Institute of Financial Planning

What Institute of Financial Planning does

The Institute of Financial Planning (Institut de planification financière) is a Quebec-based nonprofit professional training organization founded in 1989 and headquartered in Verdun (Île-des-Sœurs). It is Quebec's sole authorized body to grant the financial planning diploma leading to the Pl. Fin. designation, with recognition tied to the Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF). It serves approximately 5,000 certified financial planners in the province, of whom 4,642 are listed in its public directory. Core revenue streams include the Professional Training Course (diploma pathway), the Executive Program (six online modules at 661 CAD each), the Equivalency Exam (1,323 CAD), and two-year Professional Development Bundle subscriptions — the Unlimited Bundle at 2,079 CAD and the Regular Bundle at 1,734 CAD — that fulfill the mandatory 40 PDU cycle required of Pl. Fin. holders. Adjacent revenue is generated through the Annual Conference, La Cible magazine, the Microprogram, and Specialized Programs. The organization operates its own learning management system at campus.institutpf.org, issues digital badges, and runs digital certification tools such as the Projection Assumption Guidelines Calculators. Its go-to-market is direct-to-individual practitioners, with institutional visibility and pipeline influence through partnerships with FP Canada, the Canadian Securities Administrators (CSF), CIRO, AMF, and major Quebec financial institutions including Desjardins, IG Gestion de patrimoine, RBC, Banque Nationale, TD, and BMO.

Name

Institute of Financial Planning

Legal name

Institut de planification financière

Website

https://institutpf.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Institute of Financial Planning is Quebec's sole authorized body for financial planning certification, granting the Pl. Fin. diploma and delivering mandated professional development to nearly 5,000 certified financial planners across the province.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Financial Planning Certification and Professional Education

akta.pro primary industry

Financial Services & Insurance (FINRA, CFP, IAR, Insurance CE) (EDAAALAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Comprehensive Financial Planning (FSAEAAAA)

Keywords

• Financial planning certification
• Professional training courses
• Continuing education programs
• Financial planner designation
• Professional development bundles

Headquarters

HQ city

Verdun

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Professional Development Bundles: Sale of Unlimited Bundle (all professional development activities) and Regular Bundle (20-hour credit bank) for continuing education. Valid for two-year professional development cycles. Revenue from subscription-style bundle sales to financial planners.
2. Executive Program Modules: Six-module virtual program covering the seven areas of financial planning. Each module costs $661 plus taxes with exam attempts included. Generates revenue per module enrollment.
3. Equivalency Examination: Closed-book multiple choice exam for academic equivalency assessment. Exam fee of $1,323 plus taxes. No retakes permitted.
4. Professional Training Course: Professional training course leading to the Pl. Fin. designation. Part of the pathway to becoming a certified financial planner in Quebec.
5. Annual Conference: Annual congress event (Congrès de l'Institut) offering professional development activities and networking for financial planners.
6. La Cible Magazine: Professional magazine with PDU questionnaires for continuing education credits, included free with Unlimited Bundle or available separately.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Institute of Financial Planning is Quebec's sole authorized body to grant the financial planning diploma leading to the Pl. Fin. (F.Pl.) designation. It sells professional training courses, executive programs, microprograms, continuing education bundles, equivalency exams, and securities training, and supports the financial planning profession through an annual congress, professional magazine, and a public directory of certified planners.

Product overview

The Institute of Financial Planning (Institut de planification financière) is Quebec's authorized body for financial planning education and certification. The core offering centers on the Professional Training Course leading to the F.Pl. designation, complemented by the Executive Program (a 6-module virtual self-paced alternative), and the Microprogram in Financial Planning for foundational knowledge. Professional development is delivered through the Unlimited Bundle (all-you-can-learn for $2,079) and Regular Bundle (20-hour bank for $1,734), both valid for the December 2025–November 2027 cycle. Supporting offerings include the Specialization Program for entrepreneurial coaching, Simplified Path for CFP holders, and Equivalency Exam for academic recognition. Content is supported by La Collection de l'Institut (reference book via Thomson Reuters ProView), Projection Assumption Guidelines with downloadable calculators, the Competency Guide, and La Cible Magazine. The Institute connects planners with clients through its F.Pl. Directory (4,600+ members), organizes the Annual Congress, and provides securities training for CIRO exam preparation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Professional Training Course (Cours de formation professionnelle) The primary certification program leading to the F.Pl. (Financial Planner) designation in Quebec. Candidates must complete the course and pass the Institute's exam to obtain the diploma required to use the F.Pl. title. Designed for individuals seeking to become certified financial planners.
• Executive Program (Programme exécutif) A self-paced virtual program of six modules covering the seven areas of financial planning. Each module includes approximately 24 hours of content and a 3-hour closed-book exam, with one exam attempt included at $661 + taxes per module. An option for those qualifying for academic equivalency Categories II, III, IV, Va, or Vb.
• Microprogram in Financial Planning (Microprogramme en planification financière) A virtual, self-paced program covering three key areas: Finance, Retirement, and Taxation. Designed for those working in the financial sector who want to specialize or for the general public wanting to learn about financial planning. No prerequisites required.
• Unlimited Bundle (Forfait illimité) An unlimited professional development bundle providing access to all IPFP, SFPA, SC, and SC-FP activities offered by the Institute for $2,079 CAD (plus taxes), valid for the cycle from December 1, 2025 to November 30, 2027. May be paid in multiple installments.
• Regular Bundle (Forfait régulier) A 20-hour professional development bundle that can be applied to IPFP, SFPA, SC, and SC-FP activities offered by the Institute for $1,734 CAD (plus taxes), valid for the cycle from December 1, 2025 to November 30, 2027. One PDU per hour.
• Specialization Program (Programme de spécialisation) A specialization program focused on coaching and advising entrepreneurs in integrated personal financial planning (PFPI). New offering for financial planners wanting to support entrepreneurial clients.
• Simplified Path for CFP Holders (Parcours simplifié pour les CFP) A simplified pathway for existing Certified Financial Planner (CFP) holders to obtain the F.Pl. designation in Quebec, offered by the Institute.
• Equivalency Exam (Examen d'équivalence) A closed-book multiple choice exam testing knowledge across the seven areas of financial planning for candidates qualifying for academic equivalency Categories II, III, or IV. Requires scoring at least 70% in each area. Exam fee $1,323 + taxes; no retakes permitted; must complete within 6 months of purchase.
• La Collection de l'Institut The main reference book for the Executive Program and professional training, available in French only at $250 + taxes. Also accessible online through Thomson Reuters ProView for Institute students and affiliates.
• Annual Congress (Congrès annuel) The Institute's annual conference combining the Symposium de la Chaire IG Gestion de patrimoine and the Institute's Congress, offering professional development activities and networking for financial planners.
• La Cible Magazine A professional magazine published by the Institute with PDU questionnaires for continuing education credits. Included free with the Unlimited Bundle or available separately.
• Securities Courses (Cours en valeurs mobilières) Securities training courses and exam preparation tools for the CIRO (Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization) exam. Covers values mobilières for those entering the financial services career.

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Banque Nationale du CanadacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFinancial partner and supporter of the Institute. Provides platform for financial planners and sponsors events including graduation ceremonies.
• Desjardins Gestion de patrimoinecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor financial services partner offering wealth management services. Employs financial planners who receive training and certification through the Institute.
• FP CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational organization for financial planning professionals in Canada. Works with the Institute on standards and certifications for financial planners.
• IG Gestion de patrimoinecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-hosts the annual congress with the Symposium de la Chaire IG Gestion de patrimoine. Major partner in professional development events.
• RBC Banque RoyalecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor financial institution partner. Sponsored the Charles-Pelletier scholarship and hosted graduation ceremony with honorary president Kathleen Wolfe.
• Retraite QuébecminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGovernment partner for retirement planning education and resources.
• OCRI (Organisme canadien de réglementation du commerce des valeurs mobilières)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCanadian securities regulator. Institute offers training and exam preparation tools aligned with OCRI requirements for securities professionals.
• Chambre de la sécurité financièrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional order for financial security advisors. The Institute's Executive Program modules are accredited by the CSF for continuing education credits.
• Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerQuebec financial regulator. Issues the official certificate required to practice as a financial planner. Coordinates with the Institute on certification requirements.
• Fondation canadienne pour la planification financièreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCanadian Foundation for Financial Planning. Partner organization supporting financial literacy and planning initiatives.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• CIRO (Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization): National securities regulator formed by the merger of IIROC and MFDA, which administers the exams the Institute's new securities training prepares candidates for. Counterparty regulator whose requirements drive new product demand at the Institute.
• Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF): Quebec's integrated financial regulator, which issues the practice certificate required to use the Pl. Fin. title. Counterparty/regulator rather than competitor, but its policy decisions directly shape the Institute's mandate and revenue base.
• IFIC (Investment Funds Institute of Canada): Canadian industry association for the mutual fund sector that runs education and compliance programs for distribution-side professionals. Adjacent financial-services education provider serving overlapping practitioner segments.

Direct peers

• Canadian Securities Institute (CSI): Canada's leading provider of securities and financial services education, including CIRO (formerly IIROC) exam preparation. Direct peer now that the Institute has launched its own securities/CIRO training line.
• CFP Board (Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards): US organization that owns and grants the CFP marks and administers CE requirements. Closest international analogue to the Institute's role for Pl. Fin., with similar certification exclusivity and recurring PDU-driven revenue model.
• FP Canada: National standards-setting and certification body for the CFP designation across Canada. Most directly comparable to the Institute in mission (financial planning certification) and revenue model (credentialing + CE), but operates at national scope versus Quebec-only.
• Chambre de la sécurité financière (CSF): Quebec professional order that certifies financial security advisors and accredits continuing education activities — including the Institute's Executive Program modules. Operates an analogous Quebec-only regulatory certification regime with shared practitioner base.

Broad incumbents

• Advocis: Canadian professional association for financial advisors and planners. Comparable in serving the same practitioner base and offering CE, but functions as a membership association rather than a credential-granting body.
• CFA Institute: Global professional body granting the CFA charter with a self-paced curriculum, exam pipeline, and mandatory CE. Operates the same credentialing-plus-CE model as the Institute but at global scale and for investment analysts rather than planners.

Regional players

• Ordre des CPA du Québec: Quebec professional order for chartered professional accountants. Closest structural analogue within Quebec — a provincial professional order with exclusive title rights, mandatory CPE cycles, and gatekept pathways — though for accountants rather than financial planners.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/Institut_pf
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@InstitutPF
• Facebookfacebook.com/Institut.de.planification.financiere
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/devenir-planificateur-financier
• Instagraminstagram.com/institutpf
• TikToktiktok.com/@institutpf

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Institute of Financial Planning