November 03, 2008 03:25 PM Eastern Time 

Ireland and Thailand Join FPSB; 22 Groups Now Offer CFP Certification Worldwide

DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)--At its semi-annual meeting, Financial Planning Standards Board Ltd. (FPSB), owner of the CFP, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER and CFP Logo Marks outside the United States, authorized Financial Planning Standards Board Ireland (FPSB Ireland) and Thai Financial Planners Association (TFPA) to administer the CFP certification program and oversee development, enforcement and promotion of localized CFP certification standards in their countries. FPSB Ireland is a nonprofit venture of the Life Insurance Association and the Institute of Bankers in Ireland, while TFPA was formed with the support of Stock Exchange of Thailand and other interested industry professionals.

“Our newest member organizations are committed to excellence in financial planning, as well as supporting the evolution of a financial planning profession in their countries,” said Selwyn Feldman, CFP, FPSB Board chairperson. “Now, with 22 CFP certification bodies and more than 115,000 CFP professionals worldwide, FPSB has broadened and deepened its ability to benefit consumers who seek the advice of competent, ethical financial planners around the world.”

At the same meeting, FPSB named three individuals to its 2009 Board of Directors: Jane Wheeler, CFP, immediate past-president of U.K.-based Institute of Financial Planning Ltd.; Karen Schaeffer, CFP, former board chairperson of U.S.-based Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards; and Radha Gouri (Prem) Govender, CFP, chairperson of the Financial Planning Institute of Southern Africa.

FPSB is governed by a nine-member board representing eight territories, and is supported by the FPSB Council, an advisory group representing 23 organizations that manage, or are preparing to manage, CFP certification programs in their respective territories. Territories where FPSB has a nonprofit member organization include: Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, Chinese Taipei, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Netherlands, the People’s Republic of China, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, South Africa, Switzerland, Thailand, the United Kingdom and the United States.

About FPSB

FPSB manages, develops and operates certification, education and related programs for financial planning organizations to benefit the global community by establishing, upholding and promoting worldwide professional standards in financial planning. FPSB demonstrates its commitment to excellence with the marks of professional distinction – CFP, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER and CFP (logo). For more, visit fpsb.org.