These Code Of Ethics’ Principles express the profession’s recognition of its responsibilities to the public, to clients, to colleagues, and employers. They apply to all CFP Board designees and guide them in the performance of their professional services.
A CFP Board designee shall offer and provide professional services with integrity.
As discussed in “Composition and Scope,” CFP Board designees may be placed by clients in positions of
trust and confidence. The ultimate source of such public trust is the CFP Board designee’s personal
integrity. In deciding what is right and just, a CFP Board designee should rely on his or her integrity as
the appropriate touchstone. Integrity demands honesty and candor which must not be subordinated to
personal gain and advantage. Within the characteristic of integrity, allowance can be made for innocent
error and legitimate difference of opinion; but integrity cannot co-exist with deceit or subordination of
one’s principles. Integrity requires a CFP Board designee to observe not only the letter but also the spirit
of this Code Of Ethics.
A CFP Board designee shall be objective in providing professional services to clients.
Objectivity requires intellectual honesty and impartiality. It is an essential quality for any professional.
Regardless of the particular service rendered or the capacity in which a CFP Board designee functions, a
CFP Board designee should protect the integrity of his or her work, maintain objectivity, and avoid
subordination of his or her judgment that would be in violation of this Code Of Ethics.
A CFP Board designee shall provide services to clients competently and maintain the necessary
knowledge and skill to continue to do so in those areas in which the CFP Board designee is engaged.
One is competent only when he or she has attained and maintained an adequate level of knowledge and
skill, and applies that knowledge effectively in providing services to clients. Competence also includes
the wisdom to recognize the limitations of that knowledge and when consultation or client referral is
appropriate. A CFP Board designee, by virtue of having earned the CFP®
certification, is deemed to be
qualified to practice financial planning. However, in addition to assimilating the common body of
knowledge required and acquiring the necessary experience for certification, a CFP Board designee shall
make a continuing commitment to learning and professional improvement.
A CFP Board designee shall perform professional services in a manner that is fair and reasonable to
clients, principals, partners and employers, and shall disclose conflict(s) of interest in providing such
services.
Fairness requires impartiality, intellectual honesty and disclosure of conflict(s) of interest. It involves a
subordination of one’s own feelings, prejudices and desires so as to achieve a proper balance of
conflicting interests. Fairness is treating others in the same fashion that you would want to be treated and
is an essential trait of any professional.
A CFP Board designee shall not disclose any confidential client information without the specific consent
of the client unless in response to proper legal process, to defend against charges of wrongdoing by the
CFP Board designee or in connection with a civil dispute between the CFP Board designee and client.
A client, by seeking the services of a CFP Board designee, may be interested in creating a relationship of
personal trust and confidence with the CFP Board designee. This type of relationship can only be built
upon the understanding that information supplied to the CFP Board designee will be confidential. In order
to provide the contemplated services effectively and to protect the client’s privacy, the CFP Board
designee shall safeguard the confidentiality of such information.
A CFP Board designee’s conduct in all matters shall reflect credit upon the profession.
Because of the importance of the professional services rendered by CFP Board designees, there are
attendant responsibilities to behave with dignity and courtesy to all those who use those services, fellow
professionals, and those in related professions. A CFP Board designee also has an obligation to cooperate
with fellow CFP Board designees to enhance and maintain the profession’s public image and to work
jointly with other CFP Board designees to improve the quality of services. It is only through the
combined efforts of all CFP Board designees, in cooperation with other professionals, that this vision can
be realized.
A CFP Board designee shall act diligently in providing professional services.
Diligence is the provision of services in a reasonably prompt and thorough manner. Diligence also
includes proper planning for, and supervision of, the rendering of professional services.
