The Institute of Financial Planning has announced that Joanna Hague CFP^CM has become the 1,000th Certified Financial Planner^CM Professional to be practicing in the UK.
She successfully completed the assessment process via the IFP's sister training and education body FPSB UK and also met the IFP requirements to become a CFP professional. Ms Hague works as a Paraplanner with Investment for Life, a Financial Planning firm based in Doncaster.
The CFP qualification stands at Level 6. It is administered by the IFP as the UK affiliate of Financial Planning Standards Board, the organisation responsible for CFP certification outside of the USA.
Joanna Hague CFP said: "I'm thrilled to hear the news that not only have I achieved the CFP^CM qualification, but also that the IFP can announce such a significant milestone as the 1000th CFP professional.
"The CFP^CM certification process has brought together all the things I have learnt over the past few years of studying. It has helped me to understand the process of Financial Planning and I know that I'm a more valuable Paraplanner within Investment for Life as a result."
Steve Gazzard CFP, chief executive of the IFP, said: "CFP certification represents the global standard of excellence in Financial Planning so it's a great to celebrate this significant milestone which reinforces the continued growth of the Financial Planning profession in the UK.
"CFP professionals regularly tell us that this one of the most challenging tests that they have undertaken but definitely the most rewarding. It is particularly appropriate that Joanna is the person who takes us to this milestone as I know how hard she has worked in order to achieve it. As well as amply demonstrating her own knowledge and skills, her success also evidences the professionalism and importance of Paraplanners within the Financial Planning profession."
{desktop}{/desktop}{mobile}{/mobile}
Noel Maye, chief executive of the US-based global Financial Planning Standards Board, said: "Since 1995, the Institute of Financial Planning has been at the forefront of representing financial planning as a profession in the UK, and promoting the CFP mark as the symbol of excellence for competent and ethical financial planning professionals.
"Congratulations to the IFP on celebrating its 1,000thpracticing Certified Financial Planner Professional this month. Joanna joins a community of committed professionals in the UK, and a growing community of Certified Financial Planner professionals worldwide who meet rigorous competency, ethics and practice standards and demonstrate a commitment to the highest levels of financial planning professionalism.
"On behalf of the 153,000 CFP professionals in 25 countries and territories around the world, FPSB welcomes Joanna to a global community committed to putting consumers in control of their lives through the use of personal financial planning. We wish IFP continued success and, Joanna, one of our newest CFP professionals, a truly fulfilling career in financial planning."
Lucy Courtenay, chief executive of FPSB UK, said: "The rigorous assessment process for CFP Certification tests candidates' planning skills and application as well as their technical knowledge. The assessment is set at QCF level 6 - the same level as the final year of a university degree. It is no easy task to prepare an integrated Financial Plan for a client. Congratulations to Joanna who has demonstrated that she has the advanced Financial Planning skills to prepare such a plan that meets global standards of competence. Jo can be very proud of her achievement."
Rebecca Taylor FIFP, CFP^CM, IFP President, said: "CFP certification is not just another certificate to hang on the wall, or a means of providing letters after your name. It is rare for a qualification to provide real, tangible business benefits for those who complete the process. Whether you are a Financial Planner or a Paraplanner, CFP certification does just that. By engaging with the six step Financial Planning process you'll not only take the service you provide for your clients to a new level but also improve the profitability of your business too – something which since RDR is more important than ever.
"Congratulations to Joanna on joining the UK community of CFP professionals. I have known Jo for a few years, having been introduced to her through her father Mike who is both a Fellow of the IFP and was one of the very first people to become a CFP professional in the UK. Jo is young, dynamic and highly professional. She is the perfect person to be our 1,000th practicing CFP professional!"