How the FPA can help you as a financial planner

In Australia, the Financial Planning Association is the peak professional body representing financial planners. According to their web site, approximately 12,000 individuals and businesses are members of the Financial Planning Association, of which at least three-quarters are practicing financial planners. An associate organisation of the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, the Financial Planning Association’s membership body contains over 5,500 financial planning professionals registered with the CFP and eligible to use the CFP’s trade marks. To become a member of the Financial Planning Association, candidates must first choose between the several membership categories offered. Principal membership is only available to those holding an Australian Financial Services license to supply personal financial advice. Professional indemnity insurance, as well as an Australian Securities and Investment Commission external dispute resolution scheme membership, is required. The second membership category available is practitioner membership, divided up into two levels – Associate Financial Planner and Certified Financial Planner. Membership at the Associate Financial Planner level may be extended to anybody with a Diploma of Financial Services as well as Authorized Representative status. Over one year’s approved practitioner experience is required, and candidates must be RG(PS)146 compliant. Membership at the Certified Financial Planner level may be extended to a financial planner with a tertiary qualification equal to or above a bachelor’s degree, as well as completion of Certified Financial Planner programs one to five.

Three years’ approved practitioner experience is also required. General membership is available to anybody with a professional interest in financial planning, future membership is open to those employed in financial planning-related fields with a view to becoming a financial planner (subject to certain restrictions), retired membership is available to people with a former professional interest in financial planning (no longer employed full-time) and student membership is open to those studying a full-time university course. If you’re a financial planner or a person with an interest in financial planning in Australia, it is strongly recommended that you get in touch with the Financial Planning Association. You will be able to get in touch and network with those in your industry, which means that you will be able to expand your professional knowledge. Who knows, you might even meet a future employer at an annual conference? Vermont is round for its financial services, so if you’re lucky enough to live there you might want to consider hiring vermont financial planners to oversee your financial future.