Descriptions of Membership Types

Practitioner Member of IFA

All practitioner members of IFA have undergone credit and referee checks. All members undertake to:

  • Use the international best practice advice process - gathering facts, analysing the client's needs, researching options, providing written recommendations, implementing solutions, with ongoing reviews for the client
  • Comply with IFA Code of Ethics, Practice Standards and other rules
  • Keep up-to-date by doing at least 60 hours of Continuing Professional Development over each two-year period

Provisional Member

A Provisional Member has been accepted as a member while they undertake vocational training for a Certificate in Financial Services and two years mentored (supervised) practical experience.

General

A General Member has demonstrated initial competence as a financial adviser by completing:

  • Vocational training (the current requirement is a Certificate in Financial Services, equivalent to six months' full-time learning)
  • Two years' approved experience.

CFPCM

A CFPCM (Certified Financial PlannerCM) Member has advanced competence as a comprehensive financial planner by completing:

  • Vocational training (the current requirement is a Certificate in Financial Services, equivalent to six months' full-time learning)
  • An approved Graduate or Post-Graduate Diploma, equivalent to a year's full-time university study
  • Two years' approved mentored experience
  • A final Case Study based Certification Examination

CLU

A CLU (Chartered Life Underwriter) Member has demonstrated advanced competence as an insurance adviser by competing:

  • Vocational training (the current requirement is a Certificate in Financial Services, equivalent to six months' full-time learning)
  • An approved Graduate or Post-Graduate Diploma, equivalent to a year's full-time university study
  • Two years' approved mentoring and 5 years of approved practical experience

AFP

An AFP (Associate Financial Planner) Member has demonstrated intermediate competence as a financial planner by completing:

  • Vocational training (the current requirement is a Certificate in Financial Services, equivalent to six months' full-time learning)
  • 4 of the 8 university papers required for an approved Graduate or Post-Graduate Diploma, equivalent to a years' full-time study
  • Two years' approved mentored experience

ALU

An ALU (Associate Life Underwriter) Member has demonstrated intermediate competence as an insurance adviser by

  • Vocational training (the current requirement is a Certificate in Financial Services, equivalent to six months' full-time learning)
  • 4 of the 8 university papers required for an approved Graduate or Post-Graduate Diploma, equivalent to a years' full-time study
  • Two years' approved mentored experience

CFPCM and are registered certification marks and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERCM is a common law certification mark owned outside the U.S by Financial Planning Standards Board Ltd. Institute of Financial Advisers is the marks licensing authority for the CFP Marks in New Zealand, through agreement with FPSB.