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Working With A CFP® 

WHY WORK WITH A CFP?                                                                                        

WHAT IS THE CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERTM CERTIFICATION?

CFP® CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

Working with a CFP® professional is an important first step toward reaching your financial goals. As part of the certification, these advisors meet rigorous education and experience requirements, and they commit to high ethical and professional standards.

ETHICS MATTER

When you choose a financial advisor, you’re looking for a partner to help you achieve your goals. CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERTM professionals understand the responsibility of being entrusted with your future, so they choose to commit to a high standard of behavior. To become certified, in addition to meeting education, examination and experience requirements, candidates must make a commitment to CFP Board to abide by standards set forth in CFP Board’s Code of Ethics and Standards of Conduct.

The Code of Ethics lists the principles that guide a CFP® professional’s behavior. The Standards of Conduct elaborate on several “duties” that a CFP® professional must fulfill as part of their certification. The cornerstone of the Code and Standards is a CFP® professional’s duty to act as a fiduciary.

THE CODE OF ETHICS

As part of their certification, a CFP® professional agrees to a Code of Ethics that requires them to:

  • Act with honesty, integrity, competence, and diligence.
    Exercise due care.
  • Maintain the confidentiality and protect the privacy of client information.
  • Act in the client’s best interests.
  • Avoid or disclose and manage conflicts of interest.
  • Act in a manner that reflects positively on the financial planning profession and CFP® certification.

You want a financial advisor who has made a commitment to you to act as a fiduciary. Therefore, whomever you choose as your financial professional, including a CFP® professional, you should be sure to ask for—and get—a written engagement that requires them to have a fiduciary obligation to you.

THE FIDUCIARY DUTY

As part of their certification, a CFP® professional commits to CFP Board’s Fiduciary Duty. A CFP® professional commits to CFP Board that they will act as a fiduciary, and therefore, act in their client’s best interests, at all times when providing financial advice to a client.

That means your CFP® professional has made a commitment to CFP Board to:

  • Place your interests above their own interests, or the interests of their firm.
  • Disclose conflicts of interest to you, obtaining your informed consent and properly managing the conflict.
  • Continue to put your interests first, even when acting under a conflict of interest.
  • Comply with the terms of the client engagement and follow your directions, so long as they are reasonable and lawful.
  • Act with care, skill, prudence and diligence based on your goals, risk tolerance, objective, financial status and personal circumstances.

A RESPECTED PARTNER

The financial services industry is always evolving, but through it all, the CFP® certification remains a high standard for you to consider when choosing the right financial advisor for your plan.


CFP® certification marks are owned by Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. (CFP Board). Individuals certified by CFP Board have taken the extra step to demonstrate their professionalism by voluntarily submitting to the CFP® certification process that includes education, examination, experience and ethical requirements.

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