FINANCIAL PLANNING LEADS TO BETTER OUTCOMES – BEYOND WEALTH, BUT MYTHS PERSIST
Global study shows people who work with CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER professionals have a better quality of life, enjoy more financial confidence and resilience, and are more satisfied with their financial situation
DENVER, CO – OCTOBER 4, 2023 – As consumers continue to feel the pressure of high inflation, rising interest rates, and the cost of housing, a new global study launching today on World Financial Planning Day has found that people who work with a financial planning professional are better off, with consumers who work with a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER professional reporting the best outcomes.
While close to 3 in 5 (55%) clients of financial planners are highly satisfied with their wealth, compared to 2 in 5 (41%) unadvised consumers, the study has found that around 9 in 10 (87%) clients of CFP professionals feel financially secure and a similar proportion (86%) feeling tangibly better off.
The FPSB Value of Financial Planning Research 2023, undertaken for Financial Planning Standards Board Ltd. (FPSB) by independent research firm MYMAVINS, surveyed 15,332 advised and unadvised consumers aged 25 and over, and earning over US$60,000 p.a. or holding over US$35,000 in investable assets or equivalent across 15 territories.
The study examines the value of financial planning, measuring the financial and non-financial impact of financial planning across quality of life, financial confidence, financial satisfaction and experienced value, while debunking the myths surrounding financial planning and analyzing the future of the profession.
While unadvised consumers recognize improved financial well-being and peace of mind (37%), and greater wealth growth (36%) as key benefits to seeking financial planning, 3 in 10 consumers perceive it as too expensive (30%) and hard to find someone trustworthy (29%).
However, close to 9 in 10 (88%) clients of CFP professionals say the value of financial planning outweighs the cost, with almost everyone (98%) advised by a CFP professional reporting they trust their financial planner to act in the best interests of the client.
Dante De Gori, CFP, Chief Executive Officer, FPSB says, “In this current volatile climate, where unexpected events can send shockwaves through the global economy, the role of financial planning in general and of CFP professionals in particular has become even more critical in empowering consumers to make informed financial decisions and achieve their long-term goals, while enjoying a better quality of life.”
“The findings in this global study illuminate a compelling reality: the immense value that CFP professionals bring in supporting clients’ financial needs amid times of uncertainty, reinforcing the reputation of CFP certification as the global symbol of excellence in financial planning,” De Gori added.
The study also revealed the following key findings:
- Financial planning benefits more than just the wealthy. The study finds that 44 percent of advised consumers with an income of US$60,000 and less report improved family life, improved social life (26%), improved mental health (46%) and increased work satisfaction (29%). Similarly, 50 percent of advised consumers with an income between US$60,000 and US$80,000 report improved family life, improved social life (40%), improved mental health (50%) and increased work satisfaction (38%).
- Clients of CFP professionals show a strong level of trust in their financial planners. The report reveals that more consumers found value working with a CFP professional (88%) than an adviser who is not a CFP professional (82%). Trust is also significantly high as 98% of clients who work with CFP professionals trust their financial planner to act in the client’s best interests and 92% of those who work with a CFP professional are likely to continue the relationship with their financial planner.
- Financial advice unlocks benefits beyond money by improving overall mental health. Over half (51%) of consumers who work with a CFP professional have reported financial advice positively impacted their mental health and family life. In addition, 73 percent of clients who work with CFP professionals generally feel they can cope well with any health issues compared to 64 percent of unadvised consumers. The study also reveals that clients of CFP professionals report the highest quality of life score (73/100), compared to those who work with other financial planning professionals (69/100) and the unadvised (66/100).
About FPSB
FPSB manages, develops and operates certification, education and related programs 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. FPSB and the FPSB global network administer CFP certification and other programs in the following 27 territories: Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, Chinese Taipei, Colombia, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Japan, Malaysia, the Netherlands, New Zealand, People’s Republic of China, Peru, Republic of Korea, Singapore, South Africa, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States. At the end of 2022, there were 213,002 CFP professionals worldwide. For more, visit fpsb.org.
FPSB owns the CFP, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER and CFP Logo Mark (the CFP Marks) outside the United States, and permits qualified individuals to use the marks to indicate that they meet FPSB’s initial and ongoing certification standards and requirements. CFP professionals may use the CFP marks in the territory or region in which they are certified.
About CFP Certification
CFP certification is the global symbol of excellence in financial planning and represents financial planners who commit to standards of competency and ethics, and to putting clients’ interests first. The CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER credential represents financial planning professionals who commit to better serving their clients through rigorous international standards, ethical practices and lifelong learning.
About the Value of Financial Planning Report 2023
The descriptions and statistics in this report are based on insights from a global research study undertaken for Financial Planning Standards Board Ltd. (FPSB) by independent research firm MYMAVINS. The large quantitative study undertaken in February 2023 involved an online survey of 15,332 respondents each of whom was over 25 years in age earning over US$60k p.a. or holding over US$35k in investable assets or equivalent in other regions.
The sample included both advised and unadvised consumers. Advised consumers are those who are currently working with a financial planner, those who seek financial advice as needed and those who have received financial planning advice in the past three years but not now. Unadvised consumers, on the other hand, are those who have never received financial planning advice from a financial planner or have not received financial advice in the past three years. The study also analyzed those consumers who work with a CFP professional. Financial planners who attain CFP certification have committed to rigorous standards of competency and ethics in financial planning.
FPSB’s network of professional financial planning bodies in the following territories participated in the global research: Australia, Canada, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Malaysia, the Netherlands, New Zealand, People’s Republic of China, Republic of Korea, Singapore, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States.
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Media Contact:
Ryanne Harrah
Senior Manager, Communications & Content
Financial Planning Standards Board Ltd.
[email protected]