IN TURBULENT TIMES, ASIA-PACIFIC ADVISERS TURN TO CFP CERTIFICATION

DENVER - 24 SEPTEMBER 2009 – Just as workers often seek additional training and new skills during difficult economic times, Asia-Pacific’s financial services professionals are turning to CFP certification to improve their abilities and build their standing as competent, ethical financial planners.

According to reports from 12 nonprofit organizations administering CFP certification in the Asia-Pacific region, growth in the number of CFP professionals for the first two quarters of 2009 ranged from three percent in New Zealand to more than 57 percent in India. The reports, provided to Financial Planning Standards Board Ltd. (FPSB), owner of the CFP, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER and CFP Logo marks outside the United States, also show that in the People’s Republic of China, women CFP professionals outnumber men by almost 50 percent (59.2 to 40.8 percent).

“While the financial planning profession has been around for nearly 40 years, the concept of financial planning is still relatively new in emerging and most Asia-Pacific markets,” said Noel Maye, CEO of FPSB Ltd. “The global economic crisis demonstrates that now, more than ever, consumers in the region are seeking trustworthy advisers to help them achieve their life and financial goals. Advisers are choosing CFP certification because of its rigorous standards and global reputation as the mark of global excellence in financial planning.”

Reports submitted by the 12 Asia-Pacific Affiliates of FPSB show that 20,975 people sat for the CFP Certification Examination in the second quarter. Affiliates that provide association membership to students reported a total of 28,305 such memberships as of 30 June 2009. Among those who have already achieved CFP certification, the most common age range in half of the reporting territories is 30-39, while the average age range in the remaining territories is 40-49.

CFP certification is the only globally recognized mark of professionalism for financial planners. Organizations in 23 territories now manage CFP certification programs, and more than 120,000 professionals worldwide have met the program’s ethical and practice standards to become CFP professionals.

About FPSB

FPSB manages, develops and operates certification, education and related programs for financial planning organizations to benefit the global community by establishing, upholding and promoting worldwide professional standards in financial planning. FPSB demonstrates its commitment to excellence with the marks of professional distinction – CFP, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER and CFP Logo Mark. Territories where FPSB has a nonprofit member organization include: Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, Chinese Taipei, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Netherlands, the People’s Republic of China, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, South Africa, Switzerland, Thailand, the United Kingdom and the United States.