Need Professional Advisor ?
CFP Board adopted the Code of Ethics to establish the highest principles and standards. These
Principles are general statements expressing the ethical and professional ideals certificants and
registrants are expected to display in their professional activities. As such, the Principles are
aspirational in character and provide a source of guidance for certificants and registrants. The
Principles form the basis of CFP Board’s Rules of Conduct, Practice Standards and Disciplinary
Rules, and these documents together reflect CFP Board’s recognition of certificants’ and
registrants’ responsibilities to the public, clients, colleagues and employers.
Principle 1 – Integrity: Provide professional services with integrity.
Integrity demands honesty and candor which must not be subordinated to personal gain and
advantage. Certificants are placed in positions of trust by clients, and the ultimate source of that
trust is the certificant’s personal integrity. Allowance can be made for innocent error and
legitimate differences of opinion, but integrity cannot co-exist with deceit or subordination of
one’s principles.
Principle 2 – Objectivity: Provide professional services objectively.
Objectivity requires intellectual honesty and impartiality. Regardless of the particular service
rendered or the capacity in which a certificant functions, certificants should protect the integrity
of their work, maintain objectivity and avoid subordination of their judgment.
Principle 3 – Competence: Maintain the knowledge and skill necessary to provide professional
services competently.
Competence means attaining and maintaining an adequate level of knowledge and skill, and
application of that knowledge and skill in providing services to clients. Competence also
includes the wisdom to recognize the limitations of that knowledge and when consultation with
other professionals is appropriate or referral to other professionals necessary. Certificants make
a continuing commitment to learning and professional improvement.
Principle 4 – Fairness: Be fair and reasonable in all professional relationships. Disclose
conflicts of interest.
Fairness requires impartiality, intellectual honesty and disclosure of material conflicts of
interest. It involves a subordination of one’s own feelings, prejudices and desires so as to
achieve a proper balance of conflicting interests. Fairness is treating others in the same fashion
that you would want to be treated.
Principle 5 – Confidentiality: Protect the confidentiality of all client information.
Confidentiality means ensuring that information is accessible only to those authorized to have
access. A relationship of trust and confidence with the client can only be built upon the
understanding that the client’s information will remain confidential.
https://www.cfp.net/for-cfp-professionals/professional-standards-enforcement/current-standards-of-professional-conduct/standards-ofprofessional-conduct/code-of-ethics-professional-responsibility
Principle 6 – Professionalism: Act in a manner that demonstrates exemplary professional
conduct.
Professionalism requires behaving with dignity and courtesy to clients, fellow professionals, and
others in business-related activities. Certificants cooperate with fellow certificants to enhance
and maintain the profession’s public image and improve the quality of services.
Principle 7 – Diligence: Provide professional services diligently.
Diligence is the provision of services in a reasonably prompt and thorough manner, including
the proper planning for, and supervision of, the rendering of professional services.
Note: These standards and rules of conduct have been updated and will be implemented on
October 1, 2019.
