Financial planning is an increasingly global profession. Clients, capital and ideas are moving across borders more freely than ever, and many issues that shape the work planners do — from evolving consumer expectations to technological change — are shared around the world.
This has important implications. It means we can’t think only in terms of domestic trends. We need to look outward, understand what’s happening across jurisdictions, and ensure our approach is evolving.
That reality was reinforced for me recently while attending a series of Financial Planning Standards Board (FPSB) meetings in Cape Town, South Africa. Over the course of our discussions, it became clear just how interconnected our profession has become — and how much we stand to gain from engaging with different perspectives.
Today’s financial planning landscape is influenced by global forces. Clients may live in one country, work in another, and hold assets in both — or somewhere else altogether. Financial planners are also increasingly mobile, drawn to opportunities in different markets and equipped to serve clients whose needs extend beyond a single jurisdiction.
In this environment, having a shared set of global standards is critically important. They’ll help ensure that, no matter where advice is provided, clients enjoy a consistent foundation of professionalism, competence and ethics.
As the global standard setter, the FPSB establishes the level of practice expected of financial planning professionals in areas such as knowledge and certification, professional responsibility and practice standards. As a member of the FPSB affiliate network, FP Canada is required to ensure our Standards of Professional Responsibility meet these global requirements.
Likewise, the FP Canada Standards Council is responsible for ensuring our Canadian certification requirements and Standards of Professional Responsibility meet or exceed the global standards and are reflective of Canadian requirements.
Canada’s financial planning standards are widely recognized for their rigour, and for the role they play in protecting the public interest. Our certification framework is similarly well established, designed to support consistency in how financial planning is delivered and reinforce trust among Canadians.
But maintaining our position as a global leader requires us to look beyond our borders — both to share what we’ve built and to learn from others.
Risks and opportunities
At the FPSB meetings, conversations returned to familiar issues: the rise of financial influencers, the growing sophistication of fraud and the implications of AI. While jurisdictions are addressing these challenges in different ways, the risks and opportunities are shared. Staying connected to how others are responding helps sharpen our perspective and ensures we continue to evolve our approach in Canada.
It’s also encouraging to see how closely these global priorities align with the work already under way in Canada. FP Canada’s recent submission to the federal government on its anti-fraud strategy, for example, reflects our commitment to addressing this growing global threat. At the same time, it recognizes that there is still more to learn from the experiences of others.
One of the most valuable aspects of working within a global profession is the ability to learn from one another.
In Cape Town, I chaired the FPSB Chief Executives Committee, where we reviewed the organization’s annual priorities. These included harnessing AI and technology and promoting greater consistency in the delivery of Certified Financial Planner (CFP) certification globally. Each territory shared updates on its progress, creating an opportunity to exchange ideas and insights.
This kind of dialogue is essential. While jurisdictions operate in different contexts, there’s strong alignment in the challenges we face and the outcomes we’re working toward.
That alignment was also evident during a visioning exercise for the global profession. Trust emerged as one of the central themes — reflecting its importance in the client-planner relationship, especially at a time when information is abundant but not always reliable.
There was also a clear focus on expanding access to financial planning, supporting more diverse growth within the profession and strengthening its role in protecting the public interest. These conversations helped lay the foundation for a shared vision of the global profession.
As the profession evolves, global standards will play an increasingly important role. New CFP certification standards from FPSB are coming into effect on January 1, a development that will help strengthen consistency and trust in the delivery of financial planning around the word.
For Canada, this development creates both an opportunity and a responsibility. We have consistently worked to meet and exceed global standards. Maintaining that position requires ongoing effort and a commitment to continuous improvement.
Global collaboration helps inform how we respond. It also extends into engagement with international regulatory bodies. FPSB’s work with the International Organization of Securities Commissions reflects this connection, highlighting a broader focus on investor protection and stronger consumer outcomes worldwide.
For the Canadian financial planning profession, participating in global dialogue is critical. It enables us to contribute to the evolution of the profession, learn from others and continue to strengthen our own standards. In a profession that’s increasingly global, that connection isn’t just valuable — it’s essential to delivering the consistent, trusted advice Canadians expect.