CFP® professionals and QAFP™ professionals demonstrate to their clients and colleagues that they have the knowledge, skills, experience and professional ethics to meet the financial planning needs of Canadians and help them achieve financial well-being.
ADVANCING PROFESSIONAL FINANCIAL PLANNING
FP Canada™’s predecessor, the Financial Planning Standards Council, was founded 25 years ago on the premise that financial planning is critically important to society, and therefore Canadians must be served by true professionals to ensure high standards of competence and ethics, in the public interest. Over the years, there has been a steady and successful effort to elevate financial planning for the benefit of the public, and at the same time, to increase understanding of its importance to society.
A high bar for certification
Setting a high bar for financial planners helps Canadians feel confident about the advice they receive.
Like all professionals, 21st century financial planners must:
- have clearly defined, unique knowledge, skills and abilities requiring specialized study and higher learning
- obtain their certification through a rigorous process overseen by an independent professional body
- be accountable to high standards of practice and conduct
- commit to continuous professional development and to always putting clients’ interests ahead of their own
PROMOTING PROFESSIONAL FINANCIAL PLANNING TO CANADIANS
Consumers are at the core of FP Canada’s commitment to championing better financial wellness for all Canadians by advancing professional financial planning.
FP Canada Consumer Advocate Kelley Keehn helps educate Canadians about the importance of financial planning with a qualified professional through her articles, media interviews, and
presentations at conferences and other events.
FP Canada resources to help consumers learn about the value of financial planning include:
- Find a Planner Tool – to locate a professional financial planner in a specific area or verify a planner’s certification status
- Financial Planning for Canadians website – a stand-alone site with articles, videos, infographics and more
- Social media – news updates and timely information such as FP Canada’s COVID-19 resources
Consumer research provides insights on knowledge and behaviour
re: financial planning
The Discomfort Index survey asked Canadians to rank their level of comfort/discomfort when discussing money and identify who they’re willing to talk to about their finances.
FINANCIAL PLANNING WEEK
FP Canada’s 11th annual Financial Planning Week in November 2019 was a great success:
- Record high attendance, sponsorship and delegate satisfaction – over 93% plan to attend again
- CFP Professional Symposiums, Ethics Breakfasts in Toronto and Vancouver, and the Celebration of the Profession Reception and Dinner drew over 1,300 financial planners
PRESIDENT'S LIST
This prestigious list honours CFP exam candidates with the highest scores across Canada.
June 2019 Exam
Chris Hughes
Winnipeg, MB
1st Place
1st Place
Vaughn Hoskins
St. John's, NL
2nd Place
2nd Place
Andrew Porteous
Richmond Hill, ON
3rd Place
3rd Place
November 2019 Exam
MIchelle Seymour
Calgary, AB
1st Place
1st Place
Garrett Boekestyn
Listowel, ON
2nd Place
2nd Place
Trevor Skidmore
Winnipeg, MB
3rd Place
3rd Place
2019 FP CANADA FELLOWS
The FP Canada™ Fellow distinction recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to FP Canada in advancing professional financial planning in Canada. FP Canada Fellow candidates are nominated by their peers, and recipients are selected by an independent committee.
Jocelyne Houle-LeSarge
Ms. Houle-LeSarge is the President, CEO and Secretary of the IQPF. She has made many meaningful contributions to the financial planning profession in Québec, and played a leading role in helping
unify the profession in Canada, including the recent establishment of IQPF as a proud partner of FP Canada.
Gilles Sinclair
Mr. Sinclair has played a significant role in the advancement of professional financial planning in Canada as an active volunteer. Through his service on the Board of Directors for FP Canada’s
predecessor organization, and as former Chair of IQPF, he helped to establish a strong relationship between FP Canada and IQPF.
FP CANADA FOUNDATION RESEARCH AND RESOURCES
The FP Canada Research Foundation™ is an independent registered charity that funds, promotes and disseminates financial planning research for the benefit of Canadians.
The Foundation funds two types of original research:
- Technical and behavioural studies that enhance the practice of financial planning delivered to Canadians
- Research that examines the impact of financial planning on society as a whole
