CFP® Certification: The Standard of Excellence
We often get asked about what makes a Certified Financial Planner™ different from a financial planner, and the difference is significant when it comes to choosing someone to manage all the pieces of your financial life.
Financial planning requires looking beyond your investment portfolio at the bigger picture of the four cornerstones of wealth: investment, banking and lending, risk management and trust and estate planning and brings all those pieces together into one manageable plan. Certified Financial Planners™ are equipped with the skills and expertise to create comprehensive financial plans to meet your unique needs.
Many professionals call themselves financial planners, but not all financial planners are certified and not all certifications are the same. CFP® certification is considered the standard of excellence for financial planners because of the extensive education and examination, experience requirements and commitment to CFP Board’s ethical standards – or what CFP Board refers to as the four Es.
Education
In addition to holding a bachelor’s degree or higher, CFP® professionals must develop their theoretical and practical knowledge by completing coursework on financial planning through a CFP Board approved program. Coursework focuses on major personal financial planning areas such as: Professional Conduct and Regulation, General Principles of Financial Planning, Education Planning, Risk Management and Insurance Planning, Investment Planning, Tax Planning, Retirement Savings and Income Planning, Estate Planning and Financial Plan Development.
Examination
CFP® professionals must pass the CFP exam, which tests the application of coursework concepts to real-life situations. The comprehensive exam ensures CFP® professionals are qualified to develop a plan for your finances.
Experience
Hands-on experience prepares CFP® candidates to provide personal financial planning to the public. All CFP® professionals must complete thousands of hours of professional experience before earning the right to display CFP® certification marks.
Ethics
All CFP® professionals commit to comply with CFP Board’s Code of Ethics and Standards of Conduct, and CFP Board has taken several steps to enforce the Code and Standards. This commitment to ethical standards gives clients the confidence that their financial advisor will always put their best interests first when providing financial advice.
At Strong Gaddy Lee Wealth Management, we are proud of our team approach to financial planning so you benefit from experienced professionals with diverse skills and areas of expertise. And because our team is led by two CFP® professionals you can have confidence in knowing that we are here to serve your best interests so you can pursue the financial life you desire.
CAR#1-05020123
