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The Financial Planning Association (FPA) represents the interests of the public and Australia’s professional community of financial planners.
Of 10,000 members and affiliates, more than 7,500 are practicing financial planners – accomplished professionals who adhere to high professional standards and put their clients’ interests first.
The FPA provides the leadership and professional framework that enables members to deliver quality financial advice to their clients. Members include over 5,500 CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professionals – the global symbol of excellence in financial planning.
All FPA practitioner members are bound by a Code of Professional Practice that demands higher professional standards than those required by law, and they must meet continuing professional development requirements.
The FPA has five key roles to play:
To represent professionals: to become a member of the FPA, financial planners need to meet higher standards than the minimum levels required by law, so we represent the true professionals in the financial planning industry.
To advocate and advance the profession: we represent the collective voice of our members and their clients when lobbying government, the opposition, the regulator and other bodies.
To set and maintain high standards: we set and enforce professional and ethical standards for our members to make sure that they conduct business to the highest quality.
To award certifications: we are the only Australian body that assesses and awards the Certified Financial Planner® or CFP® designation, which is the highest certification available to financial planners worldwide.
To foster professional development: we design and offer an industry-leading range of training programs to help financial planners keep their knowledge and skills up to date.
How the FPA can help you
The FPA's main mission is to raise the professional standards of financial planning in Australia, with the aim of protecting consumers from unethical practices and safeguarding their best interests.
You can use the FPA's website to find a professional practice or financial planner from the ranks of the association's members – your guarantee of quality advice and professional conduct. Go to Find a Planner to see the planners that are near you.
The FPA can also help you if the advice or conduct of an FPA financial planner doesn't meet professional criteria. You can lodge a complaint, as explained in Lodge a complaint.
