Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. has joined the Financial Planning Standards Board Ltd. (FPSB), a move that will result in professional standards in financial planning being promoted worldwide, the CFP Board says.

   CFP Board announced Tuesday that it has entered into a membership agreement with FPSB, the international organization that owns the CFP marks outside the United States.

   As a member of FPSB, CFP Board will work with the group and its member organizations to align educational, examination, experience and ethical standards for financial planning professionals who hold CFP certification around the world.

   CFP Board's membership in FPSB includes participation on the FPSB Council, as well as committees and international working groups involved with financial planning certification and standards activities. The FPSB Council acts as an advisory and consulting body to the FPSB Board of Directors and is made up of delegations of up to two representatives from each of the organizational members of FPSB.

   CFP Board will retain ownership of the CFP trademarks in the United States and continue its independent operation of the CFP certification program in this country.

   "CFP Board has long supported the development of the CFP certification program around the world," said Kevin R. Keller, CEO of CFP Board. "Since 2004, when CFP Board transferred to FPSB ownership of the CFP marks outside the U.S., FPSB and its affiliates have made great strides in promoting awareness of CFP certification and the financial planning profession to consumers around the world. We look forward to working closely with FPSB."

   CFP Board, established in 1985, currently authorizes more than 56,000 individuals in the U.S. to use the CFP certification marks. FPSB's 20 member organizations in as many territories around the world collectively authorize more than 52,000 individuals to use the CFP marks in their territories.

   "We welcome CFP Board as a member of FPSB at an exciting time for the global financial planning profession," said Noel Maye, CEO of FPSB. "Interest in the CFP certification program continues to spread to new territories, and public awareness of the value of financial planning has never been greater. CFP Board, with more than 20 years administering the CFP certification program in the U.S., brings invaluable experience to the FPSB Council."

   For more about FPSB, visit www.fpsb.org.