In last month’s edition of Financial Planner, we took a look at why your firm should join the growing number of Accredited Financial Planning FirmsTM. This month, we look more at the “who” as well as the “how”.

We’ll also preview the inaugural conference exclusively for Accredited Firms taking place on 21/22 March.

In the post RDR world it will be essential to differentiate your firm from the thousands of others who, rightly or wrongly, also call themselves Financial Planners.  Becoming an Accredited Firm provides the ideal means.

Accredited Firms provide a real Financial Planning service for their clients, one which involves cash flow modelling, and building strategies to help clients meet those all important goals in life.

If you’re already a CFP^CM professional, then you’ll know that clients appreciate and value the comprehensive service that you provide. Extending this across your firm is your next step.

When it comes to the requirements for accreditation, the IFP has purposely set the bar at a very high level. On application, at least 50 per cent of the firm’s FSA registered advisers must be qualified as a Certified Financial PlannerCM professional or Chartered Financial Planner (with AF5). At least one director/partner of the firm must be a current CFP^CM professional.

All advisers directly providing the Financial Planning service to clients on the firm’s behalf will have been tested on their Financial Planning skills at an advanced level or will be mentored or supervised by such an adviser. In this way we can be sure that regardless which adviser a consumer meets at the firm, they can be confident that the service they receive will help them build effective financial plans.

The IFP recognises that not all firms will currently meet these tough standards. If your firm doesn’t, then why not make it your goal for 2013?

Don’t forget, too, that later this month is the first Accredited Firms conference. Firms have been surveyed by the IFP, to gauge their key drivers and preferences to help shape the conference programme. For most, client servicing, driving greater client engagement and support for business growth are key and among the issues that will covered.