As you begin the process of finding a financial planner, you need to feel confident that the person you choose to help you plan for your future is competent and ethical. The CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification provides that sense of security. While almost anyone can call themselves a financial planner, only those individuals who have fulfilled the certification and renewal requirements of CFP Board can display the CFP® certification marks, which represent a high level of competency, ethics and professionalism. CFP® professionals must meet the following requirements:
Education: CFP® professionals must develop their theoretical and practical financial planning knowledge by completing a comprehensive course of study at a college or university offering a financial planning curriculum approved by CFP Board. Other options for satisfying the education component include submitting a transcript review or previous financial planning-related coursework to CFP Board for review and credit, or showing the attainment of certain professional designations or academic degrees.
Examination: CFP® practitioners must pass a comprehensive two-day, 10-hour CFP® Certification Examination that tests their ability to apply financial planning knowledge in an integrated format. Based on regular research of what planners do, the exam covers the financial planning process, tax planning, employee benefits and retirement planning, estate planning, investment management and insurance.
Experience: CFP® professionals must have three years minimum experience in the financial planning process prior to earning the right to use the CFP® certification marks. As a result, CFP® practitioners possess financial counseling skills in addition to financial planning knowledge.
Ethics: As a final step to certification, CFP® practitioners agree to abide by a strict code of professional conduct, known as CFP Board’s Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility, that sets forth their ethical responsibilities to the public, clients and employers. CFP Board also performs a background check during this process, and each individual must disclose any investigations or legal proceedings related to their professional or business conduct.
At Yerba Buena Financial Partners, we’ve embraced the standards upheld by the CFP Board, and Bruce Frankel, our managing partner, is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional. As a result, you can be confident that we’ll act with integrity, offering you professional services that are objective and based on your specific needs. In addition, you’ll know that continuing education requirements mean we’re up-to-date on the latest developments in the financial planning profession.
Let’s Make a Plan.
