Independent Financial Advisers in our firm are members of the Personal Finance Society (PFS). Following a mutual recognition agreement with the European Financial Planning Association, PFS members have now been granted EFPA European Financial Adviser (EFA) certification.

EFPA is one of the largest and most respected professional licensing, standard setting and certification bodies for financial advisers in Europe and was the first European financial standards association created to increase professionalism in the European financial services sector. EFPA UK is represented by the Personal Finance Society. It now accredits more than 60 European universities, banking and insurance institutes.

Why now?

This agreement will ensure that consumers who wish to access advice from UK advisers, or maintain existing relationships in a post-Brexit environment will be able to do so as part of an all-embracing standard across Europe.

What are the benefits of this agreement?

This agreement combines the knowledge and experience of the leading entities in Europe and the UK. Members will be able to use the EFA or EFP designations which are aligned and recognised through the equivalent European financial planning standards, which are fully, or part accredited by the main European regulators.

Members will benefit from EFPA’s continuing professional development programme, which will allow professional mobility and mutual recognition in more than 10 countries in Europe, enabling them to gain a deeper understanding of financial products and compliance under European regulation.

Personal Finance Society members holding the Diploma in Financial Planning or Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning will be granted European Financial AdvisorTM certification and eligibility to use the EFA designation. Members holding the Advanced Diploma will be granted European Financial PlannerTM certification and eligibility to use the EFP designation.