CFP Board Joins FPSB to Promote Global Professional Standards for Financial Planning

WASHINGTON, DC, November 6, 2007 - Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. (CFP Board), the professional regulatory body that owns the CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and federally registered CFP (with flame design) certification marks in the U.S., today announced that it has entered into a membership agreement with Financial Planning Standards Board, Ltd. (FPSB), the international organization that owns the CFP marks outside the U.S.

As a member of FPSB, CFP Board will work with FPSB and its member organizations to align educational, examination, experience and ethical standards for financial planning professionals who hold CFP certification around the world. CFP Board’s membership in FPSB will promote worldwide professional standards in financial planning for the benefit of consumers who seek financial planning services.

CFP Board’s membership in FPSB includes participation on the FPSB Council, as well as committees and international working groups involved with financial planning certification and standards activities. The FPSB Council acts as an advisory and consulting body to the FPSB Board of Directors and is made up of delegations of up to two representatives from each of the organizational members of FPSB.

CFP Board will retain ownership of the CFP® trademarks in the U.S. and continue its independent operation of the CFP® certification program in the U.S.

“CFP Board has long supported the development of the CFP certification program around the world,” said Kevin R. Keller, CEO of CFP Board. “Since 2004, when CFP Board transferred to FPSB ownership of the CFP marks outside the U.S., FPSB and its affiliates have made great strides in promoting awareness of CFP certification and the financial planning profession to consumers around the world. We look forward to working closely with FPSB.”

CFP Board and FPSB, as the owners of the various CFP trademarks in their respective territories, have a common interest in ensuring that those trademarks continue to represent consistently high educational, examination, experience and ethical standards for financial planning professionals. CFP Board, established in 1985, currently authorizes more than 56,000 individuals in the U.S. to use the CFP® certification marks. FPSB’s 20 member organizations in as many territories around the world collectively authorize more than 52,000 individuals to use the CFP marks in their territories.

“We welcome CFP Board as a member of FPSB at an exciting time for the global financial planning profession,” said Noel Maye, CEO of FPSB. “Interest in the CFP certification program continues to spread to new territories, and public awareness of the value of financial planning has never been greater. CFP Board, with more than 20 years administering the CFP® certification program in the U.S., brings invaluable experience to the FPSB Council.”

FPSB manages, develops and operates certification, education and related programs for its member organizations so that they may benefit and protect the global community by establishing, upholding and promoting worldwide professional standards in financial planning. FPSB’s commitment to excellence is represented by the marks of professional distinction – CFP, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER and CFP (with flame logo). For more about FPSB, visit www.fpsb.org.

The mission of Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. is to help people benefit from competent, professional and ethical financial planning. CFP Board owns the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and federally registered CFP (with flame design) in the U.S., which it awards to individuals who successfully complete CFP Board's initial and ongoing certification requirements. CFP Board currently authorizes more than 56,000 individuals to use these marks in the United States.

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CONTACTS:
Asha P. Williams, Managing Director of Communications and Marketing
CFP Board
P: 202-756-1357
E: media@CFPBoard.org
 
Noel Maye, CEO
FPSB
P: 720-917-0002
E: nmaye@fpsb.org