About FP Canada™

Established in 1995, FP Canada™ is a national not for profit education, certification and professional oversight organization working in the public interest. FP Canada is dedicated to championing better financial wellness for all Canadians by leading the advancement of professional financial planning in Canada.

At a high level, FP Canada sets the strategic direction for professional financial planning in Canada. FP Canada also achieves its mandate through two distinct divisions. Through the FP Canada Standards Council™ division, FP Canada establishes financial planning standards and enforces those standards among FP Canada certificants—Qualified Associate Financial Planner™ professionals and Certified Financial Planner® professionals. Through the FP Canada Institute™ division, which is dedicated to elevating the practice of financial planning, FP Canada provides education, tools, and resources to help financial planners meet the needs of all Canadians.

FP Canada operates in all provinces except Québec; however, through a strategic partnership with l’Institut de planification financière, the only body in Québec authorized to confer financial planning diplomas, FP Canada’s standards are adopted nationally. There are about 17,500 CFP professionals and about 1,400 QAFP professionals (as of March 31, 2024), who meet FP Canada’s standards.

In Ontario, FP Canada has been approved by the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario (FSRA) as a credentialing body to grant and oversee Financial Planner title use under the Financial Professionals Title Protection Act, 2019. Certified Financial Planner certification and Qualified Associate Financial Planner certification have been approved by FSRA for use of the Financial Planner title in Ontario.

In other provinces, with the exception of Québec, those who call themselves financial planners are not required to obtain any credentials whatsoever. At FP Canada, we believe that everyone using the financial planner title should be required to meet minimum standards of education and experience, subject to stringent ethical requirements, actively supervised by a recognized credentialing body and subject to a rigorous complaints and discipline process. These requirements are met by all CFP professionals and QAFP professionals.

Regulating the use of the Financial Planner title benefits consumers by providing them with the clarity and confidence they need when seeking professional financial planning advice to help them achieve financial wellness.

 

Learn More

Read the FAQ: FP Canada & Paths to Certification
Learn about FP Canada certifications
Read more about FP Canada’s role for the public

 

About the FP Canada Institute

The FP Canada Institute™, a division of FP Canada™, is dedicated to elevating the practice of financial planning through education and practice support that is affiliated with Canada's most trusted partner in professional financial planning. Well-suited to a changing, fast-paced world, the Institute offers individuals and industry partners a (new), direct, end-to-end learning path that integrates technical and professional skills education in support of QAFP® certification and CFP® certification. The FP Canada Institute: Trusted. End-to-End. Excellence.

Read the FAQ: FP Canada & Paths to Certification

 

About the FP Canada Standards Council

A division of FP Canada, the FP Canada Standards Council ("the Standards Council") establishes and enforces financial planning standards, sets the certification requirements for professional financial planners and develops and delivers certification examinations. The Standards Council ensures FP Canada certificants—Qualified Associate Financial Planner professionals and Certified Financial Planner professionals—meet appropriate standards of competence and professionalism through rigorous requirements of education, examination, experience, and ethics.

The Standards of Professional Responsibility, set and enforced by the Standards Council, define the ethical and professional responsibilities of FP Canada certificants. By ensuring adherence to these standards, the Standards Council protects both the Canadian public and the reputation of the financial planning profession. The Standards Council thoroughly investigates all allegations of misconduct with respect to FP Canada certificants and exercises disciplinary action when appropriate.

Read the FAQ: FP Canada & Paths to Certification

 

About the Canadian Foundation for Financial Planning

Up until May 2023, research was funded and released under the Canadian Foundation for Financial Planning's former name, the FP Canada Research Foundation. The organization funded research designed to improve the financial well-being of all Canadians by examining ongoing practices in financial planning decision-making, the impact of human behaviour on effective financial planning and the benefits of financial planning on society as a whole. Explore the research page to access the full research reports, research summaries and practice notes developed as part of that work.

Learn More about the Canadian Foundation for Financial Planning
Donate

 

Partners in the Profession

FP Canada pursues its mandate with the support of its partners in the financial planning profession. This includes organizations that oversee the certification of financial planners in other jurisdictions, as well as regulatory bodies and representatives from the financial services industry. In particular, the Institut de planification financière is a Proud Partner of FP Canada. It is the only organization in Québec authorized to grant financial planning diplomas.

Learn more about Partners in the Profession

 

FP Canada Management & Governance

FP Canada fulfills its mandate under the leadership of its Board of Directors and Executive Leadership Team, with the support of three standing Board Committees, four independent Panels and several Partners in the Profession.

Board of Directors
Executive Leadership Team
Committees & Panels

 

Commitment to Accessibility

FP Canada is committed to ensuring equal access and participation for people with disabilities. We are committed to treating people with disabilities in a way that allows them to maintain their dignity and independence. We believe in integration and we are committed to meeting the needs of people with disabilities in a timely manner. We will do so by removing and preventing barriers to accessibility and meeting our accessibility requirements under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 and Ontario’s accessibility laws.
Accessibility Policy

 

Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

FP Canada believes in the value that comes from different perspectives and experiences. We are committed to pursuing diversity, equity and inclusion within the organization and across the broader financial planning profession. We monitor regularly and report annually on our progress in these areas.

  • Governance: To demonstrate FP Canada’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, in June 2023, FP Canada joined the 50-30 Challenge; an initiative co-created by the Government of Canada, civil society and the private sector that aims to attain gender parity (50%) and significant representation of members of other equity deserving groups (at least 30%) on Canadian Boards and/or in senior management in order to build a more diverse, inclusive, and vibrant economic future for Canadians. Participating organizations agree to voluntarily take action towards achieving meaningful and substantive improvements in supporting diversity and inclusion within their organization.
  • Organization: FP Canada is committed to fostering a workplace that celebrates diversity, promotes equity, and embraces inclusion. We believe that creating an inclusive and diverse environment is crucial for driving innovation, enhancing productivity, and cultivating a strong and cohesive community.
  • Financial Planning Profession: Imagine 2030 is FP Canada’s vision for a future in which all Canadians have access to professional financial planning that supports their diverse needs. As part of this vision, FP Canada is committed to working with partners across the financial planning profession to improve diversity, equity, and inclusion in the profession for the benefit of all Canadians.

 

Commitment to Impartiality

FP Canada’s Executive Leadership Team and entire staff are committed to ensuring impartiality and objectivity in all our activities, including certification, education and professional oversight. FP Canada undertakes to act impartially in relation to its students, candidates, certificants and all other stakeholders, and all of FP Canada’s policies and procedures are designed to be fair and consistent. FP Canada identifies and assesses risks that may result in a conflict of interest or pose a threat to impartiality.

FP Canada employees, volunteers and contractors also acknowledge the importance of impartiality and the consideration of any potential conflict of interest in carrying out their activities, including certification and education. Conflicts of interest and objectivity are addressed through a strong governance structure, comprehensive policies and procedures and binding agreements to ensure that all activities are conducted in an independent and impartial manner.

 

Commitment to Quality

FP Canada is committed to quality outcomes and continual improvement as we strive to achieve our Purpose and satisfy business requirements. Dedicated to maintaining quality standards, FP Canada employs a robust Quality Management System, which is a formalized system to document processes, procedures and responsibilities for achieving quality policies and objectives.

 

Public Policy Submissions

FP Canada regularly contributes to discussions with government officials, regulators and other stakeholders on issues that impact the financial planning profession in Canada and worldwide. We work to ensure that FP Canada’s standards for professional financial planning are incorporated into legislation, regulation and rules, advancing our goals to professionalize financial planning, reduce consumer confusion, instill confidence in financial planning and help to safeguard and enhance the financial well-being of all Canadians.

View Public Policy Submissions

 

International

FP Canada is part of an international network of 26 territories that confer CFP certification around the world, through their affiliation with the not-for-profit Financial Planning Standards Board (FPSB). There are more than 175,000 CFP professionals worldwide. Canada has the fourth largest number of CFP professionals worldwide, behind only the United States, Japan and China.

 

Financial Planning Week

Created by FP Canada and the Institut québécois de planification financière (IQPF), (now l’Institut de planification financière) in 2009, Financial Planning Week is dedicated to raising awareness among all Canadians of the importance and benefits of professional financial planning.

Learn More about Financial Planning Week

 

Recognition & Awards

FP Canada is pleased to recognize individuals who contribute to excellence in financial planning through the following programs:

Donald J. Johnston Lifetime Achievement Award in Financial Planning
FP Canada Fellow Distinction
President’s List

 

History

FP Canada’s predecessor organization was incorporated in 1995. Since that time, FP Canada has become the premier standards-setter for financial planning in Canada, elevating the standards of the CFP designation and establishing CFP certification as the standard for financial planners.

Explore FP Canada’s history

 

Fairness Commissioner

The Fairness Commissioner conducts impartial and unbiased third-party reviews of complaints by an FP Canada certificant regarding FP Canada’s processes.

Learn More about the Fairness Commissioner
Make a Complaint

 

Contact Us

Address

902-375 University Ave, Toronto, ON M5G 2J5

Fax

416-593-7412

Hours of Operation

Monday to Friday
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET