What is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP)?

A CFP is the holder of a qualification issued by the Financial Planning Standards Board, which seeks to build public confidence in the value of personal financial advice. Once qualified, a CFP will be required to take further examinations in the future to maintain their credentials.

Where have you heard about CFPs?

As an investor you may have seen marketing material for financial advisory firms in which one or more of their personnel are described as CFPs.

Your own adviser may hold a CFP certificate. Financial media comment on and sometimes rank the qualifications available in this area.

What you need to know about CFPs.

A CFP is someone who has passed a rigorous set of exams covering all aspects of personal finance, from tax and investment through pension planning, insurance and estate planning. They will have to take further exams if they are to keep their certificate in order to stay abreast of developments.

The purpose of the CFP qualification is to put financial advice on a fully professional basis. The board says it aspires to a future "in which consumers can readily identify competent and ethical financial planners who place clients’ interests first, a future in which practitioners aspire to the highest levels of professionalism".

Find out more about CFPs.

CFPs are part of the wider community of financial advisers.