Governing Body – Financial Planners Standards Council (FPSC)

A Certified Financial Planner® professional – recognizable by the CFP marks after a planner’s name – has achieved and maintains internationally recognized standards of knowledge, skills, abilities and ethics. The CFP designation provides assurance to Canadians that the design of their financial future rests with an appropriately qualified professional who will put clients’ interests ahead of their own.

The CFP designation is recognized internationally for excellence in financial planning. There are approximately 17,000 CFP professionals across Canada, part of an international network of 150,000 individuals who have earned CFP certification in 26 territories around the world.

Why is the designation of your financial planner so important? In most Canadian provinces, there is no legislated standard in place for those who offer financial planning services. With the exception of Quebec, people who call themselves financial planners are not required to obtain any credentials whatsoever.

CFP professionals demonstrate their financial planning competence through extensive education, a rigorous standardized national examination process, comprehensive continuing education requirements and accountability to FPSC for a code of ethics, practice standards, and the rules and regulations of their professional body.

Look for the CFP marks to ensure you are receiving the standard in financial planning. Don’t settle for less.

Governing Body – The Institute for Advanced Financial Education (IAFE)

The Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU®) designation is Canada’s premier wealth transfer and estate planning designation.

The CLU is an advanced designation that expands on the knowledge gained in the CFP®education program with a focus on estate planning and wealth transfer.

What it does

The CLU designation provides the education needed to differentiate one’s practice in complex wealth and estate-transfer markets placing CLU designation-holders in the unique position of helping Canadians build and preserve wealth.

How it helps you

The Association was granted the authority by Act of Parliament to confer the CLU designation as far back as 1924.

The CLU is recognized as an elite designation in the financial services industry and is respected by clients and financial practitioners alike.

Governing Body – Canadian Securities Institute (CSI)

The Chartered Investment Manager (CIM®) Designation is a leading industry standard that is recognized by the Canadian securities regulators. It ensures that those who earn it have the knowledge, skills and tools necessary to evaluate and manage the most complex aspects of your investment portfolio.

An important aspect when shopping around for a suitable advisor is to find an expert who is not only capable of providing you with advanced service and advice but is also held to a high professional standard that encompasses both best practices and ongoing continued education. All CIM® professionals are required to abide by a Code of Ethics and must fulfill work experience and ongoing educational requirements.