The number of Certified Financial Planner professionals worldwide has topped 213,000 for the first time - a 10-fold increase since 1990 when the qualification first went international.

The number of CFP Professionals globally is up by nearly 5% in the past year with a increase of 9,690 as of December 2022.

The Denver-based Financial Planning Standards Board (FPSB), the standards-setting body for the Certified Financial Planner designation outside the United States, reported the new figures today.

The Americas and Asia-Pacific regions saw the biggest increase in CFP professionals in 2022.

The top six growth markets for CFP professionals were:

1. People’s Republic of China, with an increase by FPSB China of 3,382 CFP professionals for a year-end count of 30,182, the second-largest CFP community in the world

2. United States, with an increase by CFP Board of 3,082 CFP professionals for a year-end count of 95,137, the largest CFP professional community in the world

3. Brazil, with an increase by Planejar – Associação Brasileira de Planejamento Financeiro of 1,245 CFP professionals for a year-end count of 8,630

4. Japan, with an increase by Japan Association for Financial Planners of 1,034 CFP professionals for a year-end count of 25,098

5. Canada, with an increase by FP Canada of 462 CFP professionals for a year-end count of 17,259

6. Chinese Taipei, with an increase by Financial Planning Association of Taiwan of 410 CFP professionals for a year-end count of 2,842

The six territories with double-digit growth rates in the number of CFP professionals last year were Thailand (21.1%), Brazil (16.9%), Chinese Taipei (16.9%), Israel (16.6%), People’s Republic of China (12.6%) and Singapore (10.8%).

In the UK, where the rival Chartered Financial Planner qualification provided by the PFS/CII is the most adopted Financial Planner qualification, there are about 1,000 CFP Professionals. In the UK the CFP designation is provided by the CISI professional body.

New FPSB CEO Dante De Gori CFP said: “We’re pleased to report the number of Certified Financial Planner professionals worldwide continues to grow, reaching its highest ever at over 213,000.

“Our robust global community of CFP professionals means people around the world have access to Financial Planning from those who have committed to rigorous standards of competency, ethics and practice. With global economic uncertainty and the rising costs of living impacting so many, increased access to Financial Planning advice is of utmost importance to help individuals and families stay on track to reach their goals and achieve financial well-being.”