Our Qualifications
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Chartered Financial Planner Status
Verus was awarded the prestigious Chartered Financial Planners designation by the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) in 2007. This is the industry’s gold standard for firms of financial planners. It confirms that we have satisfied rigorous qualification criteria by retaining highly-qualified staff who subscribe to the membership conditions of the CII.
It also involves a commitment to continuing professional development and adherence to an industry standard Code of Ethics. You can view the Code at www.cii.co.uk/code
When you use a Chartered firm you are dealing with proven professionals. The CII is empowered by the Privy Council to award Chartered status, and the award is only made in deserving cases. And while Chartered titles are steeped in history, they remain the benchmark of professional excellence and integrity.
Only the UK’s premier financial planning firms qualify for Chartered status. If you wish to know more about how using a Chartered firm can ensure you get the best possible advice, service and support, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Note: With over 93,000 members, the CII is the world’s largest professional body dedicated to the insurance, savings and financial services sector.
Certified Financial Planner Status
CFPcm, Certified Financial Planner and the CFP flame logo are licence marks licensed to the Institute of Financial Planning which can help you identify financial planners who are committed to competent and ethical behaviour when providing financial planning advice.
Individuals certified by the IFP have taken the extra step to demonstrate their professionalism by voluntarily submitting to the rigorous CFPcm licence process that includes demanding education, examination, experience and ethical requirements.
These standards are called "the four Es," and they are four important reasons why the financial planning practitioner you select should display the CFP licence mark as shown above.
Why are the CFP Licence Requirements Important?
Most people think that all financial planners are "certified," but this isn’t true. Anyone can call himself or herself a "financial planner." Only those who have fulfilled the licence and renewal requirements of the Institute of Financial Planning can display the CFP licence marks.
When selecting a financial planner, you need to feel confident that the person you choose to help you plan for your future is competent and ethical. The CFP licence provides that sense of security.
, CFPcm and Certified Financial Plannercm are Certification Marks owned by Financial Planning Standards Board Ltd. Institute of Financial Planning is the sole licensing authority for the marks in the United Kingdom, through agreement with FPSB.
BS ISO 22222 Standard
This new British Standard became available in 2008 to measure the ability and processes of individual financial planners and Jonathan is the first adviser in the area to be awarded it.
The British Standards Institution (BSI) launched a new standard BS ISO 22222 in 2008 to specify the ethical behaviour, competences and experience required of a financial planner and to enhance the transparency and efficiency of the process for personal financial planning.
The standard will raise service levels for consumers and set a benchmark for practitioners beyond the current minimum regulatory requirements.
It sets requirements for personal financial planners, codifies best practice in financial planning across the world and will help to increase consumer confidence.
One of the major issues reported by consumers when seeking financial advice is uncertainty over whether they can trust their financial advisers. And, with the vast amount of investment schemes and financial planners for customers to choose from, they are often confused about where to turn for advice on planning for retirement or how best to invest their savings.
BS ISO 22222 plays a crucial role in addressing this by providing an internationally accepted benchmark which enables consumers to identify financial planners who possess the right knowledge, skills, ethics and experience to deliver the desired level of service.
BS ISO 22222 specifies requirements and provides a framework that applies to the ethical behaviour, competences and experience of a professional personal financial planner.
The standard defines six steps of the personal financial planning process:-
- Establishing and defining the client and personal financial planner relationship
- Gathering client data and determining goals expectations
- Analysing and evaluating the client's financial status
- Developing and presenting the financial plan Implementing the financial planning recommendations
- Monitoring the financial plan and the financial planning relationship.