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Designation Pathway

Qualified Associate Financial Planner (QAFP™)

“Clients are looking for professionals who have the educational background needed to manage their portfolios.” – Neela White, CIM®, CIWM, FCSI® – Portfolio Manager, MacDougall, MacDougall & MacTier Inc

“One of the best investments I’ve made was investing in my education.” – Phoebe Kim, CIWM – Senior Private Banker, TD Wealth Private Client Group

“Everybody has their own unique needs, goals and outcomes that they are looking to achieve with their wealth. The great advisors are the ones who get to know those details intimately, and have the necessary skills to deliver.” – Richard Pope, CIM, FCSI, CAIA – Vice President, Connor, Clark & Lunn Private Capital

“Credentials demonstrate a commitment from the advisor to continuous learning and building their expertise. This commitment ultimately leads to even greater value and benefits to the client.” – Silvio Stroescu, CIM, FICB, FCSI – Head, BMO Wealth Digitech Transformation, President, BMO Investorline

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“Clients are looking for professionals who have the educational background needed to manage their portfolios.” – Neela White, CIM®, CIWM, FCSI® – Portfolio Manager, MacDougall, MacDougall & MacTier Inc

“One of the best investments I’ve made was investing in my education.” – Phoebe Kim, CIWM – Senior Private Banker, TD Wealth Private Client Group

“Everybody has their own unique needs, goals and outcomes that they are looking to achieve with their wealth. The great advisors are the ones who get to know those details intimately, and have the necessary skills to deliver.” – Richard Pope, CIM, FCSI, CAIA – Vice President, Connor, Clark & Lunn Private Capital

“Credentials demonstrate a commitment from the advisor to continuous learning and building their expertise. This commitment ultimately leads to even greater value and benefits to the client.” – Silvio Stroescu, CIM, FICB, FCSI – Head, BMO Wealth Digitech Transformation, President, BMO Investorline

What is Qualified Associate Financial Planner (QAFP™)?

CSI provides you with three streams towards achieving the QAFP™ certification. Each of these streams meets the educational requirements of the FP Canada Approved Core Curriculum Program on the path to QAFP™ certification and is tailored to the intricacies of the industry (banking, mutual fund dealer or investment dealer) it is designed for. It is recommended that students opt for the route of the industry they work in or aspire to, as that route is best structured and nuanced for that particular field.

Please refer to the FP Canada website for more information on the QAFP™ certification.

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What is the CSI path to the Qualified Associate Financial Planner (QAFP™) certification?

CSI offers three paths to the QAFP™ certification.

Stream 1: QAFP™ Certification Route for Bankers

Stream 2: QAFP™ Certification Route for Mutual Fund Representatives (MFDA)

*CSI decommissioned the Fundamentals of Financial Planning and Building a Mutual Funds Advisory Practice in October 2022. For Stream 2, CSI will continue to recognize the decommissioned courses for those who have completed or are currently enrolled in and are working toward completion of the courses.

Stream 3: QAFP™ Certification Route for Investment Advisors (IIROC)

Important Note

The QAFP™ Professional Education Program may be taken before or after the QAFP™ Certification Examination.

Students who enrolled before December 31, 2019, and successfully completed the Financial Planning II course or the Financial Planning Supplement course before March 31, 2020, are not required by FP Canada to complete the Lending, Retirement and Insurance Supplement course and the Law, Estate and Tax Supplement course. However, both FP Canada and CSI highly recommend that students enroll in the Lending, Retirement and Insurance Supplement course and the Law, Estate and Tax Supplement course to be better prepared to challenge the QAFP™ Certification Examination.

Pre-requisite Requirements

Please refer to the FP Canada website for information on experience requirements and pre-requisites (such as college/university diplomas or degrees).