Your Rights as a
Financial Planning Client

Working with a financial planner can be an extremely rewarding and valuable experience for you and your family. If you've decided to work with a financial planner, it's important to understand your rights in this professional relationship.

This brochure describes the kind of treatment you deserve from your financial planner, and helps you recognize when he or she is putting your interests and needs first. You can take an active role in shaping your financial future when you know your rights and what to expect from your financial planner.

You have the right to....
Summary of Your Rights as a Financial Planning Client
To Find a Financial Planner in Your Area
To Lodge A Complaint Against a Planner or Adviser
Learn About Financial Planning Online
About CFP Board

1. You have the right to a planner who has INTEGRITY.

Trust between you and your financial planner is central to a successful financial planning relationship. You rely on your planner's honesty, professionalism and abilities to achieve your financial and life goals. When you know that your planner takes his or her professional obligations seriously, and places principles over personal gain, you can develop the type of partnership that is crucial to the success of any professional relationship.

2. You have the right to OBJECTIVE ADVICE.

Your needs should be at the heart of all recommendations made by your financial planner. Your planner should use his or her experience and judgment to carefully consider your situation, and provide you with advice that best meets your goals. Sometimes, this objectivity may require the planner to explain that your goals are unrealistic given your current resources and financial commitments. Your planner may then suggest alternative goals or priorities.

3. You have the right to a planner who is COMPETENT.

You have the right to expect your planner to demonstrate an appropriate level of knowledge to offer financial planning advice, such as attainment of the Certified Financial Planner™ certification or Chartered Financial Consultant or Certified Public Accountant–Personal Financial Specialist designations. Your planner should complete continuing education courses as part of his or her ongoing commitment to competency.

4. You have the right to be TREATED FAIRLY.

Your planner should treat you the same way he or she would like to be treated in a professional relationship. This involves clearly stating what services will be provided and at what price. The planner should also explain the risks associated with his or her financial recommendations and any potential conflicts of interest. For example, does the planner gain personally or financially from your purchase of a particular product or from the outcome of a suggested strategy?

5. You have the right to PRIVACY.

To get the best results from your financial planning relationship, you need to divulge relevant personal and financial information to your financial planner on a regular basis. Your planner should keep this information in confidence, only sharing it with others to conduct business on your behalf, at your consent, or when ordered to do so by the courts.

6. You have the right to a planner who is PROFESSIONAL.

Your planner should not provide investment advice or stock brokerage services unless he or she is properly qualified and licensed to do so, as required by state or federal law. If your situation requires expertise that your planner does not possess, he or she should suggest other professionals who may assist you.

7. You have the right to a planner who is DILIGENT.

Your financial planner should discuss your goals and objectives with you and explain what you can expect from the relationship before engaging you as a client. Once the planner has determined that he or she (or his or her staff and/or network of related professionals) can assist you and has gathered sufficient information, the planner should make – and, if appropriate implement – recommendations that are suitable for you. A diligent planner investigates the products or services he or she recommends. A diligent planner also closely supervises any staff working with you.

Back to Top

TO FIND a Financial Planner in Your Area

According to Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards (CFP Board) research, over 40 percent of Americans feel that they are not in control of their finances. If you would like to better manage your financial situation, a professional financial planner may be able to help you. Knowing how a planner should work with you, and how you will be treated as a financial planning client, will put you in the driver's seat when it comes to taking control of your financial future.

Financial Planning Association
800-282-7526
www.fpanet.org

National Association of Personal Financial Advisors
888-333-6659
www.napfa.org

American Institute of Certified Public Accountants - Personal Financial Planning Division
888-999-9256
www.aicpa.org

Society of Financial Service Professionals
8888-243-2258
www.financialpro.org

Back to Top

TO LODGE A COMPLAINT Against A Planner or Adviser

If you are currently working with a financial planner and are unsatisfied with the relationship, talk to the planner about your concerns. If you cannot mutually agree on how to improve the situation, you may want to find another planner. To lodge a complaint against a planner, contact one or more of the organizations listed, depending on which licenses, certifications or designations the planner holds.

Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc.
888-237-6275
www.cfp.net/complaint

North American Securities Administrators Association
202-737-0900
www.nasaa.org

National Association of Insurance Commissioners
816-842-3600
www.naic.org

National Association of Securities Dealers Regulation
800-289-9999
www.nasdr.com

National Fraud Exchange (fee involved)
800-822-0416

Securities and Exchange Commission
202-942-7040
www.sec.gov

LEARN About Financial Planning Online

CFP Board's Web site, www.CFP.net/learn, is a comprehensive resource for financial planning, offering useful information for visitors at every stage of the financial planning learning curve. Interactive tools provide help for your personal situation, including changing jobs, managing debt, planning your retirement and more. Join the eNewsletter for updates and check back regularly to participate in polls and quizzes.

Back to Top

ABOUT CFP Board

The information in this brochure is provided as a public service by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards. A nonprofit, professional regulatory organization, the CFP Board exists to benefit consumers by fostering professional standards in personal financial planning.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's Office of Investor Education and Assistance has reviewed this publication. The SEC does not endorse the commercial activities, products or members of this or any other private organization.

It's your future. Plan it!^SM is a service mark owned by Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. This publication may be reprinted for educational and nonprofit purposes only.

Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc.
1670 Broadway, Suite 600, Denver, Colorado 80202-4809
Consumer Toll-free Number: 888-CFP-MARK (888-237-6275)
Phone: 303-830-7500
Fax: 303-860-7388
E-mail: mail@CFP-Board.org
Website: www.CFP.net/learn

Back to Top