Knowledgeable guidance
from a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional
Lynn Opp, CFP®, CRPC®
VICE PRESIDENT, INVESTMENTS
Why Work with a CFP®

Most people think all financial planners are “certified,” but this isn’t true. Anyone can call himself or herself a “financial planner” but only those who have fulfilled the certification and renewal requirements of the CFP Board can display the CFP® certification marks.

Individuals certified by the CFP Board have taken the extra step to demonstrate their professionalism by voluntarily submitting to the rigorous CFP® certification process that includes demanding education, examination, experience and ethical requirements. These standards are called “the four E’s,” and they are four important reasons why the financial planning practitioner you select should display the CFP® certification marks.

CFP® Certification Requirements: the four E’s.

Education

CFP® professionals must develop their theoretical and practical financial planning knowledge by completing a comprehensive course of study at a college or university offering a financial planning curriculum approved by CFP Board. Other options for satisfying the education component include submitting a transcript review or previous financial planning-related course work to CFP Board for review and credit, or showing the attainment of certain professional designations or academic degrees.

Examination

CFP® practitioners must pass a comprehensive two-day, 10-hour CFP® Certification Examination that tests their ability to apply financial planning knowledge in an integrated format. Based on regular research of what planners do, the exam covers the financial planning process, tax planning, employee benefits and retirement planning, estate planning, investment management and insurance.

Experience

CFP® professionals must have three years’ minimum experience in the financial planning process prior to earning the right to use the CFP® certification marks. As a result, CFP® practitioners possess financial counseling skills in addition to financial planning knowledge.

Ethics

CFP® practitioners agree to abide by a strict code of professional conduct, known as CFP Board’s Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility, that sets forth their ethical responsibilities to the public, clients and employers. CFP Board also performs a background check during this process, and each individual must disclose any investigations or legal proceedings related to their professional or business conduct.

Once certified, CFP® practitioners are required to maintain technical competence and fulfill ethical obligations. Every two years, they must complete a minimum 30 hours of continuing education to stay current with developments in the financial planning profession and better serve clients.

“Have I saved enough?”

This was the pressing question on Jessica’s mind when she came in to meet with us. Like most, Jessica couldn’t even begin to calculate how much she’d need to save in order to enjoy the retirement she, at that point, couldn’t even imagine. At 50 years old, she’d been saving money in retirement accounts for quite some time, but she still didn’t know how much money she’d need to amass in order to stop working, which is the amount we aimed to provide.

When we met with Jessica to talk about retirement planning, we created a flexible retirement plan to help her form goals and objectives for the future – a vision she’d never fully articulated. As it turns out, Jessica dreamed of a retirement filled with travel – something retirees often do. Once we clearly defined her vision, we were able to calculate an amount necessary to fund her retirement goals, which included a generous travel budget.

We also talked about whether she should continue contributing to a traditional 401(k) or change her payroll deposits to a Roth 401(k). As a result, Jessica now knows how much she’ll need for retirement, has a financial plan that is adaptable to changes in her life, and is comfortable knowing she will receive guidance in the future.

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This case study is for illustrative purposes only. Individual cases will vary. Any information is not a complete summary or statement of all available data necessary for making an investment decision and does not constitute a recommendation. Prior to making any investment decision, you should consult with your financial advisor about your individual situation.