CFP - Certified Financial Planner

Certified Financial Planner® certification is the industry gold standard in financial planning. CFP professionals are the largest identifiable body of licensed financial planners in Canada with over 17,500 individuals meeting the strict standards to attain this designation.

However, since financial planning is not regulated in most Canadian provinces, anyone can call themselves a "financial planner"; but not everyone who refers to themselves as a planner is indeed qualified. In the absence of government regulation, Canadians seeking competent and ethical financial planning services should look for the CFP mark. CFP certification provides assurance that the planner is committed to internationally-recognized professional standards of competence, ethics and practice as set and enforced in Canada by FPSC.

Requirements for CFP designation

  • completion of a thorough education in financial planning;
  • successful completion of rigorous standardized examinations;
  • financial planning-related work experience; and,
  • an ethical commitment to put the client's interest first.

CFP professionals are also held to ongoing rigorous standards through FPSC's continuing education requirements and enforcement processes.

CFP - certified financial planner