Financial planners have an obligation to upskill if they are to encourage consumers to use professional financial planners, according to Rodney Lavin CFP^®, the Financial Planning Association’s (FPA) inaugural CFP Professional Ambassador.

Rodney Lavin, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional based in Gippsland, Victoria, is the FPA’s first ever CFP Professional Ambassador and said ongoing education and training were essential for all financial planners to be equipped to solve clients’ complex needs. Mr Lavin, who was selected from a group of 90 nominated CFP professionals, will represent the FPA and promote the CFP Mark and high quality advice to consumers.

FPA CEO, Jo-Anne Bloch said the CFP Mark is not well understood or recognised by consumers. The FPA has chosen Mr Lavin as an ambassador to help promote the CFP Mark, explain what it means and the value that consumers can receive from working with a CFP professional.

“Mr Lavin was chosen for his extensive work in the financial planning profession, his record of community service, and the demonstration of his belief of the importance of the CFP Mark; he will be a very positive role model for his peers,” Ms Bloch said.

“His commitment to the community and his profession, and his dedication to his clients, epitomises the CFP Mark. CFP certification is the highest global designation in financial planning. There are over 5,700 CFP professionals in Australia and 126,000 CFP professionals around the world in 23 affiliate countries. All members of the Financial Planning Association have signed up to the FPA’s Code of Ethics and Rules of Professional Conduct, but a CFP professional has completed an additional program which focuses on applying their knowledge and skills.

Mr Lavin from Lavin and Associates, of Licensee Financial Wisdom, said on a professional level he felt honoured and proud to be selected as the inaugural CFP Professional Ambassador.

“As with any profession, whether medical, legal or accounting, the financial planning profession plays a pivotal role in the lives of our clients,” Mr Lavin said.

“Our clients trust us and I feel we have an obligation as professionals to enhance that trust by being as skilled, upto-date and professional as possible.

“To me, undertaking further study and upgrading our status to CFP professional is simply honouring the relationship by illustrating your commitment to your own profession.

“On the other hand, if I was a client I would hope my financial planner was prepared and willing to have a personal commitment to become a leader in their own profession and strive to become a CFP professional. It should be a standard that all financial planners want to achieve.”

“In my role as CFP Professional Ambassador, I hope to play a role in improving the status of the CFP Mark in this country. I want to increase the desire for planners to want to become a CFP professional and for consumers to want to engage the services of a financial planner who is a CFP professional, or is at least committed to undertake the studies to become one,” Mr Lavin said.

“To be a CFP professional should be the goal of all professional financial planners in Australia if we are to be 'fair dinkum' as a profession.”

Rodney was recently invited to join a Parliamentary delegation to Washington DC and New York City. He was Councillor for the City of Berwick from 1989 to 1992. Rodney mentors CFP professional students, and is the FPA Chapter Chair for Gippsland.

Financial advice can provide peace of mind and security as a result of being prepared for the future. When seeking objective, expert and trusted financial planning advice, consumers should look for financial planners who are CFP professionals.