Our inclusion of a fiduciary standard in our revised guidelines has helped advisers regain trust with the American public. A recent Aite Group survey showed, for instance, that CFP® professionals are more productive than their peers without the certification. Perhaps this is also why the number of CFP® professionals has grown by 24 percent over the last 5 years across all business models. And that's why the CFP® designation is more recognized by the public than all other financial planning designations.

The CFP Board is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit whose mission is to benefit the public and we take that charge seriously by being the only financial planning designation that requires and enforces a fiduciary standard of care. Our designation and our enforcement process is respected by CFP® professionals, consumers, regulators and policymakers. It has teeth and it means something. That's no joke. Read more >

The Wall Street Journal
Kevin R. Keller
September 24, 2012