{"id":5101,"date":"2026-01-14T11:04:24","date_gmt":"2026-01-14T19:04:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.iafp.ca\/planners\/?page_id=5101"},"modified":"2026-04-20T17:57:45","modified_gmt":"2026-04-21T00:57:45","slug":"fiduciary-standards","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.iafp.ca\/planners\/about-us\/fiduciary-standards\/","title":{"rendered":"Fiduciary Standards"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"5101\" class=\"elementor elementor-5101\" data-elementor-post-type=\"page\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-463b5ce elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default parallax_section_no qode_elementor_container_no\" data-id=\"463b5ce\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-background-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-794f54f\" data-id=\"794f54f\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-b92b63a elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default parallax_section_no qode_elementor_container_no\" data-id=\"b92b63a\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-445d826\" data-id=\"445d826\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-acf85fd elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"acf85fd\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">A New Fiduciary Standard for Financial Planning<\/h1>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-c064a04 elementor-reverse-tablet elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default parallax_section_no qode_elementor_container_no\" data-id=\"c064a04\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;gradient&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-ba4b48a\" data-id=\"ba4b48a\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-144d9ab elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"144d9ab\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Strengthening the R.F.P.<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> Commitment to Clients<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-69b07e2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"69b07e2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>As the Institute of Advanced Financial Planners\u2122 (IAFP<sup>\u00ae<\/sup>) marks the 40th anniversary of the Registered Financial Planner (R.F.P.<sup>\u00ae<\/sup>) designation, it is introducing a mandatory fiduciary attestation for all members, effective with the 2026 membership renewal.<\/p>\n<p>This formal requirement ensures that all R.F.P.<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> professionals explicitly affirm their obligation <b>to act in their clients\u2019 best interests at all times.<\/b> It is not a shift in philosophy, but a clear, enforceable expression of what the designation has long represented.<\/p>\n<p>For four decades, the R.F.P.<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> designation has set the standard for experience, integrity, and a commitment to delivering comprehensive financial planning in the best interest of clients. The introduction of a formal fiduciary attestation builds on that foundation, strengthening accountability while aligning the designation with the evolving expectations of both clients and the profession.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0375fe6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"0375fe6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"300\" height=\"109\" src=\"https:\/\/www.iafp.ca\/planners\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/RFP-40Years-White-300x109.png\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-image-5134\" alt=\"R.F.P. - 40 Years of Trust\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.iafp.ca\/planners\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/RFP-40Years-White-300x109.png 300w, https:\/\/www.iafp.ca\/planners\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/RFP-40Years-White.png 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-7d7add4 elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default parallax_section_no qode_elementor_container_no\" data-id=\"7d7add4\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-46ea77d\" data-id=\"46ea77d\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-915caca elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"915caca\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">What This Means for Clients and Professionals<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0cc1ea6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"0cc1ea6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The fiduciary attestation is more than a statement. It is a formal professional obligation.<\/p>\n<p>By completing the attestation, R.F.P.<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> members commit to acting in their clients\u2019 best interests at all times, supported by full transparency in how advice is delivered. This includes clear disclosure of both the type and amount of compensation received, as well as the responsible management of any conflicts of interest.<\/p>\n<p>R.F.P.<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> members formally commit to:<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f1fa2e3 elementor-icon-list--layout-traditional elementor-list-item-link-full_width elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon-list\" data-id=\"f1fa2e3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"icon-list.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"elementor-icon-list-items\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"19.707\" height=\"14.753\" viewBox=\"0 0 19.707 14.753\"><g id=\"np_arrow-right_888647_000000\" transform=\"translate(-12.5 -22.082)\"><path id=\"Path_1\" data-name=\"Path 1\" d=\"M12.5,45.832H29.564v2.2H12.5Z\" transform=\"translate(0 -17.474)\" fill=\"#083861\"><\/path><path id=\"Path_2\" data-name=\"Path 2\" d=\"M54.874,36.836l-1.542-1.542,5.836-5.835-5.836-5.835,1.542-1.542,7.376,7.377Z\" transform=\"translate(-30.043)\" fill=\"#083861\"><\/path><\/g><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">Acting in the best interests of their clients at all times<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"19.707\" height=\"14.753\" viewBox=\"0 0 19.707 14.753\"><g id=\"np_arrow-right_888647_000000\" transform=\"translate(-12.5 -22.082)\"><path id=\"Path_1\" data-name=\"Path 1\" d=\"M12.5,45.832H29.564v2.2H12.5Z\" transform=\"translate(0 -17.474)\" fill=\"#083861\"><\/path><path id=\"Path_2\" data-name=\"Path 2\" d=\"M54.874,36.836l-1.542-1.542,5.836-5.835-5.836-5.835,1.542-1.542,7.376,7.377Z\" transform=\"translate(-30.043)\" fill=\"#083861\"><\/path><\/g><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">Providing clear disclosure of compensation structure, amounts, and any conflicts of interest<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"19.707\" height=\"14.753\" viewBox=\"0 0 19.707 14.753\"><g id=\"np_arrow-right_888647_000000\" transform=\"translate(-12.5 -22.082)\"><path id=\"Path_1\" data-name=\"Path 1\" d=\"M12.5,45.832H29.564v2.2H12.5Z\" transform=\"translate(0 -17.474)\" fill=\"#083861\"><\/path><path id=\"Path_2\" data-name=\"Path 2\" d=\"M54.874,36.836l-1.542-1.542,5.836-5.835-5.836-5.835,1.542-1.542,7.376,7.377Z\" transform=\"translate(-30.043)\" fill=\"#083861\"><\/path><\/g><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">Upholding the highest standards of professional ethics and accountability<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"19.707\" height=\"14.753\" viewBox=\"0 0 19.707 14.753\"><g id=\"np_arrow-right_888647_000000\" transform=\"translate(-12.5 -22.082)\"><path id=\"Path_1\" data-name=\"Path 1\" d=\"M12.5,45.832H29.564v2.2H12.5Z\" transform=\"translate(0 -17.474)\" fill=\"#083861\"><\/path><path id=\"Path_2\" data-name=\"Path 2\" d=\"M54.874,36.836l-1.542-1.542,5.836-5.835-5.836-5.835,1.542-1.542,7.376,7.377Z\" transform=\"translate(-30.043)\" fill=\"#083861\"><\/path><\/g><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">Delivering comprehensive, holistic financial planning grounded in trust and integrity<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d72e3d6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d72e3d6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><b>This requirement sets the R.F.P.<sup>\u00ae<\/sup> designation apart. It is the only financial planning designation in Canada that requires its members to formally attest to a fiduciary obligation<\/b>.<\/p>\n<p>For clients, this provides clarity and confidence when choosing a financial planner.<br \/><br \/>For professionals, it reinforces accountability and elevates standards across the profession.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-d0a5419\" data-id=\"d0a5419\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5bdbbfc elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"5bdbbfc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"816\" height=\"1174\" src=\"https:\/\/www.iafp.ca\/planners\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2-women-smiling-with-laptop.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-5106\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.iafp.ca\/planners\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2-women-smiling-with-laptop.jpg 816w, https:\/\/www.iafp.ca\/planners\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2-women-smiling-with-laptop-209x300.jpg 209w, https:\/\/www.iafp.ca\/planners\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2-women-smiling-with-laptop-768x1105.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.iafp.ca\/planners\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2-women-smiling-with-laptop-700x1007.jpg 700w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 816px) 100vw, 816px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-9531234 elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default parallax_section_no qode_elementor_container_no\" data-id=\"9531234\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-a46a212\" data-id=\"a46a212\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-d2d2754 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default parallax_section_no qode_elementor_container_no\" data-id=\"d2d2754\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-3422f3e\" data-id=\"3422f3e\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c74f235 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"c74f235\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Why the Fiduciary Standard Matters<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0a76a14 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"0a76a14\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Canadians are navigating increasingly complex financial decisions, from retirement income and tax strategy to estate planning and intergenerational wealth transfer. In this environment, clarity and trust are essential.<\/p>\n<p><b>The fiduciary standard establishes a clear, enforceable expectation that Registered Financial Planners\u00ae act in their clients\u2019 best interests at all times, supported by transparency and accountability.<\/b><\/p>\n<p>It also brings definition to a term that is often used, but not always consistently applied across the industry.<\/p>\n<p>By formalizing this standard, the IAFP\u00ae is reinforcing the value of the R.F.P.\u00ae designation, strengthening public confidence, and helping define what professional financial planning should look like in Canada.<\/p>\n<p>Interested in joining the IAFP?<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2bd84a0 elementor-align-left elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"2bd84a0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"https:\/\/www.iafp.ca\/planners\/join\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Learn more<\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-04d9b74 elementor-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"04d9b74\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"https:\/\/www.iafp.ca\/planners\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/Dec-2025-IAFP-Fiduciary-Press-Release.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Read the Full Press Release<\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A New Fiduciary Standard for Financial Planning Strengthening the R.F.P.\u00ae Commitment to Clients As the Institute of&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":1082,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"full_width.php","meta":{"footnotes":""},"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.iafp.ca\/planners\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5101"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.iafp.ca\/planners\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.iafp.ca\/planners\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.iafp.ca\/planners\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.iafp.ca\/planners\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5101"}],"version-history":[{"count":37,"href":"https:\/\/www.iafp.ca\/planners\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5101\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5222,"href":"https:\/\/www.iafp.ca\/planners\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5101\/revisions\/5222"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.iafp.ca\/planners\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1082"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.iafp.ca\/planners\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5101"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}