Case Study
When a Client Has a Reasonable Basis to Believe a CFP® Professional Will Provide Financial Planning
CFP Board has developed a series of case studies to provide practical guidance to CFP® professionals and their firms on the new Code and Standards. Each case study presents a hypothetical factual circumstance and then asks a question about a CFP® professional’s duty in that circumstance under the Code and Standards.
Kimani, a CFP® professional, distributes a flyer inviting prospects to attend a Financial Planning Seminar. At the event, Kimani places a sign at the entrance that states: “What Financial Planning Can Do For You.” Daniel, a prospect, attends the event.
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see the full case study listing At an in-person meeting the following week, Daniel tells Kimani that he wants to be a Financial Planning Client, with a specific focus on retirement planning. Kimani asks Daniel to complete an investment risk profile questionnaire. Kimani does not clearly inform Daniel that she would not be providing Financial Planning. Kimani reviews Daniel’s answers and, rather than providing Financial Planning, Kimani solely makes an investment recommendation.
Question
Is Kimani required to comply with the Practice Standards for the Financial Planning Process, and therefore, provide Financial Planning?
response options
A. Kimani is not required to comply with the Practice Standards for the Financial Planning Process because Kimani only provided investment planning to Daniel.
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Response A is not the best response because Daniel had a reasonable basis to believe that Kimani would be providing Financial Planning, and thus Kimani was required to provide Financial Planning. Where Financial Planning is required, the Practice Standards for the Financial Planning Process apply even if the CFP® professional does not actually provide Financial Planning.
B. Kimani is required to comply with the Practice Standards for the Financial Planning Process because Kimani provided Financial Advice to Daniel when she conducted investment planning.
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Response B is not the best response. The reason that the Practice Standards for the Financial Planning Process apply is not because Kimani provided Financial Advice to Daniel when she conducted investment planning. Not all Financial Advice requires Financial Planning, and the facts here are insufficient to determine whether Kimani has provided Financial Advice that requires Financial Planning. The reason that the Practice Standards for the Financial Planning Process apply is because based on the facts, Daniel has a reasonable basis to believe that Kimani will provide or has provided Financial Planning.
C. Kimani is required to comply with the Practice Standards for the Financial Planning Process because Daniel has a reasonable basis to believe that Kimani will provide or has provided Financial Planning.
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Best Response: Response C is the best response. This case study involves the Application of Practice Standards (Standard B.3.).
A CFP® professional must comply with the Practice Standards for the Financial Planning Process, and therefore, provide Financial Planning, when:
a. The CFP® professional agrees to provide or provides:
i. Financial Planning; or
ii. Financial Advice that requires integration of relevant elements of the Client’s personal and/or financial circumstances in order to act in the Client’s best interests (“Financial Advice that Requires Financial Planning”); or
b. The Client has a reasonable basis to believe the CFP® professional will provide or has provided Financial Planning.
Although Daniel’s Engagement does not specify that Kimani will provide Financial Planning, Daniel has a reasonable basis to believe that Kimani will provide or has provided Financial Planning: Kimani invited Daniel to a Financial Planning seminar; Daniel told Kimani that he wanted Financial Planning; Kimani advised Daniel how to invest; and Kimani did not clearly inform Daniel that she would not be providing Financial Planning. Under other facts or circumstances, the application of the Practice Standards for the Financial Planning Process may produce a different result. In addition, since Kimani is required to provide Financial Planning to Daniel, some of the information that she may have provided to Daniel orally when providing Financial Advice now must be delivered to Daniel in writing.
D. Kimani is not required to comply with the Practice Standards for the Financial Planning Process because Kimani only engaged in a brokerage transaction.
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Response D is not the best response. The standard for determining whether the Practice Standards for the Financial Planning Process apply is not whether the Client engaged in a brokerage transaction. Where there is no explicit agreement regarding Financial Planning, the Practice Standards for the Financial Planning Process apply if the Client has a reasonable basis to believe the CFP® professional will provide Financial Planning, or if the CFP® professional provides or agrees to provide Financial Advice that Requires Financial Planning.
Relevant Standards and Definitions: Application of Practice Standards (Standard B.3.)
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This compliance resource is part of a full library of resources that CFP® professionals can use to comply with the Code and Standards. More guidance materials can be found in our Compliance Resources Library.