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Number of CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER Professionals Worldwide Tops 192,000

4 March 2021

PRESS RELEASE

Number of CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER Professionals Worldwide Tops 192,000

Financial Planning Standards Board Announces Steady Growth Despite Challenging 2020

NEW YORK – 4 MARCH 2021 – Financial Planning Standards Board Ltd. (FPSB), the standards-setting body for the global financial planning profession and owner of the international CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER certification program outside the United States, reported steady growth in the number of CFP professionals worldwide last year, despite the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. With a net gain of 4,658 CFP professionals, FPSB and its global network of affiliate organizations grew the number of CFP professionals worldwide by 2.5 percent to a total of 192,762, as of 31 December 2020.

“In 2020, as families faced the impact of job losses and furloughs, forced early retirement and health care challenges, the global financial planning profession stepped up to help people manage their finances and adapt their financial plans,” said Noel Maye, CEO of FPSB. “Through the COVID-19 pandemic, people relied on CFP professionals to help build their emergency savings, reconsider debt strategies, and stay on track with longer-term financial and life goals. At a time when the value of financial planning is more apparent than ever, I’m pleased to see thousands of practitioners join our global community of CFP professionals.”

CFP Board, owner of the longest-running CFP certification program, finished 2020 with 88,726 CFP professionals in the U.S., an increase of 2.7%. FPSB China, with the second largest CFP professional community in the world, ended the year with 23,579 CFP professionals, up 6.9% over the previous year. Rounding out the top four growth markets for CFP professionals were Japan, with a net increase by the Japan Association for Financial Planners of 841 CFP professionals for a year-end count of 23,095, and Planejar, the FPSB Affiliate in Brazil, which increased its number of CFP professionals by 740 to 5,414, for a 15.8% growth rate.

Overall, FPSB Affiliates in Asia experienced the largest growth rate by percentage, led by the Financial Planning Association of Taiwan with a rate of 17.3%, and the Financial Planning Association of Malaysia, with a growth rate of 15.8%.

As part of FPSB’s commitment to promote and grow the financial planning profession and CFP certification program globally, priorities for FPSB and the global FPSB network this year include: conducting global research to identify best practices and future proof the profession; developing and supporting career paths to financial planning professionalism and CFP certification; and increasing public awareness of the value of financial planning and working with a CFP professional.

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CFP Certification Global excellence in financial planning™

Global Press Release

Media Contact:

Annalisa Aung

Marketing Executive

Financial Planning Association of Singapore

6829 7166

annalisa@fpas.org.sg

events@fpas.org.sg

MEDIA RELEASE

Fifth Annual World Financial Planning Day Promotes Financial Wellbeing for All on 6 October

6 October 2021

PRESS RELEASE

Fifth Annual World Financial Planning Day Promotes Financial Wellbeing for All on 6 October

Financial Planning Association of Singapore joins Financial Planning Standards Board and IOSCO to promote value of financial planning worldwide

SINGAPORE – 7 SEPTEMBER 2021 – Financial Planning Association of Singapore (FPAS) will join the Financial Planning Standards Board Ltd. (FPSB) to host the fifth annual World Financial Planning Day (WFPD) on Wednesday, 6 October as part of the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) World Investor Week to raise awareness of the value of financial planning, of having a financial plan and of working with a competent and ethical financial planner. FPAS is part of the FPSB Network, which represents more than 192,000 CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER professionals across 27 countries and territories worldwide.

“Now, more than ever, the public needs to understand their financial situation and options, and how having a financial plan and working with a financial planner who puts clients’ interests first, like a CFP professional, can help individuals and families live their today and plan their tomorrow,” said CEO of FPSB, Noel Maye. “FPSB is pleased to be working again with its network organizations and IOSCO to promote financial wellbeing for all and to help the public position investment decisions within the context of their overall financial and life goals.”

For the fifth year, FPSB and its network organizations have partnered with the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) to host WFPD during World Investor Week, a global campaign designed to raise awareness about the importance of financial literacy and investor education. By partnering with IOSCO on this initiative, the FPSB Network demonstrates to global stakeholders the importance of financial planning and the role the financial planning profession plays in supporting better financial outcomes for citizens all over the world.

“FPAS is pleased to host the global event for the 5th year in Singapore. It is our commitment to continue to develop and to promote unbiased financial advice to the consumers and to raise the professionalism in the financial planning industry. The objective of this initiative is to raise the awareness of financial literacy to the public. During the pandemic, we have seen an increase in the need for the public to have this support,” said CEO of FPAS, Samantha Wong.

A variety of programs leading up to and on World Financial Planning Day are planned, including:

Events in Territories Around the World

The FPSB Network will host a variety of local and national events to raise awareness about the value of financial planning, of having a financial plan and of working with a competent and ethical financial planner. FPAS will participate in the 2021 campaign by offering The Future of Financial Planning Practice (Professional Series) event. Further details about FPAS’s World Financial Planning Day activities can be found here.

Live global panel event connecting financial planning professionals around the world

FPSB will host an international panel event on the “Future of Client Needs and Advice Delivery” on 6 October. Panelists will address how the financial planning profession, regulators and consumer groups will need to prepare for and adapt to evolving client needs and expectations regarding advice delivery. FPSB will explore the findings of global research conducted for this event, which will be open to all FPSB and IOSCO stakeholders. More details, including the complete lineup of panelists and topics will be available at worldfpday.org when registration opens in September.

Educational Materials and Advice for Consumers

To raise awareness on the value of financial planning, worldfpday.org will feature articles and resources from the FPSB Network to educate individuals on financial planning topics including tips to deal with financial stress, short- and long-term financial planning during a crisis, steps to improve financial wellbeing and more.

Finding a CFP Professional

Consumers around the world have access to more than 192,000 CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER professionals who are committed to working in their clients’ interests. Individuals in Singapore seeking a competent and ethical financial planner to help them plan for their future can connect with FPAS to find a CFP professional in their area.

Further information about this year’s activities and how to participate can be found at worldfpday.org and worldinvestorweek.org and by joining the #WFPD2021 and #WIW2021 conversations on Facebook, Telegram and LinkedIn.

About Financial Planning Association of Singapore (FPAS)

The Financial Planning Association of Singapore (FPAS) is a non-profit professional association dedicated to developing and promoting an industry providing unbiased financial advice to the Singaporean public.

Established on 1st December 1998, FPAS is part of a global assembly of financial planning bodies, and a licensee of the Financial Planning Standards Board Ltd., a US-based non-profit organisation launched in October 2004 to set standards for and oversee the international CFP® certification program. FPSB currently has 26 members, including Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards (CFP® Board), and the number of CFP professionals reached a global high of 192,762 at year-end 2020.

After Australia and Japan, FPAS was the third member to join the federation of CFP® certification bodies in the Asian region and the tenth member of FPSB internationally.

The FPAS vision is to ensure that all Singaporeans have access to responsible and appropriate financial planning advice by raising the professional standards of the industry through education and a shared code of ethics.

FPAS also provides a range of services to consumers including:

1. Educate and inform the public of the need for objective professional advice in making secure financial decisions.

2. Ensure sufficient professional and ethical standards to maintain the confidence and trust of consumers.

3. Provide education, training, and information to our members to enhance their skills in providing holistic and objective financial advice.

4. Develop and maintain high ethical standards within the CFP professionals.

5. Represents the industry and CFP professionals to continue to raise the professionalism of the industry and to provide high quality financial advice to Singaporeans.

Media Contact:

Annalisa Aung

Marketing Executive

Financial Planning Association of Singapore

6829 7166

annalisa@fpas.org.sg

annalisa@fpas.org.sg

MEDIA RELEASE

PA Community Spirit (PACS) Awards 2020

19 October 2021

Financial Planning Association of Singapore (FPAS) is honoured to be awarded the PA Community Spirit (PACS) Awards 2020 – Community Partnership Excellence Award! This award is presented to honour exemplary strategic partners who had worked alongside People’s Association (PA) in bonding the community and building social capital.

This award is a recognition of on-going collaborations such as a series of Financial Literacy Talks to help self-employed trainers have a better understanding of their financial roadmap. This year, we have 4 talks from our CFP® Professionals to share their financial knowledge on various topics with the trainers. We have also invited GoalsMapper to share their consumer platform to the audience on how to plan and understand their journey so that they can reach their financial goals.

FPAS was also part of the Project We Care Adopt-A-Family initiative that aimed to positively impact lives of needy families holistically. A household’s needs are identified, and corporate volunteers can then provide customised support in the form of cash or in-kind sponsorships. In 2020 and 2021, FPAS was able to provide the families with emotional, grocery, medical, and home furnishing support. We also established a closer relationship with the dependants.

We hope to continue to strengthen this partnership and our commitment to foster an industry to provide unbiased financial advice to the Singaporean.

Click here to watch a short video on the PA Community Spirit Awards 2020.

MEDIA RELEASE

Number of CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER Professionals Worldwide Tops 203,000

8 February 2023

PRESS RELEASE

Number of CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER Professionals Worldwide Tops 203,000

Rate of growth of CFP professionals in 2021 double the previous year

DENVER – 21 February 2022 – Financial Planning Standards Board Ltd. (FPSB), the standards-setting body for the global financial planning profession and owner of the international CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER certification program outside the United States, reports the number of CFP professionals worldwide has surpassed 200,000. With a net gain of 10,550 CFP professionals last year, FPSB and its global network of organizations grew the number of CFP professionals worldwide by 5.5 percent to a total of 203,312, as of 31 December 2021.

“We’re pleased to report that, despite the COVID-19 pandemic, momentum in the global growth of CFP professionals remains strong, and is increasing,” says FPSB CEO Noel Maye. “Last year, the number of CFP professionals reached the highest ever, with growth from emerging, developing and mature markets demonstrating the broad appeal of financial planning and CFP certification worldwide.”

CFP Board, owner of the longest-running CFP certification program, finished 2021 with 92,055 CFP professionals in the U.S., an increase of 3,329. FPSB China, with the second-largest CFP professional community in the world, ended the year with 26,800 CFP professionals, up 3,221 from the previous year. Rounding out the top seven growth markets for CFP professionals were:

Brazil, with a net increase by Planejar – Associação Brasileira de Planejamento Financeiro of 1,971 CFP professionals for a year-end count of 7,385;

Japan, with a net increase by the Japan Association for Financial Planners of 969 CFP professionals for a year-end count of 24,064;

Indonesia, with a net increase by FPSB Indonesia of 415 CFP professionals for a year-end count of 2,281;

Canada, with a net increase by FP Canada of 397 CFP professionals for a year-end count of 16,797; and

India, with a net increase by FPSB Ltd. in India of 349 CFP professionals for a year-end count of 2,338.

The six territories with double-digit growth rates in the number of CFP professionals last year were Brazil (36.4%), Indonesia (22.2%), India (17.6%), the People’s Republic of China (13.7%), Chinese Taipei (12.9%) and Israel (11.7%). The program in Brazil is noteworthy for its achievements in both growth and rate of growth of CFP professionals for the third year in a row.

“Doubling the number of CFP professionals globally since FPSB’s creation in 2004 and increasing the number of CFP professionals ten-fold since CFP certification first went international in 1990 is a tremendous accomplishment,” added Maye. “This effort is thanks to FPSB’s global network of certification bodies and the hundreds of thousands of CFP professionals worldwide who commit to rigorous standards of competency, ethics and practice, and to delivering financial planning in their clients’ interests.”

FPSB and the global FPSB Network are committed to establishing financial planning as a global profession, with CFP certification its symbol of excellence. To maintain growth and relevance in existing territories, and introduce financial planning and CFP certification to new territories, FPSB and the FPSB Network will continue to develop, enforce and promote rigorous competency, ethics and professional standards and certification requirements for financial planning; promote the value of financial planning and CFP certification to the public; and future-proof the financial planning profession and CFP certification by focusing on the needs of next-generation financial planners and their clients.

For further details on worldwide CFP professional growth in 2021, view FPSB’s infographic.

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CFP Certification Global excellence in financial planning™

Media Contact:

Annalisa Aung

Marketing Executive

Financial Planning Association of Singapore

[65] 6829 7166

annalisa@fpas.org.sg

events@fpas.org.sg