All of us dream of a luxurious life and want to achieve it and someone who helps us to achieve that goal is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP). He knows how to handle your money wisely to get you the maximum benefits for a better living. A financial planner helps his clients to realise their dreams of building a home, saving for children’s education and marriage and old age. No doubt the Certified Financial Planner is a sunrise sector. Students wishing to become a Certified Financial Planner should be basically interested in financial issues.

They should have a hunger and desire to gather practical knowledge about finances and a deep understanding of personal finances. Good communication skills are an added advantage and with all this one can be ensured than one is on the right path. To become a Certified Financial Planner one must have a financial planner certification from a recognized institute such as Financial Planning Standards Board India (FPSBI) or Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards,Inc. (CFP Board), US. If you plan to start on your own, the first five to seven years are an arduous trek. One must be good at maintaining friendly relations with clients as sometimes an angry consumer shows his upset at bad planning or losses.

A CFP can find work in banks, distribution houses, insurance companies, equity broking and financial planning firms. The remuneration for an entrant is between Rs 2 lakh and Rs 4 lakh, at the middle level between Rs 6 lakh and Rs 10 lakh and at senior levels above Rs 10 lakh. According to Ranjeet Mudholkar, principal advisor, Financial Planning Standards Board, India, the country has a population of five croreplus families with a desire to invest and if one CFP handles 100 clients, there is a need for at least five lakh CFPs.

The Indian Institute of Financial Planning (IIFP) runs three courses for Certified Financial Planners - Post Graduate Diploma in Advanced Financial Planning and Wealth Management (PGDAFPWM), CFPCM + CWM (Certificate in Wealth Management) and MBAPLUS. The PG Diploma in Advanced Financial planning and Wealth Management course is affiliated to FPSB India for CFPCM certification education. Its MBA programme comes with accreditation from a UGC recognised University. According to IIFP, its PG course is a comprehensive educational programme that has been conceived to impart skill sets of international standards in Advanced Financial Planning to groom world class wealth managers.It states that the programme includes CFPCM curriculum, NCFM certification and AMFI advisory module giving an edge to the students of PG programme in the wealth management industry. The course that lasts for a year is spread over three semesters and two months of internship in financial sector costs Rs 2.5 lakh.
The institute states that it trains candidates to acquire the ability to take a holistic view of financial needs of various consumers and offer financial solutions including unbiased and competent advice for the fulfillment of their life’s goals.

An IIFP Certificate in Wealth Management course spread over five to six months costs Rs The eligibility criterion for a Certified Financial Planner is that a candidate must be an ICWA,CS, CA, PhD, PG, CAIIB, Actuary, LLB, and FFSI & FLMI. For those wishing to go abroad, this course is recognised in 23 countries including Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, UK, US among others.

List of Institutes imparting the course:
1) BLB Institute of Financial Markets Vanita Mandali Building
2 Azad Bhawan Road,Opp. Police Head Quarter,ITO, New Delhi-110002 011-23379718-19
2) ASSETS Education Training Research 606 Madhuban, 55 Nehru Place, New Delhi-110019011-30888000, Email ID: info@assetsedu.in
3) International College for Financial Planning (ICFP) 3rd Floor, Gulab Bhawan, 6, Bahadur Shah Jafar Marg,New Delhi-110002011-60002200 Ext 112
4) Indian Institute of Financial Planning (IIFP)