The global Certified Financial Planner body - the Financial Planning Standards Board - is celebrating its 15th anniversary this week by highlighting that the number of CFP professionals worldwide has doubled since its launch in 2004 from 90,000 to more than 181,000.

The Denver-based FPSB manages the CFP designation used by professional bodies around the world and sets global standards.

The FPSB opened on 1 December 2004 with an affiliate network of 17 professional Financial Planning bodies around the world - including the UK. Today there are 27.

In 2004 there were just under 90,000 CFP professionals worldwide and today just over 181,000 with the aim of reaching 250,000 by 2025 in 40 territories. There are around 1,000 CFP professionals in the UK.

To mark the milestone the FPSB has released a special infographic showing its 15 year history of growth anniversary infographic.

Noel Maye, FPSB chief executive, said: “Over the years, both the FPSB Network and our sphere of influence have grown, and we’re pleased to celebrate our 15-year anniversary with this level of global recognition for CFP certification from practitioners, financial services firms, regulators and consumers supporting competent, ethical Financial Planners who place their clients’ interests first.”

“FPSB Ltd has charted an ambitious course to build the Financial Planning profession around the world for the benefit of the public for generations to come.”

“With the financial services industry facing its most disruptive time in history, the time has never been better to communicate to consumers the value of Financial Planning, the value of having a financial plan and the value of working with a competent and ethical Financial Planner.” 

The FSPB’s annual meeting recently took place in Zurich where the body agreed its strategy for the future.

Priorities include: evolving FPSB’s CFP certification standards and requirements to “embrace” and “future-proof” the Financial Planning profession, increasing best practice sharing, launching a global communications strategy to increase consumer awareness of the value of Financial Planning and publishing Guidance Practice Notes to support Financial Planning professionals in and working with clients, including vulnerable clients.

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