About

The Financial Planning Association (FPA) represents the interests of the public and Australia’s professional community of financial planners.

The FPA is unrivalled in its:

• reach of the financial planning market
• influence on government and regulators
• standards set through our world-class Code of Professional Practice
• unique position as the certification body in Australia for the global CFP^® designation, and
• reputation for quality professional development.

With more than 10,000 members and affiliates, of whom 7,500 are practising financial planners and a 20-year legacy, the FPA represents the changing face of financial planning, from industry to a profession.

The FPA has 5 key roles to play:

1. Represent professionals: to become a member of the FPA, financial planners need to meet higher standards than the minimum levels required by law, so we represent the true professionals in the financial planning industry.
2. Advocacy and lobbying: we are the collective voice of our members and their clients and influence Government policies and regulations affecting financial planning.  The FPA maintains a strong relationship with regulators, politicians and their advisers on all sides of the fence.
3. Maintaining standards: we set and enforce professional and ethical standards for our members to make sure that they conduct business to the highest quality.
4. Awarding certifications:  We are the only Australian body that assesses and awards the Certified Financial Planner^® or CFP^® designation, which is the highest certification available to financial planners worldwide.
5. Professional development: We design and offer an industry-leading range of training programmes to help financial planners to keep their knowledge and skills up-to-date.
   

Why does financial planning need to be recognised as a profession?

The evolution of the financial planning industry into a profession is in the national interest as it will deliver improved advice services to consumers and ultimately, influence the financial well-being of all Australians.  Governments and regulators should support our mission as it serves to assist them in protecting consumers by raising the bar of accountability, ethical obligations and education of its members, beyond the requirements of the law.

As part of our longer-term professional mandate, we will be seeking for equivalence with the other professional bodies, on behalf of our members, on issues such as:

• Enshrining the term Financial Planner, and restrict the use of the term to those who meet agreed criteria
• Becoming a recognised Tax Agent Association
• Be granted the same professional privileges as accountants
• Tax deductibility of upfront financial planning advice fees.