THE CANADIAN INSTITUTE OF FINANCIAL PLANNERS

What THE CANADIAN INSTITUTE OF FINANCIAL PLANNERS does

The Canadian Institute of Financial Planners (CIFPs) is a Canadian non-profit professional association founded in 2002 and headquartered in Burlington, Ontario, that serves financial planning professionals across Canada through credentialing, continuing education, advocacy, and community-building programs. It administers a portfolio of five designations — the Chartered Financial Planner (CFP), Registered Life Insurance Specialist (RLIS), Registered Retirement Consultant (RRC), Registered Financial and Retirement Advisor (RFRA), and Registered Retirement Analyst (RRA) — through two operating subsidiaries, the CIFP Chartered Institute of Financial Planning and the CIFP Retirement Institute. The organization is an FSRA-approved Credentialing Body for Financial Planner and Financial Advisor Title Use in Ontario, granting CIFP credentials statutory standing under Ontario's Title Protection framework.

CIFPs generates revenue from three primary streams: recurring membership dues ($299/year for CFP certificants, $249/year for associate members), one-time conference and event registration (with the Annual National Conference now in its 25th edition), and Errors and Omissions insurance referrals administered exclusively through Marsh Canada. Distribution is conducted via a national website-based registration portal, an eight-city chapter network (Calgary, Edmonton, Halifax, Kitchener/Waterloo, Regina, Toronto/GTA, Vancouver, Winnipeg), and an annual national conference that also functions as the association's flagship marketing and sponsorship channel with 30+ financial services firms as recurring sponsors. The association is governed by an industry volunteer Board of Directors and operated by a small permanent staff under President & CEO Anthony Williams.

CIFPs' core technology footprint is limited to its content website (www.cifps.ca) and conference registration portal; the association does not develop proprietary technology products. Member benefits include CE course access, advocacy representation before regulatory bodies, technical and regulatory updates, practice management resources, E&O insurance access, local chapter networking, and media promotion. A 2027 brand refresh with a new logo and modernized website is timed to the 25th annual conference.

Name

THE CANADIAN INSTITUTE OF FINANCIAL PLANNERS

Legal name

The Canadian Institute of Financial Planners

Website

https://cifps.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The Canadian Institute of Financial Planners (CIFPs) is a Canadian non-profit professional association founded in 2002 that provides credentialing, continuing education, advocacy, and events to financial planning professionals across Canada through five designations and an annual national conference.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Association and Financial Planning Education

NAICS

Professional Organizations (81392), Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYFSAEAAAA

Comprehensive Financial Planning

Financial & Insurance/Financial Advisory, Brokerage & Intermediation/Investment Advisory & Financial Planning

SECONDARYEDAAALAJ

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

Education/Adult & Continuing Education/Professional Licensure & Continuing Professional Education (CE/CPE)

SECONDARYFSAEAAAD

Retirement & Pension Planning (401(k)/IRA)

Financial & Insurance/Financial Advisory, Brokerage & Intermediation/Investment Advisory & Financial Planning

SECONDARYMPAGAGAG

Finance & Investment Conferences

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Live Entertainment & Events (Concerts, Theater, Festivals)/Conventions & Conferences (Business Events)

Keywords

• Financial planning education
• Professional designations
• Continuing education
• Professional association
• Industry advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Burlington

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership dues from CFP certificants ($299/year) and Associate Members ($249/year). Membership includes access to CE courses, professional resources, advocacy services, networking, and member communications.
2. Conference and Event Registration: Revenue from the annual CIFPs National Conference (2027: $699 early bird member, $849 member+conference bundle, $999 non-member; regular pricing higher), CIFPs Professional Days, Ethical Conduct Sessions, and other educational events.
3. E&O Insurance Referrals: Errors and Omissions insurance administered through Marsh Canada, a licensed insurance broker. Insurance may be offered as a member benefit with referral dynamics.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Canadian Institute of Financial Planners is a non-profit professional association that provides membership services, professional designations (Chartered Financial Planner, Registered Life Insurance Specialist, Registered Retirement Consultant, Registered Financial and Retirement Advisor, Registered Retirement Analyst), continuing education, advocacy, and professional development events (including the annual national conference, Professional Days, and Ethical Conduct Sessions) for financial planning professionals across Canada. Membership also includes access to Errors and Omissions insurance and local chapter networking.

Product overview

CIFPs is a national, non-profit professional association for financial planning professionals in Canada. Its core offering is a portfolio of professional designations and credentials administered through its educational arms: the CIFP Chartered Institute of Financial Planning (offering Chartered Financial Planner® and Registered Life Insurance Specialist® designations) and the CIFP Retirement Institute (offering Registered Retirement Consultant®, Registered Financial and Retirement Advisor®, and Registered Retirement Analyst® designations). The association complements its credentialing programs with membership benefits including Errors and Omissions Insurance, advocacy, professional development events (such as the Annual National Conference, Professional Days, and Ethical Conduct Sessions), and continuing education resources.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CIFP Retirement Institute: Research and development of retirement planning knowledge base, administering RRC, RFRA, and RRA designations.
• CIFP Chartered Institute of Financial Planning

Products and services

• CIFPs Membership Annual membership for financial planning professionals, offered as CFP Certificant membership ($299/year) and Associate Member General ($249/year). Includes continuing education courses, professional resources, advocacy services, networking, regulatory updates, and access to Errors and Omissions insurance.
• Chartered Financial Planner (CFP) Designation Program A comprehensive financial planning credential based on an integrated financial planning process where professionals demonstrate advanced knowledge across major areas of financial planning and apply that knowledge in developing coordinated financial planning strategies for clients. Administered by the CIFP Chartered Institute of Financial Planning.
• Registered Life Insurance Specialist (RLIS) Designation A designation recognizing professional competency in life insurance and related areas of financial planning, administered by the CIFP Chartered Institute of Financial Planning.
• Registered Retirement Consultant (RRC) Designation A designation supporting specialization in retirement planning through the CIFP Retirement Institute, supported by structured programs of study and examination.
• Registered Financial and Retirement Advisor (RFRA) Designation A designation administered through the CIFP Retirement Institute for professionals specializing in financial advising and retirement-related client needs.
• Registered Retirement Analyst (RRA) Designation An advanced designation through the CIFP Retirement Institute focused on analytical aspects of retirement planning and retirement income strategies.
• CIFPs Annual National Conference Canada's premier annual gathering for financial planning professionals, bringing together financial services leaders, educators, and practitioners for education and networking. Three and a half days of programming across retirement planning, practice management, investment strategy, tax and estate planning, financial planning insights, and ethics.
• CIFPs Ethical Conduct Sessions Sessions providing opportunities to apply professional ethics principles and rules to scenarios of ethical dilemmas that financial planners encounter. Provides FP Canada Professional Responsibility CE credits for CFP and QAFP professionals and qualifies for CIRO and CIFP designation CE credits.
• CIFPs Professional Days Professional development sessions featuring comprehensive financial planning mini case studies, allowing members to analyze client scenarios and share analysis with other financial planning professionals. Includes complimentary registration to Ethical Conduct Sessions for attendees.
• CIFPs Continuing Education Courses Continuing education courses and professional development resources covering financial planning, retirement planning, investments, insurance, ethics, compliance, and practice management for the financial services industry. CE credits recognized by CIRO, FP Canada, and insurance licensing bodies.
• Errors and Omissions Insurance for Members Professional liability insurance offered to CIFPs members exclusively through Marsh Canada. Three plan types available: Licensed Sales Agent, Licensed Marketing Assistant, and Fee For Service Only.

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• ScotiabankmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerScotiabank is a platinum/sponsor level supporter of the CIFPs Annual National Conference. Scotiabank provides cocktail reception sponsorship at the conference. Scotiabank has assets of approximately $1.4 trillion (as at January 31, 2024) and trades on TSX (BNS) and NYSE (BNS). Vision: to be clients' most trusted financial partner.
• IG Wealth ManagementmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerIG Wealth Management is a major conference sponsor. With over 1 million clients and over $121 billion in assets under advisement, IG leads the industry in integrated financial planning including investments, mortgages, tax planning, estate plans, philanthropy, retirement, insurance, and private wealth planning. Founded in 1926, part of Power Financial group.
• CIFP Retirement InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe CIFP Retirement Institute is a subsidiary of CIFPs dedicated to researching and developing the knowledge base of retirement planning for the benefit of Canadians. It administers retirement planning designations (RRC, CR, RFRA, RRA) and provides unbiased, high-quality information about retirement planning, including qualitative lifestyle aspects often overlooked in typical client-planner interactions.
• BMO Global Asset ManagementmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerBMO Global Asset Management is a conference sponsor providing breakfast sponsorship at the 2026 conference. BMO GAM is a Canadian institutional and mutual fund investment manager with $267B in assets under management, over 50 years of experience, and a team of 110+ investment professionals.
• Fidelity InvestmentsmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerFidelity Investments is a conference sponsor providing lunch sponsorship. With over $200 billion in AUM (as at December 31, 2023), Fidelity serves individuals, financial advisors, pension plans, endowments, and foundations through mutual funds and ETFs.
• VanguardmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerVanguard is a conference sponsor. Canadians own CAD $80 billion in Vanguard assets. Vanguard Investments Canada manages CAD $54 billion (as of March 31, 2023) with 37 Canadian ETFs and 6 mutual funds. The firm manages USD $7.5 trillion globally.
• TD Asset ManagementmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerTD Asset Management is a conference sponsor providing refreshment break sponsorship. TDAM is a leading asset manager in Canada managing C$532 billion in assets as of March 31, 2026, serving about 3 million retail investors.
• ATB Investment ManagementmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerATB Investment Management (ATBIM) is a subsidiary of ATB Financial providing investment management services including mutual funds (Compass Portfolios) and discretionary investment management for high-net-worth individuals and institutions. Over 20 years in operation with over $25.5 billion in AUM.
• Chartwell Retirement ResidencesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerChartwell is a conference sponsor and a leader in Canadian retirement living. Over 170 retirement residences across Ontario, Quebec, Alberta, and British Columbia. Their guiding purpose is Making People's Lives BETTER.
• HomeEquity BankminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHomeEquity Bank (Wealth by HomeEquity Bank) is a conference sponsor, the leading provider of reverse mortgages in Canada for over 37 years, and the only financial institution exclusively dedicated to Canadian homeowners 55+. Owned by Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan since July 2022.
• Mackenzie InvestmentsmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerMackenzie Investments is a conference sponsor. Building unshakeable partnerships with advisors since 1967. Delivers performance-driven, innovative investment solutions for all types of investors, investing in a sustainable and responsible future.
• Advisor HuntminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAdvisor Hunt is a conference sponsor and Canada's #1 team for platform transitions and advisor successions. Creator of Optimal Practice Succession — Canada's leading program for advisor book sales and practice transitions.
• Edward JonesmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerEdward Jones is a conference sponsor and one of Canada's largest independent full-service brokerage firms, supported by a 104-year-old U.S. enterprise. 30+ years in Canada serving individual investors.
• Fidelity WealthminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFidelity Wealth is a new wealth management service supporting financial advisors with succession and transition toward retirement. Partners with retiring advisors to create customized transition plans that protect their legacy.
• Starlight CapitalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerStarlight Capital is a conference sponsor and independent asset management firm offering mutual funds, ETFs, private pools, and structured products with a real assets focus. Uses a disciplined Focused Business Investing approach.
• New Outlook WealthminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNew Outlook Wealth (NOW) is a Winnipeg-based financial advisory firm providing Real Wealth Management to Canadians. Founded in 2020, NOW advises on approximately $400M AUA with 10 different ICPM firms. Non-registrant planning firm leveraging collaborative co-management model.
• Marsh CanadacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMarsh Canada is a conference sponsor and the exclusive provider of E&O insurance for CIFPs members. Marsh is the world's leading insurance broker and risk adviser with over 35,000 colleagues in more than 130 countries. Marsh Canada has approximately 1,200 employees and offices in 13 Canadian cities.
• Humber CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHumber College provides educational programs in financial planning. Dr. Paul Griffin from Humber College serves as First Vice-Chair of the CIFPs Board of Directors.
• Coalition for Professional Standards for Financial PlannerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn 2011, CIFPs co-founded the Coalition for Professional Standards for Financial Planners alongside Advocis, The Financial Advisors Association of Canada (FPA), Financial Planning Standards Council (FPSC), the Institute of Advanced Financial Planners (IAFP), and the Institut québécois de planification financière (IQPF). The coalition's mandate was to establish common national standards for financial planners in Canada.
• VIP Family OfficeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVIP Family Office is a conference sponsor founded by Dale Barrett, an estate and tax lawyer with nearly two decades of experience. Focuses on legal and tax frameworks for wealth preservation, including estate freezes, family trusts, pipeline planning, and corporate reorganizations.
• Food Banks CanadaminorOthersCIFPs is a proud supporter of Food Banks Canada, a national charitable organization dedicated to relieving hunger today and preventing hunger tomorrow in collaboration with the food bank network across Canada.
• AmanikidsminorOthersCIFPs is a proud supporter of Amanikids Charity.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Knowledge Bureau: Knowledge Bureau is a Canadian financial education provider offering professional development and designations for financial advisors. Comparable to CIFPs in its focus on elevating financial planning professional credentials in Canada.
• FP Canada: FP Canada is the leading national credentialing body for financial planners in Canada, granting the CFP and QAFP marks. It is the most direct competitor to CIFPs' CFP designation and the dominant standard-setter in Canadian financial planning.
• Canadian Securities Institute (CSI): CSI is a leading Canadian provider of financial services education and credentials, offering courses for securities, insurance, and financial planning. Comparable to CIFPs as a financial education and credentialing provider in Canada.
• Advocis: Advocis is the Financial Advisors Association of Canada, a national member association providing advocacy, professional development, and member services for financial advisors. Directly comparable to CIFPs as a peer professional association serving the same Canadian advisor population.
• Institute of Advanced Financial Planners (IAFP): IAFP is a Canadian association of financial planning professionals focused on advanced, fee-based financial planning. Directly comparable to CIFPs in member base, advocacy role, and professional development focus.
• Insurance Institute of Canada (IIC): IIC is a national Canadian association providing professional designations (e.g., CIP) for the property/casualty and life insurance industry. Comparable to CIFPs as a comparable professional association serving Canadian financial services professionals with designations and CE.

Broad incumbents

• CFA Institute: CFA Institute is the global credentialing body for investment professionals, awarding the CFA charter. Comparable to CIFPs as a broader incumbent offering overlapping credentials for finance professionals.

Emerging players

• Cambridge Designated / Cambridge Global Health Alliance: Cambridge designated programs offer financial advisor designation content in Canada. Comparable to CIFPs as an emerging alternative in the Canadian financial planning credentialing space.

Regional players

• Institut québécois de planification financière (IQPF): IQPF is the Quebec-based financial planning credentialing body and a Coalition for Professional Standards co-founder with CIFPs. Operates in the same product category (financial planner certification) but is regionally focused on Quebec.

Others

• IFIC (Investment Funds Institute of Canada): IFIC is the national association of the Canadian investment funds industry, representing fund manufacturers and distributors. Related to CIFPs as an adjacent industry association whose members overlap with CIFPs' sponsor ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries2 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 THE CANADIAN INSTITUTE OF FINANCIAL PLANNERS