What does being a CFP® (Certified Financial Planner) mean?
 
The CFP certification is awarded to individuals who have successfully completed the certification requirements of the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. To obtain the CFP certification, the following qualifications must be met:


  • Examination. An individual must successfully complete the CFP Board’s Comprehensive Certification Examination, which tests the individual’s knowledge on a multitude of key financial planning topics.  This is an intense test taken over two days and is considered the 'Bar Exam' of our industry.

 

  • Experience. An individual must have three to five years of practical, hands on financial planning experience prior to receiving the right to use the CFP designation.

 

  • Ethics. An individual must voluntarily ascribe to the CFP Board’s Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility. This voluntary decision empowers the CFP Board to take action if a CFP professional should violate the code of ethics. Such violations could lead to disciplinary action, including the permanent revocation of the right to use the CFP marks.

 

  • Education. A CFP professional must obtain 30 hours of continuing education every two years in the body of knowledge pertaining to financial planning areas such as estate planning, retirement planning, investment management, tax planning, employee benefits, and insurance.