2. Discussion Forum Hot Topics

Last month, John De Goey's hosting of the Discussion Forum thread about industry professionalism was very successful in prompting a lively discussion. Tracy Piercy CFP is now sharing her equally provocative thoughts on the industry's obligation to help educate consumers. Here is one comment she has posted: "There are unfortunately too many advisors who only know how to look at the current numbers and the existing situation and while they have good intentions, they are not trained or equipped to help clients brainstorm creative and alternate solutions."

3. FPSC Comments on Recent Industry Initiatives

4. Acting FPSC President Shares His Expertise on International Stage

Acting FPSC President Cary List CA, CFP was elected to the board of the National Organization for Competency Assurance (NOCA), the American association for professional certification bodies, for an initial three-year term effective immediately. He is the first non-American NOCA Board member.

At the NOCA conference in Orlando in November, List co-presented a session on "Competency-based Assessment" to approximately 100 attendees. The session focused on the advantages and disadvantages of taking a competency-based approach to certification.

List also sat on two discussion panels at the International Financial Planning Day event in Hong Kong this fall — one on financial planning and the CFP credential around the world and the other on "Client Advising Techniques." He sat on a similar international discussion panel at China's first convocation ceremony and international conference for CFP professionals in Shenzen, China. FPSC Past Chair Margaret Koniuck gave a talk on "personal branding" at this conference.

5. Indonesia Joins FPSB as an Affiliate Member

At the fall 2007 Financial Planning Standards Board (FPSB) Council meetings in Hong Kong, Indonesia was approved as a full member of FPSB, the organization of CFP certifying bodies from around the world. Indonesia joined as an associate member at the meetings held in Vancouver this past spring.

FPSB is the non-profit association that owns and manages the CFP certification program outside the United States. FPSC past chair Margaret Koniuck is the 2007 FPSB Board chair and current FPSC Board chair Peter Volpé is an FPSB Board member.

6. Code of Ethics 'Walk the Walk' Poster Now Available

7. Submit Nominations for Donald J. Johnston Award Until December 20th

8. The Public Face of Our Brand: We're Out There 'Talking the Talk'

Thank you CFP professionals who volunteer time to complete FPSC brand ambassador training and to participate in our branding campaigns.

Promoting CFP Certification

Many of our trained volunteers represented their profession at post-secondary career fairs. Without their assistance, we would not have been able reach so many students in so many places across the country with messages about the benefits and rewards of careers in financial planning and about CFP certification.

Here's where we were this fall and the CFP volunteers who took part:

University of Manitoba — Winnipeg
Philip Shead, Paul Way, Alvin Toll and Mary-Ann Kokan-Nyhof

University of New Brunswick and St. Thomas University — Fredericton
Laura Lee Kenny

University of Regina — Regina
Cheryl Bauer-Hyde and Rod Tyler

Queen's University — Kingston
John Ryce and Bev Young

Ryerson University — Toronto
Jackie Burger, Chris Jackson, Irina Koropenko, John de Goey and Adam Moreira

Partners for Employment — Waterloo
Joint event with Conestoga College, Sir Wilfred Laurier University, University of Waterloo and University of Guelph
Silvestor Mior, Jean Blyth, Jacqui McFarlane and Arlene Andrews

University of Calgary — Calgary
Gordon Ross, Jonathan Khor, Lawrence Laderoute and Judy Collins

Halifax Career Fair — Dartmouth
Joint event with Dalhousie University, Saint Mary's University and St. Francis Xavier University
Kam Chung and Dee Govang

Memorial University — St. John's
Charlie Pope, Patrick Hogan, Joe Richie and Brad Rogers

York University Career Fair — Toronto
Joseph Balsamo and Ron Chan

York University CFP and CFA Information Session — Toronto
Ron Chan and Joseph Balsamo

Southern Alberta Institute of Technology — Calgary
Martin DeArtola, Jonathan Khor and Shelly Vold

University of Calgary Graduate and Professional Fair — Calgary
Patrick Murphy and Jonathan Khor

And we're not done yet! FPSC and its volunteering CFP professionals are preparing for career events in the coming months in Vancouver, Victoria, Calgary, Oakville, Hamilton and North Bay.

Corporate and Community Outreach

CFP professionals across Canada participate in a variety of speaking engagements to inform Canadians of all ages about the value of financial planning.

Here are the recent ones we know about because we helped make them happen:

Canada Food Inspection Agency
Financial Planning for Investing (Jonathan Sceeles CFP)

GXS. Inc.
Introduction to Financial Planning (Peter Andreana CFP)

Ontario Ministry of Finance, Personal Income Tax and Design Policy
Introduction to Financial Planning (Jeanette Brox CFP)

GXS. Inc.
Financial Planning for Investing (Scott Plaskett CFP)

GXS. Inc.
Financial Planning for Retirement (Kurt Rosentreter CFP)

CFP Professionals in the News

CFP professionals continue to showcase the breadth and depth of the CFP community's expertise and knowledge. Whether it be in print, on radio or television, CFP professionals over the past two months have provided expert commentary on financial planning related topics covered in the mass media.

Highlights of CFP professionals' media coverage include:

Advisor.ca
Marc Lamontagne interviewed for an article on alternative/no down payment mortgages
Graeme McPhaden interviewed for articles on CSI for seniors/spending and inflation issues

Bottom Line Magazine
Cynthia Kett interviewed for article on income trusts

Canadian Press
Mark Halpern interviewed for an article on mortgage or life insurance that was picked up by more than 15 papers across Canada

Canwest newswire
Duane Francis interviewed for story on Internet 'begging'

CBC Radio
David Phipps interviewed on Canadian's savings habits

CBC TV
Kurt Rosentreter interviewed on The National on income trusts

Globe & Mail
Ron Harvey interviewed for a report on Empty Nesters (Snowbird planning issues)
Al Nagy and Graeme McPhaden interviewed for article on income trusts

Toronto Star
Cynthia Kett interviewed for article on income trusts

Toronto Star Financial Planning special report
Doug Lamb — hiring a planner; financial planning for youth; what a planner must know
Frank Wiginton — financial planning through various life stages
Graeme McPhaden — prepare for the unexpected; what a planner must know
Cynthia Kett and Bradley Roulston — checklist for choosing a planner
Sucheta Rajagopal — planning issues for seniors

Toronto Star Wealth Management special report
Bradley Roulston interviewed on how to choose a financial planner
Kurt Rosentreter interviewed on tax planning

Investment Executive
Tina Tehrnanchian interviewed for article on home as investment equity Peter Andreana was interviewed for article on financial planning for those near retirement

Seniorscopie.com
Sucheta Rajagopol interviewed for story on stretching dollars while in retirement — role of advisor

Vancouver Province
Bradley Roulston interviewed for an article on budgeting needs versus. wants that was picked up by several other Canwest papers

Please continue to tell us of your participation in media interviews (outside of those we arrange) so we can acknowledge your efforts and celebrate your success.

FPSC in the News

Members of FPSC staff are also in the news, commenting on CFP certification, our growing body of CFP professionals, and the financial planning profession.

Here are the recent highlights:

The Bottom Line
FPSC Acting President Cary List wrote article on FPSC's new Competency Profile
FPSC Acting President Cary List interviewed for article encouraging accountants to obtain CFP credential

Investment Executive
FPSC Acting President Cary List interviewed for article on practice standards

Toronto Star Financial Planner Special Report
FPSC Acting President Cary List interviewed for article about FPSC disciplinary actions
FPSC Acting President Cary List interviewed for article on what a planner must know

Toronto Star
FPSC Director, Professional & Student Affairs Carolyn Fallis interviewed for article on qualities to look for in a financial planner

9. FPSC's New Advertising Campaign

FPSC launched its 2006-07 advertising campaign. All the new ads are running in national business and news magazines and in The Globe & Mail from December to March. Also, for six weeks in January and February, 30-second radio ads will run in markets from coast-to-coast. Visit Public Face of CFP and click on CFP Ads to see all our ads and the advertising schedule.

10. Feature Article of the Month

11. Submit a Research Paper for a Chance to Earn $20,000 USD

12. Order Personalized Copies of Investment Executive's Money Planner

FPSC has negotiated a deal with Investment Executive so you can purchase personalized copies of their Money Planner issue. Use the special order form to get the FPSC rate. The Money Planner issue includes articles on financial planning, retirement planning and insurance & estate planning, many of which quote CFP professionals as expert resources and speak directly to the value of professional financial planning.

13. Conferences & Seminars Posted