About the CFP Marks

FPSB owns the CFP, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER and certification and service marks (the CFP Marks) outside the United States.

FPSB guides the development of international CFP certification standards, and the professional delivery of financial planning, to benefit and protect consumers. Individuals who have met FPSB’s rigorous initial certification standards, and who meet ongoing renewal requirements, are authorized to use the following three marks in the country or region in which they are certified:

• CFP

• CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER

A person’s use of the CFP Marks identifies that he or she has met rigorous ethics, competency and professional practice standards to deliver financial planning services in a country or region, as established by FPSB and locally adapted and administered by the FPSB Member in that territory. By using the CFP Marks, a person is holding out his or her financial planning services to the public as meeting CFP certification standards.

To benefit the public, FPSB ensures that the CFP Marks are protected and used properly in each territory where they are registered, and that any person using the CFP Marks in a particular country or region has met appropriate certification requirements.

Proper use of the CFP Marks by all FPSB stakeholders is critical. Unlike licenses to practice or educational credentials, the CFP certification and service marks are trademarks and, as such, must be used in compliance with trademark law in each territory in which they are registered.

If trademarks are used improperly, they can eventually lose their trademark status. If this were to happen to the CFP Marks, CFP professionals would lose the value and differentiation of the certification and consumers would be unable to rely on the CFP certification as a mark of quality for professional financial planning. To prevent this from happening, FPSB requires all stakeholders to follow proper use guidelines and each FPSB Member to mandate proper use of the CFP Marks by CFP professionals through a Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility.