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Make a complaint about a financial planner

Use this form to file a complaint about a CFP® professional or a QAFP® professional (each an “FP Canada™ Certificant”).

Making a Complaint

It is important that you complete the entire form and check the information provided for accuracy prior to submission. If you need assistance to file your complaint, please send an e‐mail to complaints@fpcanada.ca or contact FP Canada Standards Council™ by phone at 416.593.8587, or toll free at 1.800.305.9886, and ask to speak with the Standards Council.

Requirements to Submit

To ensure you receive a copy of your complaint submission, we suggest that you add reply@fpcanada.ca to safe senders and domains or safe mailing lists.

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Note: In fairness to the Certificant you are filing a complaint about, we may share some or all the information you provide with the Certificant. We may give copies of documents received from you to the Certificant. We may also share personal information (such as names, addresses and telephone numbers) with the Certificant. The Complaint Form will be provided to the Certificant whose conduct is the subject of your complaint.

Online Complaint Form

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Download Complaint Form

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Enforcing the standards

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Making a Complaint

Complaints Investigated by the FP Canada Standards Council

The Standards Council’s Role

The Standards Council receives and reviews complaints about FP Canada certificants involving:

  1. Any conduct that may breach the Standards of Professional Responsibility (Code of Ethics; Rules of Conduct; Fitness Standards and Practice Standards);
  2. Any other conduct that may bring the reputation of the certification marks into question.

If you are not sure if your complaint meets the above criteria or if you are not sure if your complaint involves an FP Canada certificant, contact us at complaints@fpcanada.ca.

Make a Complaint

Timing to Submit a Complaint

Complaints must be filed within six years of the date you knew (or ought to have known) of the events about which you are complaining. It is important to act quickly and to respond promptly to any requests for more information regarding your complaint. If you wait too long, the Standards Council may not be able to proceed with the complaint as the evidence required to investigate your complaint may no longer be available or reliable. The sooner you make your complaint, the more likely it is that relevant documents still exist, witnesses can be more easily located, memories have not faded, and evidence is not missing.

Make a Complaint

Anonymous Complaints

The Standards Council does not, typically, review anonymous complaints and it is strongly suggested that you identify yourself in the Complaint Form. A reluctance to participate in the process frequently results in the Standards Council not being able to conduct a full and fair Investigation, which may result in the complaint being closed or dismissed.

Make a Complaint

What Happens after Filing a Complaint

The Standards Council will confirm receipt of your complaint within approximately ten (10) business days. Staff will conduct an initial review of the complaint. Staff may contact you during this initial review to request additional information/documentation from you. The initial review may take up to 90 days to complete depending on the complexity of the complaint and the need for additional documentation/information. Standards Council staff may contact the Certificant during the initial review process.

You will be notified of the outcome of the initial review process.

Make a Complaint

Other Enforcement Bodies

If your complaint falls outside of the Standards Council’s jurisdiction, you may wish to contact other oversight bodies. Below is a list of federal and provincial/territorial enforcement organizations that accept complaints from the public.

Ombudsman for Banking Services and Investments (OBSI)

OBSI is an independent service for resolving banking services and investment disputes. Services are free to customers.

Securities Regulators & Organizations

Provincial / Territorial

National

Insurance Regulators & Organizations

Below is a list of membership associations that may accept complaints from the public:

Advocis | The Financial Advisors Association of Canada

Advocis | The Financial Advisors Association of Canada

  • for Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) and Professional Financial Advisor (PFA) designations

Canadian Securities Institute

Canadian Securities Institute

  • for Personal Financial Planner (PFP) designation

Canadian Institute of Financial Planners

Canadian Institute of Financial Planners

  • for CIFP Registered Retirement Consultant® Program.