SIFMA Challenges CFP Board

Posted on November 14th, 2024 at 10:46 AM
SIFMA Challenges CFP Board

From the desk of Jim Eccleston at Eccleston Law

According to InvestmentNews, the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA) released a whitepaper criticizing the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) Board’s standards enforcement, asserting it operates as a “de facto, private regulator.” SIFMA claims the CFP Board’s disciplinary practices create complications for its member firms, which employ tens of thousands of CFP professionals.

SIFMA's primary concern is the overlapping “regulatory” oversight, as CFPs already must comply with rules from the SEC, FINRA, and state securities regulators. For example, the whitepaper highlights potential conflicts when CFPs under investigation share firm-owned documents with the CFP Board, which SIFMA argues disrupts firm control over proprietary information.

The whitepaper contends that the CFP Board’s enforcement structure and independent rulemaking closely resemble a governmental regulator.

According to SIFMA, no other private credentialing body has enacted a comparable system of regulatory functions, including investigations, adjudications, and publicly accessible disciplinary records.

 

Eccleston Law LLC represents investors and financial advisors nationwide in securities, employment, transition, regulatory, and disciplinary matters.

Tags: eccleston, eccleston law, sifma, cfp

Return to Archive

TESTIMONIALS

Previous
Next

I just received this letter from the CFP Board. Thank you, Thank you, THANK YOU!

David Y

LATEST NEWS AND ARTICLES

November 18, 2025
Former FINRA Brokers with Misconduct Histories Flock to Insurance Industry, According to Recent Study

A recent academic study reveals that thousands of brokers expelled from the securities industry for misconduct nonetheless continue to operate under state insurance licenses, often selling annuities and other financial products to unsuspecting clients.

November 17, 2025
FINRA Launches Targeted Probe into Small-Cap Foreign IPO Underwriters

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has launched a targeted investigation into broker-dealer firms that helped small foreign companies go public in the U.S., marking its latest move to combat pump-and-dump schemes.

November 14, 2025
FINRA Bars Former Edward Jones Broker in Crypto-Related Investigation

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has barred former Edward Jones representative Robert David Bienvenu for refusing to provide requested information and documents related to outside accounts and investments.