Benefits of a Certified Financial Planner
Being a member of the Financial Planning Association is key for any Financial Advisory firm. Certified Financial Planners (CFP™) are an integral part of our team here at Skyline. The Financial Planning Association outlines the potential benefits of working with a Certified Financial Planner in the article below. Planning works, and we have decades of experience planning, implementing plans, and monitoring plans.
How do you know if you could benefit from a CFP™ professional?
You may not have the expertise, the time or the desire to actively plan and manage certain financial aspects of your life. You may need help getting started. You may benefit from an objective, third-party perspective on what are often emotional, difficult decisions. In today’s hectic world, it can be beneficial to have a CFP® expert to make sure you stay focused and follow through with your financial plans.
A CFP™ professional from the Financial Planning Association® (FPA®) can help you:
Set realistic financial and personal goals
Assess your current financial health by examining your assets, liabilities, income, insurance, taxes, investments and estate plan
Develop a realistic, comprehensive plan to meet your financial goals by identifying financial opportunities and building on financial strengths
Often a specific event or need will trigger the desire for professional financial planning guidance, including:
Making sure your money will last during retirement or rolling over a retirement plan.
Handling inheritance or other unexpected financial windfall
Financial preparation for a marriage or divorce
Planning for the birth or adoption of a child
Facing a financial crisis such as an illness, layoff or natural disaster
Making sure your money will last during retirement or rolling over a retirement plan.
Coping financially with the death of a spouse or close family member
Funding for education expenses
Buying, selling or passing on a family business.
Planning for complex financial situations
CFP® professionals must meet strict certification requirements:
Education
They must complete a comprehensive course of study offered by a college or university program (ranging from certificate to doctoral degree levels) which covers a personal financial planning curriculum approved by CFP Board. In addition, they must have earned a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university.
Examination
CFP® professionals must successfully complete CFP Board’s comprehensive examination, which tests an individual’s ability to integrate and apply their financial planning knowledge.
Experience
They must acquire three years of financial planning related experience, or a limited 2-year structured option, before achieving the right to use the CFP® marks.
Ethics
They must voluntarily ascribe to CFP Board’s code of ethics and additional requirements as mandated. This includes providing financial planning services as a fiduciary or acting in the client’s best interest.
*Reprinted by permission of the Financial Planning Association.
The content of this blog is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as investment, tax, or estate planning advice. Skyline Advisors, Inc. is an SEC Registered Investment Adviser. Advisory services are only offered to clients or prospective clients where representatives of Skyline Advisors, Inc. are properly licensed or exempt from licensure. If indices are referenced in marketing material, it is important to note that these cannot be invest in directly, any vehicle such as Passive index-based ETFs and Mutual Funds which attempt to replicate indices have internal expense ratios and other associated costs that would negatively impact returns. No advice may be rendered unless a client service agreement is in place. Past performance is no guarantee of future returns. Investing involves risk and possible loss of principal capital.
