The initial CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification process rests on the ‘Four Es’ (Education, Examination, Experience and Ethics). To become certified to use the CFP marks, an individual must meet country-specific requirements in the following areas:

Education: Candidates for CFP certification must master theoretical and practical personal financial planning knowledge by completing a comprehensive course of study which is approved by FPSB Ireland.

Examination: Candidates for CFP certification must pass a comprehensive CFP Certification Examination that tests their ability to apply integrated financial planning knowledge to real world client situations. Based on regular research of what planners do, the CFP Certification Examination covers the financial planning process, tax planning, employee benefits and retirement planning, estate planning, investment management and insurance.

Experience: Candidates for CFP certification must have a minimum of three years’ experience in the personal financial planning process prior to being awarded CFP certification to ensure that they possess financial counselling skills in addition to personal financial planning knowledge.

Ethics: As a final step to certification, candidates for CFP certification must agree to abide by a strict Code of Ethics that defines their ethical responsibilities to the public, clients and employers. CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER professionals must disclose any investigations or legal proceedings related to their professional or business conduct and agree to act fairly, diligently and with integrity, offering clients professional services that are objective and based on clients’ needs. CFP professionals must disclose in writing to clients information about their sources of compensation and conflicts of interest.