Financial planners who go on to earn professional certifications may enjoy even greater benefits. Becoming a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER TMprofessional, for example, shows potential clients and employers that you have met extensive training and experience requirements and are committed to high ethical and professional standards. CFP® professionals consistently say their certification gives them a competitive edge over other advisors, increases their credibility with clients, and boosts their income and career satisfaction.Financial planning can help you reach your goals in life. It also a profession that offers rewarding and flexible careers.
If you decide to become a CFP® professional, you must complete the following four requirements:
Education: You must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university and complete a financial planning program that has been approved by CFP Board. If you have an advanced degree or hold other professional designations, you may be able to skip some of these coursework requirements.
Exam: Once you’ve completed the education requirement, you are ready to take the CFP® exam. This comprehensive exam tests your ability to apply financial planning knowledge to real-life situations, emphasizing critical thinking and problem-solving skills over factual recall or recognition. It covers the financial planning process, risk management and insurance, and other important topics.
Experience: You must also complete at least two to three years of financial planning experience to qualify for CFP® certification. This experience may be gained through a professional position or an apprenticeship, and it may be completed either before or after you pass the CFP® exam. You can earn qualifying experience in several ways, from engaging with clients directly to supporting the financial planning process to teaching financial planning-related courses.
Ethics: All CFP® professionals commit to CFP Board’s Code of Ethics and Standards of Conduct, meaning they agree to adhere to high ethical and professional standards for the practice of financial planning. Importantly, the Code and Standards include a commitment to CFP Board to act as a fiduciary — that is, to put their clients’ best interests first — when providing financial advice. You will also need to disclose information about your background, as CFP Board will conduct a detailed background check. Benefits of the CPF
There are several benefits to becoming an IAF Certified TM Professional Facilitator (CPF), both during the assessment process, and as well as upon successful completion.
During the assessment process, a facilitator is able to:
Reflect on his or her facilitation practice relative to the IAF Core Competencies;
Benchmark his or her facilitation skills against a set of carefully researched, internationally recognised, and successfully tested competencies;
Experience the facilitation skills of other facilitators;
Receive confidential, individual feedback from independent professional facilitators, which can serve as invaluable input to ongoing professional development;
Upon successful competition of the CPF assessment, the facilitator will:
Receive a formal certificate for display;
Be entitled to use the IAF Certified TM Professional Facilitator designation, for as long as IAF membership is maintained and recertification is undertaken every three years;
Join a respected group of certified professional facilitators;
Gain the competitive advantage of being listed in the Association’s online Directory of IAF Certified TM Professional Facilitators.
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