Personal Financial Planner (PFP®)

The premier credential for financial planners

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What is the Personal Financial Planner (PFP®) designation?

The Personal Financial Planner (PFP®) designation is a leading credential for comprehensive financial planning in Canada, recognized by Canada’s largest financial institutions. It ensures that financial professionals have the knowledge and skills to address all aspects of a client’s financial situation.

The PFP® Professional Competency Profile provides an overview of the responsibilities, skills and knowledge that are unique to someone who holds the PFP® designation. It is the foundational document for the Personal Financial Planner (PFP®) designation that describes the required competencies (i.e., the knowledge, skills and abilities) of professionals awarded the designation.

The PFP® is approved by the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario for using the Financial Planner title in the province of Ontario.

When you earn the PFP®, you will hold the premier designation recognized and adopted by Canada’s largest financial institutions and held to the highest standards through its ISO 17024 accreditation.

What is the PFP® Competency Profile?

The Competency Profile is the defining resource for what a financial planner can and should do in practice. As such, it is used to set the requirements for the pre-requisite education programs, the work experience component, the Applied Financial Planning Certification Examination and for continuing education requirements.

As the PFP® designation continues to progress to meet the changing needs of clients, employers and most recently regulators, CSI revises the Competency Profile every 5 years through an extensive consultative process involving a range of stakeholders. The last review was completed in 2021 with a new profile now available. Download your copy of the 2022 PFP® Competency Profile.

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Meeting the Highest Standards: ISO 17024 Accreditation

The PFP® is one of only four financial services credentials to meet the highest certification standards in North America: ISO 17024, granted by the American National Standards Institute in 2012. ISO 17024 acknowledges that:

CSI meets recognized global standards for certification bodies
Those who earn the PFP® letters meet the most rigorous requirements for competency and professionalism

What is the Financial Planning Regulation in Canada?

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Ontario

The Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario (FRSA) regulation (Financial Professionals Title Protection Act, 2019)  came into effect in March 2022. This regulation limits the use of the “financial planner” title in Ontario to individuals who have obtained a credential from a credentialing body approved by FSRA.

CSI is approved as a credentialing body by the FRSA under the Financial Professionals Title Protection Framework. Our Personal Financial Planner (PFP®) designation is approved under this framework, and present and future PFP® designation holders in good standing may use the Financial Planning title in Ontario.

Saskatchewan

The Financial and Consumer Affairs Authority of Saskatchewan (FCAA or the Authority) publishing for comment Proposed Regulations [2021-001] – The Financial Planners and Financial Advisors Regulations (the Proposed Regulations) under The Financial Planners and Financial Advisors Act (FPFAA). This legislation is intended to limit the use of the titles of “financial planner” and “financial advisor.” It is still in the public comment phase.

New Brunswick

The Financial and Consumer Services Commission of New Brunswick (“FCNB”) is seeking public comment on potential approaches to the regulation of the titles “Financial Planner” and “Financial Advisor” in New Brunswick.

Quebec

The PFP® designation cannot be used in Quebec due to provincial regulations. To use the title “Financial Planner” in Quebec, individuals must hold the Pl. Fin. designation. CSI has a Financial Planning Education Program for Quebec, which prepares individuals to attain the Pl. Fin designation.