Duties Owed to Clients Flashcards
Fiduciary Duty
Keywords (3) Test Tips (3)
Keywords: Loyalty, Care, Instructions
- Any recommendations must be made as a fiduciary.
- Client needs > Financial Planner Interests
- All compensation and business models
Integrity
Keywords 3 Test Tips (2)
Honesty, Upstanding, Candor
- Allows for innocent mistakes and differences of opinion
- Do not commit fraud, deceive or violate the spirit of the rules.
Competence
-Keywords 1 phrase -Test Tips - 3
Relevantly Apply Knowledge
- A CFP Professional does not have to master all areas of planning.
- Gain competence, obtain assistance, limit the engagement or refer if competence is lacking
Diligence
Keywords (2) Test Tips
Timely, Thorough
- Timely is not instant. Timely allows for the normal course of doing business on the part of the CFP professional
Disclose & Manage Conflicts of Interest
Keywords (5) Test Tips (4)
Active Consent, Disclosure, Manage, Material Conflict, Ambiguity
- Consent does not need to be in writing
- Larger potential for harm, greater the need for disclosure 3. Ambiguity on the side of the client.
- Assume financial conflicts are material
Sound & Objective Professional Judgment
Keywords 1 phrase 2 Tips
Exercise judgement, not subordinated.
1. Do not accept or solicit gifts that could influence judgment 2. Fruit basket yes; Ferrari, no.
Professionalism
Keywords (3) Test Tip
Dignity, Courtesy & Respect
- Applies to Clients, Potential Clients, and other Financial Professionals
Comply with the law
Keywords 4 Test Tips 3
Laws, Rules, Regulations, Standards
- Avoid intentionally or recklessly violating laws, rules, regulations or standards
- Recklessly can apply to making poor referrals
Confidentiality & Privacy
Keywords 4 Test Tips 6
Consent, Ordinary Business, Legal & Enforcement Purposes, Policies
- Client consent does not need to be in writing
- No absolute confidentiality
- “Ordinary Business” requires consent
- “Legal & Enforcement purposes” does not require consent
- Must have policies and process to protect Confidentiality, deliver in writing at or before engagement and every 12 months if they change.
- Carve out on policy delivery for Regulation S-P; B/D, Federal Covered RIA’s
Provide Information to a Client
Keywords 2 Test Tips 3
Financial Advice, Financial Planning
- Financial Advice requires seven elements (Description, Pay, Compensation, Bankruptcies/Regulatory Events, Conflicts of Interest, Economic Benefit of Referrals, Other Material Information)
- Financial Planning all of the above and Scope of Engagement, Limitations and Responsibilities.
- Monitoring is assumed unless excluded from the scope of engagement.
Communicating with a Client
- Keywords - 3
- Test tips - 2
Keywords - Reasonable, Expected to Understand, Avoid Complexity
- Ensure client understanding
- Consider multiple forms of communication
Duties when Representing Compensation
- Keywords - 6
- Test tips
Keywords - Fee-only, Fee-based, Sales Related Compensation, Soft Dollars, Non-Monetary Benefits, Related Party
- Fee-Only generally means direct fees charged to clients or as a percentage of financial assets
- $.01 of Sales Related Compensation eliminates the ability to use “Fee-Only”
- 12b-1 Fees are specifically stated as Sales Related Compensation
- Control & compensation from a related party earning Sales Related Compensation eliminates the ability to use “Fee-Only” with a few carve outs.
- “Fee Based” = Fees & Sales Related Compensation
- Soft Dollars (research or speaking services supplied by an investment company or B/D) are not sales related compensation
Recommending, Engaging or Working with Additional Persons
Keywords - 6
Test Tips - 3
- Keywords - Reasonable Basis, Reputation, Experience Qualifications, Disclosure, Reasonable Care
- This standard requires referring on the basis of reputation experience and qualifications
- Provide disclosure if paid a referral fee or given a substantial economic benefit.
- Fruit basket = No; $1,000 check = Yes
Selecting and using Technology
- Keywords - 2
- Test Tips - 3
- Keywords: Reasonable Care & Judgment, Level of Understanding
- Understand calculations and assumptions
- Understand Monte Carlo simulation
- Be able to change assumptions
Refrain from Borrowing or Lending Money & Commingling
- Keywords - 4
- Test Tips - 3
- Keywords - Commingle, Client Assets, Borrow, Lend
- Client lending/borrowing generally prohibited
- Exception family members, businesses who lend/borrow
- CFP Professional or their employer cannot commingle with client assets.