademark superscript as described in FPSB’s Guide to Use of the CFP Marks)

Some of the more popular names for financial advisers or consultants include:

Financial Planner

A financial planner is someone who uses the financial planning process to provide a client with integrated strategies to achieve financial and life goals. The planner can take a holistic view of your financial situation – reviewing your budgeting and saving, tax, investment, insurance and retirement needs – or work with you on a single financial issue but within the context of your overall situation. This holistic approach may set the planner apart from other financial advisers, who may have been trained to focus on a particular area of your financial life. Many financial planners hold insurance or securities licenses that allow them to buy or sell products; others refer you to specialized financial advisers to implement recommendations. Ethical financial planners will refer you to other professionals for services that they cannot provide and disclose any referral fees they may receive in the process.

Accountant

Accountants provide you with advice on tax matters. In some cases, accountants must be licensed by the appropriate government regulatory agency.

Estate Planner

Estate planners provide you with advice on estate planning issues and put together a strategy to manage your assets at the time of your death. While attorneys, accountants, personal financial planners, insurance agents or trust bankers may all provide estate planning services, you should seek an attorney to prepare legal documents such as wills, trusts and powers of attorney.

Insurance Agent

Insurance agents are typically licensed by a regulatory body to sell life, health, property and casualty or other insurance products. Personal financial planners may identify and advise you on your insurance needs, but can only sell you insurance products if they are properly licensed.

Stockbroker

Stockbrokers are licensed by securities regulators to buy and sell securities products such as stocks, bonds and mutual funds. They generally earn commissions on all of their transactions.

© 2006, Financial Planning Standards Board Ltd. All rights reserved. Through a licensing agreement, material in this section is based wholly or in part on copyrighted materials owned by Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. See our copyright notice for more.

As the client, you are the focus of the financial planning engagement. As such, the results you get from working with a financial planner are as much your responsibility as they are those of the planner. To achieve the best results from your financial planning engagement:

Set Measurable Financial Goals.
Set specific targets of what results you want to achieve and when you want to achieve them. For example, instead of saying you want to be ‘comfortable’ when you retire or that you want your children to attend ‘good’ schools, quantify what ‘comfortable’ and ‘good’ mean so that you’ll know you’ve reached your goals.

Understand the Effect of Each Financial Decision.
Each financial decision you make affects other areas of your life. An investment decision may have tax consequences that are harmful to your estate plans. Or a decision about your child’s education may affect when and how you meet your retirement goals. Remember that all of your financial decisions are interrelated.

Re-evaluate Your Financial Situation Periodically.
Financial planning is a dynamic process. Your financial goals change along with changes in your lifestyle or circumstances, such as an inheritance, marriage, birth, house purchase or change of job. Revisit and revise your financial plan regularly to reflect these changes and stay on track with your long-term goals.

Start Planning As Soon As You Can.
Don’t delay your financial planning or wait until a money crisis to begin. People who save or invest small amounts early, and often, tend to do better than those who wait until later. By developing good financial planning habits such as saving, budgeting, investing and regularly reviewing your finances early in life, you will be better prepared to meet life changes and handle emergencies.

Be Realistic in Your Expectations.
Financial planning is a common sense approach to managing your finances to reach your life goals. It cannot change your situation overnight; it is a lifelong process. Remember that events beyond your control such as inflation or changes in the stock market or interest rates will affect your financial planning results.

Realize That You Are In Charge.
If you’re working with a financial planner, understand the financial planning process and what the planner should be doing. Provide the planner with all relevant information on your financial situation. Ask questions about the recommendations offered to you and play an active role in decision-making.

© 2006, Financial Planning Standards Board Ltd. All rights reserved. Through a licensing agreement, material in this section is based wholly or in part on copyrighted materials owned by Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. See our copyright notice for more.

If you are working with a financial planner, use the following statements to determine your level of comfort with your existing financial planning relationship. If you are not satisfied with your situation, assert your rights by talking to your financial planner about your concerns. A competent, ethical planner will seek to understand and meet your needs and will explain the reasons behind his or her decisions and actions.

[  ] My planner is diligent in carrying out his or her activities.

[  ] My planner responds to my phone calls or requests promptly.

[  ] Recommendations are appropriate for my situation.

[  ] I understand what I'm being charged and why.

[  ] I understand and accept my planner's potential conflicts of interest.

[  ] My interests drive the decisions being made.

[  ] I'm involved in decisions at the appropriate time.

[  ] I do not feel pressured to make certain decisions.

[  ] I get adequate information to make good decisions.

[  ] My planner investigates the products he or she recommends.

[  ] I get the service or products I pay for.

[  ] My planner presents his or her qualifications or abilities honestly.

[  ] The staff who works with me is properly supervised.

[  ] My information is kept confidential.

© 2006, Financial Planning Standards Board Ltd. All rights reserved. Through a licensing agreement, this checklist is based wholly or in part on copyrighted materials owned by Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. See FPSB’s copyright notice at fpsb.org for more.

Working with a financial planner can be an extremely rewarding and valuable experience for you and your family. If you’ve decided to work with a financial planner, it’s important to understand your rights in this professional relationship. By knowing your rights and what to expect from a financial planner, you can take an active role in shaping your financial future.

If you are working with a financial planner, take our quiz to determine your level of comfort with your financial planning relationship.

You have the right to a planner who has integrity.
Trust between you and your financial planner is central to a successful financial planning relationship. You rely on your planner’s honesty, professionalism and abilities to achieve your financial and life goals. When you know that your financial planner takes his or her professional obligations seriously, and places principles over personal gain, you can develop the type of partnership that is crucial to the success of any professional relationship.

You have the right to objective advice.
Your needs should be at the heart of all recommendations made by your financial planner. Your planner should use his or her experience and judgment to carefully consider your situation, and provide you with advice that best meets your goals. Sometimes, this objectivity may require the financial planner to explain that your goals are unrealistic given your current resources and financial commitments. Your planner may then suggest alternative goals or priorities.

You have the right to a planner who is competent.
You have the right to expect your financial planner to demonstrate an appropriate level of knowledge to offer financial planning advice, such as attainment of the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER certification. Your planner should complete continuing education courses as part of his or her ongoing commitment to competency.

You have the right to be treated fairly.
Your financial planner should treat you the same way he or she would like to be treated in a professional relationship. This involves clearly stating what services will be provided and at what price. The planner should also explain the risks associated with his or her financial recommendations and any potential conflicts of interest. For example, does the planner gain personally or financially from your purchase of a particular product or from the outcome of a suggested strategy?

You have the right to privacy.
To get the best results from your financial planning relationship, you need to divulge relevant personal and financial information to your financial planner on a regular basis. Your planner should keep this information in confidence, only sharing it with others to conduct business on your behalf, at your consent, or when required to do so by court order.

You have the right to a planner who is professional.
Your financial planner should not provide investment advice or stock brokerage or insurance services unless he or she is properly qualified and licensed to do so, as required by law. If your situation requires expertise that your planner does not possess, he or she should suggest other professionals who may assist you.

You have the right to a planner who is diligent.
Your financial planner should discuss your goals and objectives with you and explain what you can expect from the relationship before engaging you as a client. Once the planner has determined that he or she (or his or her staff and/or network of related professionals) can assist you and has gathered sufficient information, the financial planner should make – and, if appropriate, implement – recommendations that are suitable for you. A diligent  financial planner reasonably investigates the products or services he or she recommends. A diligent planner also closely supervises any staff working with you.

© 2006, Financial Planning Standards Board Ltd. All rights reserved. Through a licensing agreement, material in this section is based wholly or in part on copyrighted materials owned by Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. See our copyright notice for more.

Download FPSB's CFP Certification: Faces of Financial Planning brochure.

Most people think that all financial planners are ‘certified,’ but this isn’t true. In most territories, the term ‘financial planner’ is poorly regulated, which means that people can call themselves financial planners without being qualified to do so. As more people call themselves financial planners, finding the right professional to address your financial planning needs isn’t always easy.

Only people who have fulfilled FPSB’s specific certification and renewal requirements are authorized to use the CFP, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER and CFP logo marks (the CFP Marks). When selecting a financial planner, you need to feel confident that the person you choose to help you plan for your future is competent and ethical. The CFP certification provides that sense of security by allowing only those who meet initial CFP certification and renewal requirements the right to use the CFP Marks.

When working with a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER professional, the client is the focus of the financial planning relationship and the client’s needs drive the recommendations. CFP professionals follow Professional Practice Standards when providing financial planning advice or services. These standards are based on the six-step financial planning process. This integrated approach to financial advice distinguishes CFP professionals from other financial advisers who typically focus on only one area of a person’s financial life.

When providing financial planning advice or services, a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER professional has agreed to define the scope of the work he or she will conduct with a client, explain and document the services he or she will provide, discuss methods of compensation and share any other relevant information. CFP professionals must determine a client’s personal and financial goals, tolerance for financial risk, and time frame for achieving results, and gather all necessary financial information, prior to making any recommendations.

CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER professionals work in various settings including small financial planning practices, large financial services firms, banks and other financial institutions. They are compensated by salary, fees, commissions or a combination of methods. While all CFP professionals are trained to provide you with comprehensive financial planning services, some specialize in one or more areas, or work with specific types of clients. You may want to interview several CFP professionals to find one with whom best meets your needs. To verify if an individual is authorized to use the CFP Marks in your territory, visit Find a Planner.

© 2006, Financial Planning Standards Board Ltd. Through a licensing agreement, material in this section is based wholly or in part on copyrighted materials owned by Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. See our copyright notice for more.

Planner Name: _____________________________________

Company: _________________________________________

Address: __________________________________________

Phone: ______________________ Date: ________________

• Retirement planning ______________

• Investment planning ______________

• Tax planning ____________________

• Estate planning __________________

• Insurance planning _______________

• Integrated planning _______________

• Other __________________________

What are your areas of specialization?

_____________________________________

_____________________________________

What qualifies you in this field(s)?

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

How long have you been offering financial planning advice to clients?

• [ ] Less than one year

• [ ] One to four years

• [ ] Five to 10 years

• [ ] More than 10 years

How many clients do you currently have?

• [ ] Less than 10 clients

• [ ] 10 to 39

• [ ] 40 to 79

• [ ] 80 +

Briefly describe your work history.

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

________________________________________________

What are your educational qualifications? (Give area of study.)

• [ ] Certificate ________________________________

• [ ] Undergraduate degree ______________________

• [ ] Advanced degree __________________________

• [ ] Other ____________________________________

What financial planning designation(s) or certification(s) do you hold?

• [ ] CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER certification

• [ ] Other ___________________________________

What financial planning continuing education requirements do you fulfill?

_________ hours every _________

What licenses or registrations do you hold?

• [ ] Insurance

• [ ] Securities

• [ ] Investment advice

• [ ] Accounting

• [ ] Law

• [ ] Other ___________________________________

Will you provide me with government-required disclosure documents?

• [ ] Yes

• [ ] No

• If no, why not?_______________________________

What services do you offer?

_________________________________________________

_________________________________________________

Describe your approach to financial planning.

_________________________________________________

_________________________________________________

_________________________________________________

Who will work with me?

• [ ] Financial Planner being interviewed

• [ ] Associate(s)

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

Will the same individual(s) review my financial situation?

• [ ] Yes

• [ ] No

• If no, who will?______________________________

• [ ] Fee

• [ ] Commission

• [ ] Fee and commission

• [ ] Salary

• [ ] Other ____________________________________

What do you typically charge?

• [ ] Fees:

• Hourly rate $ _________

• Flat fee (range) $ _________ to $ _________

• Percentage of assets under management _________ percent

• [ ] Commissions:

What is the approximate percentage of the investment or premium you receive on:

• stocks and bonds _____

• mutual funds _______

• annuities _______

• insurance products _____

• other _____

Do you have a business affiliation with any company whose products or services you are recommending?

• [ ] Yes

• [ ] No

If yes, explain

_________________________________________________

Is any of your compensation based on selling products?

• [ ] Yes

• [ ] No

If yes, explain

_________________________________________________

Do professionals and sales agents to whom you may refer me send business, fees or any other benefits to you?

• [ ] Yes

• [ ] No

If yes, explain ______________________________________

Do you have an affiliation with a firm that buys and sells investment products on your behalf (e.g., a broker/dealer firm)?

• [ ] Yes

• [ ] No Are you an owner of, or connected with, any other company whose services or products I will use?

• [ ] Yes

• [ ] No

If yes, explain

__________________________________________________

Do you provide a written client engagement agreement?

• [ ] Yes

• [ ] No

If no, why not?

1. What experience do you have?

   Find out how long the financial planner has been in practice and the number and types of companies with which he or she has been associated. Ask the planner to briefly describe his or her work experience and how it relates to his or her current practice. Choose a financial planner who has sufficient experience counseling individuals on their financial needs.

2. What are your qualifications?

   Many different types of financial practitioners use the term ‘financial planner.’ Ask the financial planner what qualifies him or her to offer financial planning advice and whether he or she is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER professional. Look for a financial planner who has proven experience in topics such as insurance, tax planning, investments, estate planning or retirement planning. Determine what steps the financial planner takes to stay current with changes and developments in the financial planning field. If the planner holds a financial planning designation or certification, check on his or her background with the organization that awarded the credential.

3. What services do you offer?

   The services a financial planner offers depend on a number of factors including credentials, licenses and areas of expertise. Generally, financial planners cannot sell insurance or securities products such as mutual funds or stocks without the proper licenses, or give investment advice unless registered with appropriate regulatory authorities. Some planners offer personal financial planning advice on a range of topics but do not sell financial products. Others may provide advice only in specific areas such as estate planning or on tax matters.

4. What is your approach to financial planning?

   Ask the financial planner about the type of clients and financial situations he or she typically likes to work with. Some planners prefer to develop one plan by bringing together all of your financial goals. Others provide advice on specific areas, as needed. Make sure the financial planner’s viewpoint on investing is not too cautious or overly aggressive for you. Some planners require you to have a certain net worth before offering services. Find out if the financial planner will carry out the financial recommendations developed for you or refer you to others who will do so.

5. Will you be the only person working with me?

   The financial planner may work with you himself or herself or have others in the office assist in the process. You may want to meet everyone who will be working with you. If the planner works with professionals outside his or her own practice (such as attorneys, insurance agents or accountants) to develop or carry out financial planning recommendations, get a list of their names to check on their backgrounds.

6. How will I pay for your services?

   As part of your financial planning agreement, the financial planner should clearly tell you in writing how he or she will be paid for the services to be provided. Planners can be paid in several ways:

   • A salary paid by the company for which the financial planner works. The planner’s employer receives payment from you or others, either in fees or commissions, to pay the planner’s salary.

   • Fees based on an hourly rate, a flat rate, or on a percentage of your assets and/or income.

   • Commissions paid by a third party from the products sold to you to carry out the financial planning recommendations. Commissions are usually a percentage of the amount you invest in a product.

   • A combination of fees and commissions whereby fees are charged for the amount of work done to develop financial planning recommendations and commissions are received from any products sold. In addition, some financial planners may offset some portion of the fees you pay if they receive commissions for carrying out their recommendations.

7. How much do you typically charge?

   While the amount you pay the financial planner will depend on your particular needs, the planner’s level of experience and your geographic location, the financial planner should be able to provide you with an estimate of possible costs based on the work to be performed. Such costs should include the planner’s hourly rates or flat fees or the percentage he or she would receive as commission on products you may purchase as part of the financial planning recommendations.

8. Could anyone besides me benefit from your recommendation?

   Some business relationships or partnerships that a financial planner has could affect his or her professional judgment while working with you, inhibiting the planner from acting in your best interest. Ask the financial planner to provide you with a description of his or her conflicts of interest in writing. For example, financial planners who sell insurance policies, securities or mutual funds have a business relationship with the companies that provide these financial products. The planner may also have relationships or partnerships that should be disclosed to you, such as business he or she receives for referring you to an insurance agent, accountant or attorney for implementation of the financial planning recommendations.

9. Have you ever been publicly disciplined for any unlawful or unethical actions in your professional career?

   Several government and professional regulatory organizations keep records on the disciplinary history of financial planners and other financial advisers. Ask what organizations the planner is regulated by and contact these groups to conduct a background check. Also ask the financial planner to provide you with any government-required disclosure documents.

10. Can I have it in writing?

    Ask the financial planner to provide you with a written agreement that details the services that he or she will provide. Keep this document in your files for future reference.

© 2006, Financial Planning Standards Board Ltd. All rights reserved. Through a licensing agreement, material in this section is based wholly or in part on copyrighted materials owned by Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. See our copyright notice for more.

You may be considering help from a financial planner for a number of reasons, whether it’s deciding to buy a new home, planning for retirement or your children’s education, or simply not having the time or expertise to get your finances in order. Whatever your needs, working with a financial planner can be a helpful step in securing your financial future.

Choosing a financial planner may be one of the most important decisions you make for yourself and your loved ones. Financial planners can provide you and your family with guidance over your lifetime, or work with you to address specific concerns as needed.

A planner can play a central role in helping you meet your life goals and achieve financial wellbeing. Consequently, take the time to select a financial planner who is competent and trustworthy, on whom you can depend for professional advice and services, and whose business style suits your needs.

To help you choose a financial planner, FPSB has prepared interview questions and a checklist that you can use to evaluate several planners and find the one that’s right for you.

© 2006, Financial Planning Standards Board Ltd. All rights reserved. Through a licensing agreement, material in this section is based wholly or in part on copyrighted materials owned by Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. See our copyright notice for more.

Q. Who can use the term ‘financial planner?’
Most governments do not regulate financial planners as financial planners; instead, they regulate planners as stock brokers, insurance agents or investment advisers, depending on the services they provide. Consequently, many people who are not qualified to do so call themselves financial planners. To determine if a financial adviser is capable of offering comprehensive financial planning, review our information about the financial planning process and choosing a financial planner.

Q. Why should I choose a financial planner over another type of financial adviser?
Financial planners take an integrated approach to developing recommendations and strategies for your financial situation, while accountants, investment advisers, stockbrokers or insurance agents may focus on a particular area of your financial life. Review our information on different types of advisers.

Q. What is the best age to start financial planning?
While it is true that the younger you start the more beneficial the process will be, financial planning is worthwhile at any age. Although younger people may have more decisions to make regarding their financial lives, changing laws and circumstances can lead middle-aged people and seniors to have to adjust their financial plans as well. Changes in tax law, for example, may require many people to revisit certain investments or estate plans, and adequate disability planning becomes more important as people age.

Q. How are financial planners paid?
There is no uniform method by which financial planners are paid. A planner can be paid by a salary paid by the company for which the planner works; by fees based on an hourly rate, a flat rate, or on a percentage of your assets and/or income; by commissions paid by a third party from the products sold to you to carry out the financial planning recommendations; or by a combination of fees and commissions whereby fees are charged for the amount of work done to develop financial planning recommendations and commissions are received from any products sold.

Q. Do I have to pay a financial planner for the first interview? How much does a planner typically charge?
Most financial planners provide you with one free half-hour or hour meeting to talk about your reasons for wanting to work with them. During the initial interview, the planner will also decide if he or she can help you and explain how he or she would work with you. Like other professionals, the rates financial planners charge depend on their experience, geographic location, level of services and your needs. Interview more than one planner to get an idea of the going rate for financial planning services.

Q. Can I do my own financial planning?
Some personal finance software packages, magazines or self-help books can help you do your own financial planning. However, you may decide to seek help from a professional financial planner if:

• you need expertise that you don’t possess in certain areas of your finances. For example, a financial planner can help you evaluate the level of risk in your investment portfolio or adjust your retirement plan due to changing family circumstances;

• you want to get a professional opinion about the financial plan you developed for yourself;

• you don’t feel you have the time to spare to do your own financial planning;

• you have an immediate need or unexpected life event such as a birth, inheritance or major illness;

• you feel that a professional adviser could help you improve on how you are currently managing your finances; or

• you know that you need to improve your current financial situation but don’t know where to start.

© 2006, Financial Planning Standards Board Ltd. All rights reserved. Through a licensing agreement, material in this section is based wholly or in part on copyrighted materials owned by Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. See our copyright notice for more.

The financial planning process consists of the following six steps:

1. Establish and define the client-planner relationship.

   The financial planner should clearly explain and document the services that he or she will provide to you and define both his/her and your responsibilities during the financial planning engagement. The financial planner should explain fully how he or she will be paid and by whom. You and the planner should agree on how long the professional relationship should last and on how decisions will be made.

2. Gather client data, including goals.

   The financial planner should ask for information about your financial situation. You and the planner should mutually define your personal and financial goals, understand your time frame for results and discuss, if relevant, how you feel about risk. The financial planner should gather all the necessary documents before giving you the advice you need.

3. Analyze and evaluate your financial status.

   The financial planner should analyze your information to assess your current situation and determine what you must do to meet your goals. Depending on what services you have asked for, this could include analyzing your assets, liabilities and cash flow, current insurance coverage, investments or tax strategies.

4. Develop and present financial planning recommendations and/or alternatives.

   The financial planner should offer financial planning recommendations that address your goals, based on the information you provide. The planner should go over the recommendations with you to help you understand them so that you can make informed decisions. The planner should also listen to your concerns and revise the recommendations as appropriate.

5. Implement the financial planning recommendations.

   You and the financial planner should agree on how the recommendations will be carried out. The planner may carry out the recommendations or serve as your coach, coordinating the process with you and other professionals such as attorneys, accountants or stockbrokers.

6. Monitor the financial planning recommendations.

   You and the financial planner should agree on who will monitor your progress towards your goals. If the planner is in charge of the process, he or she should report to you periodically to review your situation and adjust the recommendations, if needed, as your life changes.

© 2006, Financial Planning Standards Board Ltd. All rights reserved. Through a licensing agreement, material in this section is based wholly or in part on copyrighted materials owned by Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. See our copyright notice for more.

Financial planning is the process of meeting your life goals through the proper management of your finances. Life goals can include buying a home, saving for your child’s education or planning for retirement.

The financial planning process consists of six steps that help you take a holistic approach to assessing where you are financially. Using these steps, you can work out where you are now, what you may need in the future and what you must do to reach your goals.

The process involves gathering relevant financial information, setting life goals, examining your current financial status and coming up with a strategy or plan for how you can meet your goals given your current situation and future plans.

Financial planning provides direction and meaning to your financial decisions. It allows you to understand how each financial decision you make affects other areas of your finances. For example, buying a particular investment product might help you pay off your mortgage faster or it might delay your retirement significantly. By viewing each financial decision as part of a whole, you can consider its short and long-term effects on your life goals. You can also adapt more easily to life changes and feel more secure that your goals are on track.

© 2006, Financial Planning Standards Board Ltd. All rights reserved. Through a licensing agreement, material in this section is based wholly or in part on copyrighted materials owned by Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. See our copyright notice for more.

FPSB’s password-protected site serves as an online community and resource center for the organization’s international network of members who offer, or are preparing to offer, CFP certification.

FPSB Members can chat with peers, access tools and resources for administering and marketing a professional certification program, participate in online working groups, view web-based promotional and educational videos on a variety of financial planning topics, and more! To log into this site, you must be a member of FPSB. The e-mail and password you use to log in must match the one on file with FPSB. To verify or change the e-mail address we have on file for you, please contact us.

Welcome to Financial Planning Standards Board Ltd.'s (FPSB) Member Forum. If you login and continue to browse the Member Forum, you are agreeing to comply with and be bound by the following terms and conditions of use which govern FPSB's relationship with you as a user of the Member Forum.

The term Financial Planning Standards Board Ltd., FPSB, “us” or “we” refers to the owner of the website whose registered office is 1700 Broadway, Suite 700, Denver, CO, 80290, USA. The term “you” refers to the user of the Member Forum.

Use of the FPSB Member Forum is subject to the following terms and conditions:

1. As a user of the FPSB Member Forum, you have access to certain documents. You are reminded of the confidentiality agreements executed with organizations that you represent. You understand and agree that all materials, documents and information provided by FPSB Ltd. on the Member Forum must be held in strict confidence and may not be discussed with anyone outside the organization or the FPSB Council. You further understand and agree that all materials, documents and information not marked as confidential may be discussed with others only in accordance with the policies of FPSB Ltd., as adopted and amended from time to time.

   You understand and agree that all information concerning FPSB Ltd.’s and its Affiliates’ trade secrets; financial and business information, plans and strategies; trademark protection and branding strategies; marketing information and plans; cost and pricing information; usage data; certificant and FPSB Affiliate data and information; disciplinary matters; and administration and personnel information shall be considered confidential and proprietary, regardless of whether such information has been marked as confidential.

   You understand and agree that the disclosure of confidential information to unauthorized persons would be harmful to FPSB’s mission and objectives. You accordingly agree that you will not reveal such information or knowledge, either during your time as a delegate or observer or at anytime thereafter.

2. The content of the pages of the FPSB Member Forum is for your general information and use only. It is subject to change without notice.

3. Neither FPSB nor any third parties provide any warranty or guarantee as to the accuracy, timeliness, performance, completeness or suitability of the information and materials found or offered on the Member Forum for any particular purpose. You acknowledge that such information and materials may contain inaccuracies or errors and we expressly exclude liability for any such inaccuracies or errors to the fullest extent permitted by law.

4. Your use of any information or materials on the Member Forum is entirely at your own risk, for which we shall not be liable. Neither FPSB nor any party involved in creating, producing or delivering the Member Forum will be liable for any damages arising out of its use even if FPSB or the other party has been advised of the possibility of such damages. Because some jurisdictions prohibit the exclusion or limitation of liability for consequential or incidental damages, this limitation may not apply to you. It is your responsibility to ensure that any products, services or information available through this website meet your specific requirements.

5. The Member Forum contains material which is owned by or licensed to us. This material includes the design, layout, look, appearance and graphics. Reproduction is prohibited other than in accordance with FPSB’s copyright notice, which forms part of these terms and conditions.

6. FPSB may monitor or review discussions, postings or other transmissions on the Member Forum, but is under no duty to do so and assumes no responsibility or liability arising from such matters nor for any error, defamation, libel, slander, omission, obscenity, pornography, or inaccuracy contained in any such discussion, posting or transmission. You are prohibited from posting or transmitting any unlawful, threatening, libelous, defamatory, obscene, pornographic or erroneous material or otherwise violating any law through use of the Member Forum. FPSB will cooperate with law enforcement authorities or court orders seeking the identity of anyone posting such information or materials.