A certified financial planner popularly known as CFP is responsible for acting as a financial planner for individuals and organizations and assisting them in fulfilling their short term as well as long term financial goals. It is necessary for chartered financial planners to have good communication skills while also having an interest in the field of finance. 

 

If you want to know more about CFP, why should you pursue this globally recognized professional qualification, who is it suitable for, and the skills you’ll require to become one, this blog is for you. We will also discuss the best institute you can opt for to become a skilled CFP in today’s time. Let’s start. 

Why Should You Pursue CFP

A certified financial planner is of high importance as it is recognized all across the world and has maintained a high standard for CFP professionals worldwide. You should consider studying CFP because it will help you in various ways including: 

 

  • CFP will equip you with the proficiency to make quick financial decisions and go through effective financial planning each time. 
  • It helps you reduce financial risk for your clients by providing them with effective financial planning proposals. 
  • Clients trust you with your work as you help them achieve their short term & long term financial goals. 
  • Customer satisfaction leads to references, which increases your clientele and income rapidly. 
  • CFP offers high job satisfaction while allowing you to delve into various career options in the finance field. 

Who Should Pursue CFP as a Career

  • If you’re someone who wishes to build a career in the field of finance, you should consider pursuing CFP.
  • A professional who wants to upgrade their current profession & role in the finance industry can also take up CFP
  • If you’re a student who loves to study finance or is inclined towards the finance industry, CFP will be your best bet. 
  • If you want to switch your career path as a student, you can choose to pursue CFP anytime after clearing class 12th. 
  • If you’re an individual who wishes to understand the concepts of finance for managing and increasing your own funds, you can do so by becoming a CFP. This will ensure that you don’t have to rely on others to do it for you. 
  • CFP is accepted and recognized worldwide, making it a professional qualification that is highly valued and makes for a lucrative career option. If you want to be a part of an internationally recognized community of people from all across the world, CFP will be the right option for you. 

The Best CFP Intitute to Kick Start your Journey 

If you’ve made up your mind to pursue CFP, the CFP course offered by IMS Proschool will be the right way to go. IMS Proschool is the official learning partner of FPSB and it offers a comprehensive course for CFP that emphasizes on clearing 3 modules of CFP followed by an examination to get the CFP certification. 

 

IMS Proschool also helps its students find jobs with its 100% placement facilities which ensure that you kick start your career right after completing the course. The CFP modules you’ll have to complete are: 

 

  1. Foundation Module
  2. CFP Specialization
  3. CFP Certification Final Exam

 

After the successful completion of all the exams, you will receive the Certified Financial Planner CM Certification By FPSB. 

Eligibility Criteria for Pursuing CFP

There are two paths through which an individual can choose to pursue CFP. The eligibility criteria for each path is different and in this section, we’re going to discuss the eligibility criteria for both. 

 

Regular Path 

To pursue CFP through the regular path, the candidate needs to clear pass 12th. Only 12th pass individuals can start pursuing CFP and they can become chartered financial planners after clearing five examinations by the FPSB. 

 

Challenge Status Path

This path is suitable for individuals who have cleared any of the following qualifications: 

  • CA- intermediate level
  • ICWA
  • CFA
  • LLB
  • CS
  • PhD
  • CFA
  • PG
  • MPhil
  • CAIIB
  • Any of the UPSC examinations 
  • Actuary
  • FLMI & FFSI from LOMA

 

In this path of pursuing CFP, the candidates only have to appear and pass the fifth examination by the FPSB. 

Essential Skills Required to Become a CFP

As a globally recognized course in the finance field, CFP is a course that helps professionals stand out in their fields. There are various skills that one needs to equip to become a CFP professional. These skills include: 

Communication Skills

A financial planner is responsible for networking with individuals and businesses, making new clients, and maintaining old clients, making it important for them to have good interpersonal and communication skills. It becomes essential for chartered financial planners to communicate with people and find common topics for talking to them.

 

 A CFP also needs to have proper email etiquette. Moreover, the financial planner also needs to know how to communicate their analysis and explain their plans to the stakeholders of the organization. 

Analytical & Problem Solving Skills 

Every client comes with a different portfolio in terms of their finances and they also have unique requirements and expectations from certified financial planners. For this, a CFP needs to have proper mathematical and analytical skills to be able to solve different problems properly. Strong analytical skills will ensure that you are able to make smart financial decisions for your client. 

Attention to Minute Details & Organizational Skills 

Another crucial skill for a CFP to have is organizational skills. A good chartered financial planner is one who pays attention to minute details and has a strong command of his organizational skills. 

 

Effective time allocation and organization of work help financial planners build a solid clientele while increasing their income. Companies often hire chartered financial planners to help them with their finances, and they look for financial planners who have a strong command of their time management.

Good Multitasking Skills

It is important for a chartered financial planner to have a knack for multi-tasking as it helps them complete multiple tasks and come up with multiple solutions effectively & efficiently. 

Final Thoughts

To conclude, CFP is a lucrative career option and CFP professionals are highly demanded, making it a great career path for candidates who want to build a career in the field of finance. In this blog, we discussed the skills required to become a CFP and jotted down the points for who should become a CFP professional. 

 

If you’re planning to pursue CFP, taking the course offered by IMS Proschool will be your best bet. The CFP course by IMS Proschool will ensure that you are able to become a chartered financial planner in no time.

 

Frequently Asked Questions 

  1. In how long can I become a chartered financial planner?

The time taken for you to become a CFP will depend on how long you take to clear each exam and your ability to do so. If you clear all the exams in one go, you should become a CFP in 6 to 9 months. It takes 3 to 4 years to become a CFP at maximum. All you need to do is clear all the examinations after taking proper coaching or self-study. 

  1. Is it mandatory to pursue CFP after class 12th?

Yes, candidates can only pursue CFP after clearing their 12th class examinations. If you’re an aspirant, you can start pursuing CFP as a career after successfully completing your 12th. 

  1. Is it worth it to pursue CFP in India?

The demand and supply graph of organizations hiring Chartered Financial Planners and the number of CFPs in India is inversely proportional. Due to this, chartered financial planners are highly valued professionals in the country, making CFP the best profession to opt for in India. 

  1. Is CFP a globally recognized professional qualification?

Yes, it is. CFP is a globally recognized professional qualification in the field of finance. There are about 170,000 certified financial planners spread across the globe. 

  1. What is the average salary of a CFP in India?

The average salary of a chartered financial planner is around 3 to 6 LPA in India. Experienced and skilled CFP professionals also earn up to 20 LPA after gaining ample experience in the field.