Who are you getting your financial advice from? Check their credentials.
You work hard for your money, so take the time to check the credentials of whoever you are working with when seeking financial advice. According to FSRA research, most people spend more time researching their phone plan than their financial professional.
We are here to help.
Use our Check Credentials Tool to help you research your financial professional’s credentials. The tool lets you easily verify if your financial professional has the credentials to use the Financial Planner or Financial Advisor (or similar) titles in Ontario. These titles mean they have met minimum education standards, are supervised, and must abide by a code of conduct.
If the person you are working with is on FSRA’s Check Credentials Tool, they are allowed to use the Financial Planner or Financial Advisor, or similar, title in Ontario. Similar titles could include, for example: Financial Wealth Planner and Financial Investment Advisor.
The tool will allow you to:
- Search an individual by name or city
- Verify if the individual holds a credential(s) to use the Financial Planner or Financial Advisor title
- Know if the individual is in good standing with their credentialing body
- Determine if the individual has any disciplinary history
Questions you should ask any financial professional before you start working with them:
- What services do you provide and how can I get a financial plan that’s right for me and my family?
- What is your financial services education, background, or training?
- How long have you been providing the services you’re currently offering?
- What credential(s) / licence(s) do you have, and who is the credentialing / licensing body?
- What are you licensed to sell?
- Are you bound by a code of conduct, if so, what is it?
- Are you in the transition period? If so, when do you plan to get your credentials?
Financial Planners should have the breadth and depth of knowledge to develop integrated financial plans for clients. Financial planners are expected to be proficient in all the core personal finance areas, including:
Financial Advisors should have technical knowledge about at least one common investment product, including:
They should also have the necessary expertise and experience to develop suitable financial and investment recommendations for clients.
FSRA-approved Credentialing Bodies
