The number of CFP professionals worldwide continues to grow, reaching a high of 213,002, a nearly 5% jump over last year, according to the Financial Planning Standards Board (FPSB).

The U.S. gained a total of 95,137, an increase of 3,082.

The increase represented a 10-fold jump in CFP professionals since CFP certification first went international in 1990, according to the FPSB.

"Our robust global community of CFP professionals means people around the world have access to financial planning from those who have committed to rigorous standards of competency, ethics and practice,” FPSB CEO Dante De Gori, CFP, said in a statement. “With global economic uncertainty and the rising costs of living impacting so many, increased access to financial planning advice is of utmost importance to help individuals and families stay on track to reach their goals and achieve financial well-being.”

The biggest gains were in the Americas and Asia-Pacific regions. Among the top six growth markets were FPSB China, which had the biggest gains with 3,382 CFP professionals for a year-end count of 30,182. FPSB China has the second-largest CFP professional community in the world after the CFP Board in the U.S.

Following China and the U.S. in growth gains of CFP professionals last year were Brazil at third with a net increase of 1,245 CFP professionals to end the year at 8,630; Japan at fourth with an increase of 1.034 for a year-end count of 25,098; Canada in fifth with a gain of 462 CFP professionals for a year-end count of 17259; and Chinese Taipai sixth with an increase of 410 CFP professionals for a year-end count of 2,842.

Three of the top six territories also were among the top gainers in 2021. Brazil’s program, Planejar—Brazilian Association of Financial Planners, had a 16.9% growth rate. Chinese Taipai also grew 16.9% in 2021; and China gained 12.6%. Brazil had the biggest growth rate in 2020 at 36.4% last year.

The other territories that boasted double-digit growth rates last year were Thailand (21.1%), Israel (16.6%) and Singapore (10.8%).

“Increasing the number of CFP professionals nearly two and a half times globally since FPSB’s creation in 2004 reinforces the value CFP certification holds in the global financial planning profession,” added De Gori. “With 26 years of continuous growth of CFP professionals, we are grateful for FPSB’s network of organizations and the hundreds of thousands of CFP professionals who support the advancement of the financial planning profession, with CFP certification its symbol of excellence.”

The FPSB is the standards-setting body for the global financial planning profession and owner of the international CFP certification program outside the U.S. It administers CFP certification and other programs in 27 territories.