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CFP Board Responds: Certification Aids Planners, Firms & Clients

A recent news article ("CFP Board Suspends Probe After Advisor Drops CFP," Oct. 9) broadly questions the reputation and practices of CFP Board and its leadership through the narrow perspective of a single planner.

We know from research and feedback from thousands of CFP professionals that CFP certification -- and the work of CFP Board -- is good for individual planners, and also good for their firms and clients. 

CFP Board's responsibility as a 501(c)(3) non-profit is to protect and preserve the integrity of the CFP certification -- for the benefit of financial planners and the American public alike. With this comes an obligation to uphold our Standards of Professional Conduct, including our disciplinary rules and procedures, which were developed in close collaboration with practicing CFP professionals and other stakeholders. 

CFP Board has full confidence in the fairness and effectiveness of our rules, procedures and investigative processes.

CFP Board's rules ensure CFP professionals are held to the highest professional standards, including in education, examination, experience and ethics.  These standards -- the most rigorous in financial planning -- are just one of the reasons that CFP professionals overwhelmingly value the certification: 92% say they are very satisfied with their decision to pursue CFP certification and 97% chose to retain their certification last year. 

Kevin Keller is CEO of the CFP Board of Standards.

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