Brazil, India, Indonesia and China Lead Global Growth of CFP Professionals

--Financial Planning Standards Board’s “BIIC” Members Average 19.25 Percent Growth in First Quarter--

DENVER – 8 July 2010 – Financial Planning Standards Board Ltd. (FPSB), the preeminent international standards-setting body for financial planning and owner of the CFP, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER and CFP Logo marks outside the U.S., announced that its member organizations in Brazil, India, Indonesia and China achieved an average of 19.25 percent growth in the number of CFP professionals in the first three months of 2010.

For the quarter ended 31 March 2010, Instituto Brasileiro de Certificação de Profissionais Financeiros (IBCPF), an FPSB Member since 2002, reported a gain of 50 new CFP professionals, up 13 percent over the previous quarter. FPSB India, an FPSB Member since 2001, increased its number of CFP professionals by 142, or 16 percent for the same period. FPSB Indonesia, which joined FPSB in 2006, added 104 CFP professionals in Q1, up 29 percent from the previous quarter, and FPSB China, a member since 2006, added 1,193 CFP professionals for an increase of 19 percent.

“As individuals struggle to cope with uncertainty in the global financial markets, we’re finding increased interest in financial planning as a career choice. Those who choose CFP certification meet rigorous initial and ongoing certification requirements, and are committed to placing their clients’ interests first,” said Corinna Dieters, 2010 chairperson of FPSB’s Board of Directors.  “In territories like Brazil, India, Indonesia and China, where financial planning is still an emerging profession, career seekers are embracing FPSB’s high standards of ethics and professionalism, and are recognizing CFP certification as the global symbol of excellence in financial planning.”

2009 gains in these territories also were impressive. Last year, the numbers of CFP professionals in India and the People’s Republic of China grew by nearly 80 percent over the previous year, while Indonesia recorded an increase of 41 percent and the number of CFP professionals in Brazil rose 28 percent.

“The Chinese economy’s unprecedented growth over the past 30 years has created a great demand for financial planning services,” said Feng Liu, Ph.D., chairperson of FPSB China.  “FPSB China introduced the CFP certification program at the right time to meet the increased demand for financial planners.  We attribute the success of the CFP certification program in China to the combination of strong global standards and effective local practices.”

Brazil is also experiencing a period of accelerated economic growth.  Ulf Mannhardt, CFP, president of IBCPF said, “As incomes increase and more consumers recognize the importance and benefits of financial planning, the need is growing for financial planners seeking to distinguish themselves as competent and ethical financial planners through the world-class CFP certification program.”

Overall, the number of CFP professionals grew in 2009 by 6.4 percent to more than 126,000 in the 23 territories where FPSB has member organizations. FPSB continues to develop competency, ethics and practice standards for the emerging global financial planning profession to ensure a consistent level of delivery of financial planning by CFP professionals around the world. For more information on CFP certification and the global growth of CFP professionals over the past decade, visit fpsb.org.

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 non-profit 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. For more, visit fpsb.org.

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