Are all CFPs fiduciaries?
Yes, all CFPs are required to act as fiduciaries when providing financial advice. The CFP Board’s new Code and Standards became effective on October 1, 2019 and requires CFP professionals commit to act in the best interest of their clients not just during the financial planning process, but at all times when providing financial advice. The fiduciary duty is defined in detail and includes a Duty of Loyalty, Duty of Care and Duty to Follow Client Instructions. The Duty of Loyalty states, among other things, that a CFP professional must either avoid conflicts of interest or fully disclose material conflicts of interest to the client, obtain the client’s informed consent, and properly manage the conflict.