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25 February 2014

"Going on to become chartered has helped increase my technical knowledge and confidence, created better business opportunities with clients and given me the expertise to expand into other areas, such as estate planning.”

Comments: Michael Doy, a senior financial planner at Leicester-based Imperial Financial Planning, who has just become the 4,000th member of the Personal Finance Society to achieve chartered status.

Michael had no hesitation in outlining the advantages the qualification bestowed, continuing: "After gaining the necessary RDR qualification in 2009, I realised how it had helped me and I wanted to carry on further. It takes a high level of commitment, but the potential benefits on a personal and business level completely justify the decision."

This sentiment was further supported by the Personal Finance Society’s 2013 chartered financial planner of the year, Robin Melley, who also became chartered back in 2009 and is one of the society's 31 regional chartered champions. He added: "Chartered status demonstrates to customers that they can be assured of the highest professional standards of service. It has definitely made a difference to the way our clients view us and they clearly appreciate dealing with a team of people who aspire to be the best."

Earlier this week the Personal Finance Society confirmed the significant rise in the number of financial planners achieving chartered status. Reaching the 4,000-mark means that 12 per cent of its 34,000 members have now reached the milestone, which was launched in 2005.

Commenting on the news, Personal Finance Society chief executive, Keith Richards, said: "4,000 chartered financial planners represents a tremendous achievement in such a short space of time. Just as impressive is that a further 7,000 members are currently working their way towards it through self-motivation.

"This is a tangible indicator that the adviser profession is actively pursuing higher levels of professionalism, without doing so purely to comply with regulatory needs.

“Raising the profile of financial planning as a profession can only be a good thing in the eyes of the consumer. It is very encouraging to see so many taking on the challenge of attaining a higher professional qualification.”

There's similarly encouraging news on the corporate chartered front too, with the Personal Finance Society confirming that there are now 600 chartered financial planning firms.

- Ends -

Contact:

Keith Richards, chief executive
keith.richards@thepfs.org
Office: 0207 417 4474
Mobile: 07786 023033

Notes to Editors:

The Personal Finance Society
The Personal Finance Society is the leading professional organisation for financial advisers and those in related roles. With over 34,000 members, it promotes the highest standards of professionalism by setting the standards for technical knowledge, customer service and ethical practice across the entire financial planning community. To achieve its aims, the Society provides its members with access to a programme of continuing professional development, relevant qualifications, learning materials, support services and other practical benefits.

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