India Joins International CFP Council

May 30, 2001, Toronto - The International CFP Council approved the Association of Financial Planners (AFP) of India as its 15th affiliate member during its April meeting in Auckland, New Zealand. The association from India had been an associate member of the International CFP Council since September 2000.

"Financial Planners Standards Council (FPSC) is the second largest affiliate member of the International Council and is firmly committed to the global development and adoption of professional standards in financial planning," says FPSC President Don Johnston. "We are delighted to see India move up to full membership status and to see the rapid expansion of affiliate membership. These developments demonstrate the growing worldwide enthusiasm for the adoption of professional standards in financial planning as distinguished by the CFP certification process."

The vision and mission statements of the International CFP Council were refined at the Spring meeting to more clearly reflect its work. The refined vision is "to be recognized as the leading international standard-setting body for the financial planning profession." The refined mission "is to benefit the global community by establishing, maintaining and promoting the professional standards in financial planning. Our commitment to excellence is represented by the CFP marks." International CFP Council Chair Patricia Houlihan explains, "Financial planning is booming worldwide, and members of the International CFP Council want to seize the moment and ensure the CFP marks are at the forefront of the movement," Houlihan says.

An international assembly of financial planning bodies, the International CFP Council was founded in 1990 to promote the professionalism of individuals and organizations offering personal financial planning services and to ensure that such services are offered in an ethical and competent manner throughout the world.

Financial Planners Standards Council, a member of the International CFP Council since 1996, is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to benefiting and protecting the Canadian consumer by establishing and enforcing education, examination, experience and ethics requirements for financial planners who choose to earn the CFP designation. FPSC is the Canadian licensor of the internationally recognized CFP certification marks used by 60,000 planners in 15 countries around the world. There are currently 13,000 planners licensed to use these marks in Canada.