Attaining professional recognition for going above and beyond the standard in your profession makes you stand out from the crowd, and in the world of financial planning, this is particularly true.
Specifically, many clients are now seeking financial advisors with the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) designation from the National Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards. The CFP designation lets clients know that you have attained a high degree of education and experience and that you have proven your skills and knowledge by passing a rigorous industry examination.
CFPs also adhere to a strict code of ethics, thereby providing clients with the peace of mind that their financial planner is more than prepared to handle all of their financial and investment needs.
Who is the Certified Financial Planner?
To achieve the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) designation, you must take a number of required courses, including insurance, investing, retirement, taxes, and estate planning. Upon the completion of these courses, you must then pass a 10-hour examination that includes no less than 285 questions and is designed to ensure your competence in all areas of financial planning.
You must also be prepared to serve a two-year apprenticeship under an established CFP to further hone your skill set.
Like general practitioners in medicine, CFPs are skilled to provide their clients with advice and guidance in any number of financial or investment issues. It therefore holds the distinction of being the most prestigious title in financial planning.
Requirements for Becoming a CFP
The basic qualification needed to become a CFP is a degree from a recognized college or university that offers a financial planning curriculum approved by the CFP Board. Further, the CFP Board requires at least 3 years of practical experience in the financial planning field.
All candidates for the CFP designation must undergo a background check to ensure a high degree of professional and personal ethics, and they must disclose any legal investigations or proceedings, both from a personal and professional standpoint, to the CFB Board, for consideration.