General Financial Planning - FP511 - Module 5 Flashcards
T/F: The determination of whether Financial Advice has been provided is an objective inquiry.
TRUE
The more customized a planner’s communication are to a client’s individual situation, the greater the likelihood that Financial Advice is being provided.
What 3 questions serve as a check to verify that a planner and client are involved in a Financial Planning engagement?
1- Has the planner agreed to provide Financial Planning?
2- Does the client have a reasonable basis to believe the planner will provide Financial Planning?
3- Does the Financial Advice require integration of relevant elements and integration factors?
Define: Integration Factors
Variables that weigh in determining whether Financial Advice requires Financial Planning.
Integration factors include:
- number of relevant elements
- portion and amount of client’s financial assets affected
- length of time client may be affected
- effect on client’s overall risk exposure
- barriers to modifying the actions taken
After determining that the Financial Advice requires Financial Planning, if the client does not agree to move forward with the Financial Planning services, what options does a planner have?
- provide requested services after informing the client of benefits of Financial Planning and how not entering into the agreement will limit Financial Advice
- not enter into the engagement
- limit the scope of the engagement to services that do not require Financial Planning
- terminate the engagement
As a CFP professional, when must the Code of Ethics be upheld?
In all instances and encounters with clients
When must a CFP professional adhere to Fiduciary Duty?
In any instance where it’s been determined that Financial Advice or Financial Planning has occurred.
When must a CFP professional adhere to the Practice Standards?
- CFP agrees to provide Financial Planning
- CFP agrees to provide Financial Advice that requires integration of relevant elements
- client has reasonable basis to believe CFP will provide Financial Planning
What standards apply when providing Financial Advice?
- Code of Ethics
- Standards of Conduct
- Fiduciary Duty
- Managing conflicts of interest
What standards apply when providing Financial Advice that requires Financial Planning and the client engages?
- Code of Ethics
- Standards of Conduct
- Fiduciary Duty
- Managing conflicts of interest
- Practice Standards for the Financial Planning Process
What is the Disciplinary and Ethics Commission responsible for?
Investigating, reviewing, considering recommendations, and issuing a final decision in the instances of allegations of Code and Standard violations and/or noncompliance.
What are the 6 principles set forth in the Code of Ethics?
1- Act with honesty, integrity, competence, and diligence
2- Act in the client’s best interest
3- Exercise due care
4- Avoid or disclose and manage conflicts of interest
5- Maintain confidentiality and protect privacy
6- Act in a manner that positively reflects on financial planning profession/CFP certification
What are the 6 subsections of the Standards of Conduct?
1- Duties owed to clients
2- Financial planning and application of the Practice Standards
3- Practice Standards for the FP Process
4- Duties owed to firms and subordinates 5- Duties owed to CFP Board
6- Prohibition on circumvention
How many duties are owed to clients?
15
To uphold the fiduciary standard, the CFP professional is generally required to fulfill the following 3 duties:
1- duty of loyalty
2- duty of care
3- duty to follow client instructions
Fiduciary Duty (Standard A.1)
At all times when providing Financial Advice to a client, a CFP professional must act as a fiduciary, and, therefore, act in the best interests of the client.
Integrity (Standard A.2)
- A CFP professional must perform professional services with integrity.
- The standard also contains standard anti-fraud language.
Competence (Standard A.3)
- A CFP professional must provide professional services with competence, which means with relevant knowledge and skills to apply that knowledge.
- If not sufficiently competent, the CFP must gain competence, obtain assistance of a competent professional, limit or terminate the engagement, and/or refer the client to a competent professional.
Diligence (Standard A.4)
A CFP professional must provide professional services, including responding to reasonable client inquiries, in a timely manner.
Disclose and Manage Conflicts of Interest (Standard A.5)
A CFP professional must:
- avoid or fully disclose conflicts
- obtain informed consent
- manage the conflict
T/F: A material conflict of interest does not need to be disclosed if the CFP believes they are acting in the client’s best interest.
FALSE
Sound and Objective Professional Judgment (Standard A.6)
CFP professionals must act objectively to serve the interests of clients, rather than themselves, their firms, or anyone else.
Professionalism (Standard A.7)
CFP professionals are required to treat others with dignity, courtesy, and respect.
Comply with the Law (Standard A.8)
A CFP professional is required to comply with the laws, rules, and regulations of the governing professional services.
Confidentiality and Privacy (Standard A.9)
CFP professionals are required to uphold clients’ confidentiality and privacy.
What are the 2 exceptions to the Confidentiality and Privacy standard?
1- Information used for ordinary business purposes
2- Information transferred for legal and compliance purposes
Provide Information to a Client (Standard A.10)
A CFP professional must provide accurate information to clients, in an understandable manner and format.
Duties When Communicating with a Client (Standard A.11)
- Provide the client with accurate information in a manner and format that can be reasonably understood
- Provide the info in accordance with the terms of the engagement
- Respond to reasonable client requests
Duties When Representing Compensation Method (Standard A.12)
Establishes the criteria for determining the appropriate compensation method to disclose to clients.
What are the 2 ways that CFP professionals may disclose their compensation?
1- fee only (only a planning fee)
2- fee based (planning fee + sales related compensation)
Duties When Recommending, Engaging, and Working with Additional Persons (Standard A.13)
A CFP must
- have reasonable basis for recommendations or engagements
- disclose any arrangements by which someone other than the client will handle compensation
- communicate with other professionals about services to be provided
- inform the client of any issues in a timely manner
Duties When Selecting, Using, and Recommending Technology (Standard A.14)
A CFP must
- have reasonable basis to believe the tech produces reliable, objective, and appropriate outcomes
- exercise reasonable care and judgment when selecting tech
- have reasonable understanding of the tech’s assumptions and outcomes
Refrain from Borrowing or Lending Mondy and Commingling Financial Assets (Standard A.15)
- A CFP must refrain from borrowing or lending money
- Commingling is prohibited
- Indirect borrowing is explicitly prohibited
In what instance is borrowing or lending allowed for a CFP professional?
- If the client is a member of the CFP professional’s family
- If the lender is a business organization or legal entity in the business of lending money