Making the most of your CFP® professional status

The FPA supports all CFP professionals in promoting the CFP professional brand to consumers through various marketing materials. On an individual level, each CFP professional is also responsible for taking advantage of opportunities to promote their CFP professional status. Essentially, it is the combined efforts of all CFP professionals that will help to make a difference in increasing brand awareness of the CFP Marks amongst consumers.

Thank you to our 90 entrants in the CFP Professional Ambassador Program who shared with us some great ways that they promote their CFP Mark.

Here are some real examples of the creative ways that CFP professionals are currently promoting their CFP professional status.

"Our practice provides magnetic calendars as gifts to our clients and the CFP Mark logo is displayed alongside my name. We also sponsor a local basketball team and provide branded singlets that mention my CFP professional status.”

“I wear my CFP Mark lapel pin every single day on my shirt pocket corner. It stands out and is often a conversation starter with people I come into contact with, from the corner fast food store, bank manager, hairdresser and of course clients.”

“I contribute a financial planning article to the regular local bowls club newsletter. The articles proudly display my photo and the CFP Mark logo. "

“A significant part of my CFP Mark promotion comes through my community involvement - most significantly the Vinnies CEO Sleepout. As founder of this event I have inadvertently benefited from significant media exposure and I am noted as a CFP professional on the website www.ceosleepout.org.au.”

26 ways to make the most of your CFP professional status.

From the 90 CFP Professional Ambassador entries, many members shared the following great ways they promote their CFP professional status. Are there any here you have not yet implemented?

  • Wear your CFP Mark pin on your lapel, or display it prominently on your compendium in meetings.
  • Showcase the New CFP certification video on your company website. You can also display the video on a TV in your reception area.
  • If you write a blog, talk about your CFP professional status and other interesting aspects of the industry for your clients and colleagues to read.
  • Frame and display your CFP Certificate of Practice in your board room.
  • If you write editorial for newspapers or newsletters, be sure to include the CFP Mark with your name as the author.
  • Make the most of your listing on Find a Planner and upload your photo and include your full profile.
  • Sponsor a local sports club and create branded t-shirts or caps for the team with your name and the CFP Mark logo.
  • Embrace social networking and place a link to the CFP certification video from your LinkedIn and Facebook profiles. And use Twitter to tweet about what CFP certification means and get your clients to follow you!
  • Download the CFP professional poster and get a graphic desinger to personalise it with your details and photo, and display it in your office.
  • Volunteer at school and university career events and promote your CFP certification and your pathway to achieving the global symbol of excellence in financial planning.
  • Include the CFP Marks next to your name in your email signature. There is a specially designed CFP Mark email signature available that you can insert neatly into your signature.
  • Display the CFP Mark logo on your office signage.
  • Display the consumer brochure on why CFP certification is the global excellence in financial planning, in your office and hand them out to clients.
  • Highlight your CFP professional status in all your conversations with prospective clients. You might like to explain the differences between an ordinary financial planner and a CFP professional.
  • Get involved in your local community via schools, charities and other community activities.
  • When someone asks you what you do for a living, make sure CFP certification is the first thing you mention.
  • Mention the CFP Marks with your name in print, radio, yellow pages or TV advertising.
  • Make sure all your business stationery and documents include the CFP Marks with your name e.g. business cards, letterhead, compliment slips, client newsletter, Statements of Advice and Financial Services Guide.
  • Highlight what CFP certification means on your website.
  • Make sure your biography explains that you are a CFP professional.
  • Mentor a CFP certification student.
  • Promote your CFP profesional status to reinforce relationships with accountants and other related professionals to increase the number of referrals you receive.
  • Make use of all the elements in the CFP Professional Kit .
  • Talk about CFP certification when giving presentations to clients, prospective clients and colleagues.
  • When recruiting planners in your practice, make CFP certification a mandatory requirement.
  • Educate your fellow colleagues about the value of being a CFP practitioner and encourage them to visit www.fpa.asn.au/cfp

Accessing the CFP Professional Kit

The CFP Professional Kit is designed to help you promote CFP certification to your own clients and prospective clients. The kit contains:






CFP Certification Global excellence in financial planning ®

CFP ®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER ® and CFP ® are certification marks owned outside the U.S. by Financial Planning Standards Board Ltd.

Financial Planning Association of Australia Limited is the marks licensing authority for the CFP Marks in Australia, through agreement with FPSB.