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Becoming a Financial Planner

Professional financial planners certified by FP Canada™ undergo rigorous training and credentialing process that is laser-focused on ethics, rules of conduct and standards. This process ensures they’re able to provide Canadians with trusted financial guidance, qualified advice and meaningful support.

 

Education

QAFP® professionals and CFP® professionals must gain knowledge and skills in six key areas of financial planning, and develop strong communication skills and in-depth understanding of their ethical obligations.

Exam

Passing an FP Canada exam is mandatory to gain certification. The competency-based exam tests whether individuals can apply financial planning knowledge to real-life situations to show they are qualified to provide financial planning services.

Experience

Financial planning work experience is a hands-on demonstration of expert knowledge and skills, and is another required step to certification – one year for QAFP professionals, and three years for CFP professionals.

Ethics

QAFP professionals and CFP professionals must adhere to the principles set out in the FP Canada Standards Council Standards of Professional Responsibility including, for example, to act with honesty and integrity, to respect confidentiality, and to put their clients’ interests first.  

Designing a Roadmap for Your Life

Financial planning professionals take a big-picture approach to your financial situation and can help design a roadmap for your financial goals across six key areas:

  • Financial Management
  • Investment Planning
  • Tax Planning
  • Retirement Planning
  • Estate Planning
  • Risk Management and Insurance Planning

What's next?

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