WHY A CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER PROFESSIONAL CFP^®?

Most people think all financial planners are “certified,” but this isn’t true. Anyone can use the title “financial planner.” Only those who have fulfilled the certification and renewal requirements of CFP Board can display the CFP^® certification trademarks which represent a high level of competency, ethics, and professionalism. And because they are held to a fiduciary standard of care, a CFP^® professional is required to act in your best interest.

WHAT IS A FIDUCIARY FINANCIAL ADVISOR / FIDUCIARY FINANCIAL PLANNER? WHAT IS INVESTMENT ADVISOR FIDUCIARY DUTY?

A fiduciary financial advisor is a financial advisor who by law is required to act in your best interest. fee based financial advisors adhere to their investment advisor duty, meaning that they must offer financial advice that is not just suitable to your financial situation but rather it must be ideal for your unique circumstances. Most investment advisors that receive commissions for the sale of financial products do not have a fiduciary duty to their clients and must only offer “suitable” investment recommendations and financial products.

It is important for consumers to ask their advisors if they have a fiduciary duty to clients. At Barnett Capital Advisors, we aim to put our clients needs first through fee based investment planning. We accept our fiduciary duty to clients and work hard to offer the best recommendations and financial products to help you reach your goals.

CFP^® EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS

CFP® professionals must pass the comprehensive CFP® Certification Exam, which tests their abilities to apply financial planning knowledge to real-life situations. The exam covers the financial planning process, tax planning, employee benefits and retirement planning, estate planning, investment management and insurance. This comprehensive exam ensures that a CFP® professional is highly qualified to develop a plan for your finances.

CFP^® EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

CFP® professionals complete several years of experience related to delivering financial planning services to clients prior to earning the right to use the CFP® certification trademarks. This hands-on experience guarantees that CFP® professionals have practical financial planning knowledge, so you can count on them to help you create a realistic financial plan that fits your individual needs.

CFP^® ETHICS REQUIREMENTS

When it comes to ethics and professional reasonability, CFP®professionals are held to the highest of standards, as outlined in CFP Board’s Standards of Professional Conduct. They are obliged to uphold the principles of integrity, objectivity, competence, fairness, confidentiality, professionalism and diligence as outlined in CFP Board’s Code of Ethics. The Rules of Conduct require CFP® professionals to put your interests ahead of their own at all times and to provide their financial planning services as a “fiduciary”—acting in the best interest of their financial planning clients. CFP® professionals are subject to CFP Board sanctions if they violate these standards.