During February and March the IFP conducted its first benchmarking survey of Accredited Financial Planning FirmsTM.

The study was carried out in association with the Phil Billingham Partnership. Over 40 of the 64 Accredited Firms responded, giving a powerful picture of how these leading firms operate
Accredited firms must meet IFP's strict criteria covering areas including adherence with a code of ethics and practice standards, following the six step Financial Planning process with cashflow planning as a default service, attaining qualification standards well ahead of the FCA required levels, providing clarity of proposition and fees, and evidencing an ongoing commitment to effective CPD for staff.

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Steve Gazzard CFP^CM, CEO of IFP said: "We'd like to say a very big thank you to all the firms which took the time and effort to complete the survey. It's been a very valuable process for us and one which we will look to repeat in future. It's clear looking at the consistent results of this first benchmarking study, and particularly in the outcomes for clients, that in many key areas this is a group where great minds really do think alike. We hope that through publicising these results we can help more firms to develop best practice and accelerate the growth in Financial Planning which can deliver such great outcomes for clients, as is shown by the fact that these firms receive so few complaints."