3 Benefits to Consider When Choosing to See a CFP® Professional

You know you want to make a plan for your financial future. Between your assets, charitable giving, estate, and other needs in your life, you want to entrust someone with the right credentials to help you prepare for the years and life events to come. Instead of settling on just any financial planner, make sure you’re doing your research to find a CFP® professional you can trust. Here are three key benefits of choosing someone with the right certification to help you with your plan.

Financial Planner vs. CFP® Professional

Before we discuss the benefits of working with a CFP® professional, you need to understand the difference between those who are certified and those who are not.

In the world of investments and wealth management, anyone can consider themselves a financial planner, but if they don’t have the professional credentials to back it up, you may be putting yourself at risk. An individual who has yet to undergo rigorous examinations and certification does not have to abide by the same set of standards and may only be seeking to make money with little regard to how your investments affect you.

A CFP® professional, however, is someone who earned their credentials after obtaining years of real-world experience in providing financial planning services and passed the CFP® Certification Exam. What does this mean? It means someone with the official CFP® designation is committed to the profession and has your best interests and needs in mind, no matter the financial benefit they receive.

What Are the Benefits of Choosing a CFP® Professional?

As you do your research, you may feel unsure as to what you should look for as well as what benefits you can expect when choosing a CFP® professional. Here are three to consider:

1. Your best interests come first. As fiduciaries, they are held to high ethical standards and will act in your best interest throughout the financial planning process. Refusing to do so or discovery of poor business practices can cause them to be sanctioned by the Board and possibly lose their certification.  
2. They can help you navigate major life changes. Whether you’re preparing to have a baby, get married, or retire, a CPF® professional is well-versed and capable of helping you understand the financial impact of these life events. And, with the right guidance, they can help you make the appropriate changes and decisions to continue planning for a brighter future.
3. They can deliver complete financial planning. Instead of having limited knowledge of the various components that come with financial planning, CFP® professionals understand the complete picture. From asset management and retirement planning to charitable giving and establishing a trust, they can walk you through every aspect of your financial future.

Finding the right CFP® professional may save you a lot of time and potential heartache. When it comes to your money and the legacy you hope to leave behind, make sure you choose someone with the right credentials to help you stay on track.

About the Author
Emma Cramm, CFP® is a wealth planner at Cadent Capital. Earning her Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP) certification and credentials in March 2018, she is currently a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Level II candidate. Committed to helping individuals better plan for their future, she is responsible for onboarding new client relationships and helping others build financial freedom. If you are interested in allowing our team to help you establish a better foundation for your financial success, call us at (972) 777-4991 or visit our website.

Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED

FINANCIAL PLANNER™, CFP® (with plaque design) and CFP® (with flame design) in the U.S., which it awards to

individuals who successfully complete CFP Board’s initial and ongoing certification requirements.