The Board conducted a survey of almost 1,600 financial planners at the start of the year to find out their professional status and skills.

It found there were 70,517 Associated Financial Planners in China at the end of June, up from 61,847 at the start of the year.

Over half of these were female, 41,312 compared to 25,855 who were male.

There are also 10,706 CFP^CM professionals in China, up from 9,035 at the start of the year.

Females dominated the CFP^CM sector too with 6,420 females compared to 4,040 males.

Those who had obtained the CFP^CM certification typically had six to ten years of experience in the sector compared to those with AFP certification who had 0-5 years of experience.

Most Financial Planners were over 30 but very few continued to work beyond the age of 50. Out of the 1,600 respondents, only 95 were over 50 and only three were over 60.

There are four routes for Financial Planners in China, Certified Financial Planner, Associate Financial Planner, Executive Financial Planner and Certified Private Banker.

All CFP^CM applicants must first become AFPs, while EFPs are for executives in the industry and CPB is for private bankers who already hold an AFP or CFP certificate.