About FP Canada™

About the FP Canada Institute™

A division of FP Canada, the FP Canada Institute; is dedicated to elevating the practice of financial planning. The FP Canada Institute provides professional education, practice support tools and other resources to financial planners and financial planning students to help them meet the needs and expectations of all Canadians seeking financial planning advice from a certified professional.

The FP Canada Institute currently offers three e-learning programs: Introduction to Professional Ethics (IPE), the CFP Professional Education Program, and the QAFP Professional Education Program (available in mid-2020). These e-learning programs help prospective and existing financial planners apply their technical knowledge, learn key facets of human behaviour that affect the planning engagement and decision-making, and develop essential professional skills in the areas of communications, critical thinking and ethics. These programs complement the Core Curriculum and Advanced Curriculum Programs offered by colleges, universities and third-party educators on the paths to certification. In the years ahead, the FP Canada Institute will be adding more education programs and developing tools and other resources to enrich financial planners’ knowledge and skills and equip them with the tools to serve clients as effectively as possible.

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 FP Canada Research Foundation™

The FP Canada Research Foundation is an independently operated registered charity administered with the support of FP Canada and the Institut québécois de planification financière (IQPF). The Foundation’s mission is to fund, promote and disseminate financial planning research for the benefit of Canadians. As the financial planning profession continues to evolve and clients’ needs become increasingly complex, planners need practical techniques founded on solid, quantifiable research that can help them stay ahead of the curve.

The FP Canada Research Foundation is committed to providing this type of ground-breaking research. Its focus includes technical research that tests financial planning strategies and challenges existing models to ensure Canadians are getting the best advice to suit their unique circumstances. In addition, the Foundation facilitates important research into behavioural considerations and the impact of financial planning on society.

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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 québécois de planification financière (IQPF) is a Proud Partner of FP Canada. IQPF 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.

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: FP Canada is committed to maintaining a Board of Directors and Executive Leadership Team with a diverse mix of experience, skills and backgrounds, with at least 50 per cent of individuals identifying as a member of a designated group (as outlined in the Canada Business Corporations Act) including women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities and members of visible minorities.
• Organization: FP Canada is committed to maintaining a diverse staff and volunteer base reflective of Canada’s population, and to ensuring an inclusive and equitable working environment in which all voices feel heard.
• Financial Planning Profession: IMAGINE 2030 is FP Canada’s vision for the 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 continuous 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.

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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) 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:

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.

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