Chartered Financial Planners demonstrate a fundamentally professional ethos. Through their membership of the Personal Finance Society, the professional body for financial advisers, Chartered Financial Planners adhere to a respected code of ethics and commit to a structured programme of continuing professional development (CPD). Upon graduating Chartered Financial Planners read an Oath, commting to uphold theses values.

This includes keeping their knowledge up to date as well as learning about new  developments impacting their profession. Failure to adhere to the code or provide evidence of CPD can result in serious disciplinary action and the removal of Chartered Financial Planner status. This helps ensure that their knowledge is up to date with the latest legislation and technical developments, and that they act in accordance with current regulatory requirements.

You can trust Chartered Financial Planners, like Chartered Accountants, Surveyors, or Engineers, to be highly qualified, reputable and capable of providing you with quality advice with the utmost integrity. You should therefore be confident that a Chartered Financial Planner can be relied on to consider your personal circumstances and devise a plan to help you meet your needs, fulfil your aspirations and help provide you with a secure financial future.

Below is a brief video which explains what a Chartered Financial Planner can do for you:

Working in partnership with other professionals

it is quite common for clients who have been to see another professional to need financial advice and this will mean working in partnership to ensure the client gets the best service and outcome for their needs.

Many Chartered Financial Planners and firms of Chartered Financial Planners have established links with other professional service firms: including accountants and lawyers. Financial planning complements these advisory services and can provide mutual benefit in delivering a holistic professional advice service to clients.

Areas of overlap

Pensions scheme analysis and retirement planning are key areas of expertise for many Chartered Financial Planners and our ageing population is making long-term care planning a key consideration for many.

Investment is another key area of specialism with high net worth clients requiring sophisticated portfolio construction and regular reviews. Investment reviews are also now an important consideration for trustees in line with their responsibilities under the Trustee Act 2000. When dealing with estate planning, trusts and divorce it is particularly important to work in partnership with a Chartered Financial Planner.

Many Chartered Financial Planners also work closely with local business owners to help ensure business continuity initiatives are in place and tax efficient succession planning.  A range of group benefits, such as pensions and health insurance can also be arranged on behalf of employees.

Who grants, and polices, Chartered Financial Planner status?

The Personal Finance Society is the leading professional body for financial advisers with over 34,000 members and is part of the CII Group, the world's leading provider of professional training, qualifications and thought leadership to the insurance and financial services professions. The CII has been at the forefront of setting professional standards for over a century and now has 112,000 members and affiliates in 150 countries.

Both the CII and the Personal Finance Society are focused on engendering public confidence and trust in financial services by setting standards and increasing professionalism.

You may already have been introduced to a Chartered Financial Planner, but a directory of Chartered members is available here »

Chartered Connections

Chartered Connections is an initiative developed by the Personal Finance Society and run by a group of volunteers, Chartered Champions, to hold mutually beneficial educational events which provide a forum for networking and sharing best practice.

We currently work with a variety of Law and Accountancy firms to provide in depth and relevant CPD for all professionals alongside the opportunity to network.
To find out more and/or to get involved with the Chartered Connections initiative please email Rachel Allen.

"Chartered Financial Planners are associated with the highest standards of professionalism. They are reputable and can be trusted to deliver a high quality financial advisory service with the utmost integrity."

Professional Standards

The CII aims to raise the profile of the professionalism of its members and to ensure that all its own governance procedures conform to current best practice. In order for the public to recognise the calibre of the CII as a professional body, certain key policies should be formalised and representation from consumer and other bodies encouraged.

Professional standards board

The CII 'Professional Standards Board' meets quarterly to discuss issues of Professional Standards. The role of the PSB is to advise the Council of the CII on the setting of standards for achievement of excellence and to offer guidance on CII Member and CII Internal Governance Standards.

View more on the PSB Board »

CII Charter and Bye-laws

The Charter and Bye Laws contain the internal rules which govern the CII

Read the CII charter and bye-laws »

CII Code of Ethics

The CII encourages the highest professional and ethical standards in insurance and financial services worldwide.

The Board, the membership of the CII and consumers, look to all members to meet these standards and to maintain the reputation of the CII by following this Code of Ethics (the Code). It sets down the principles which all members of the CII should follow in the course of their professional duties.

If members do not comply with this code, this may result in the CII taking disciplinary action against the member.

Read the Code of Ethics »

Read the Guide to Complaints against Members »