Designations
Do you want to know the meaning of the initials on your investment advisor's or financial planner's business card? Select from the list below to find out what they represent, the organization that issues the designation, and how to contact that organization for more information. If you meet an advisor who claims to have a designations not included in this list, call BCSC Inquiries for more information.
| CA | CHFC | FCSI | RFP | |
| CFA | CIM | FMA | SFC | |
| CFP | CLU | PFP | ||
| CGA | CMA | PRP |
| CA | Chartered Accountant Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants Institute of Chartered Accountants of BC |
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| CFA | Chartered Financial Analyst CFA Institute |
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| CFP | Certified Financial Planner Financial Planners Standards Council Chartered Financial Planner (program phased out in 1998) Canadian Institute of Financial Planners |
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| CGA | Certified General Accountant Certified General Accountants Association of Canada Certified General Accountants Association of B.C. |
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| CHFC | Chartered Financial Consultant (program phased out in 2002) Advocis (The Financial Advisors Association of Canada) (previously administered by the Canadian Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors) |
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| CIM | Canadian Investment Manager Canadian Securities Institute |
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| CLU | Chartered Life Underwriter Advocis (The Financial Advisors Association of Canada) (previously administered by the Canadian Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors) |
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| CMA | Certified Management Accountant CMA Canada (The Society of Management Accountants of Canada) Certified Management Accountants Society of BC |
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| FCSI | Fellow of the Canadian Securities Institute Canadian Securities Institute |
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| FMA | Financial Management Advisor Canadian Securities Institute |
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| PFP | Personal Financial Planner Canadian Securities Institute |
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| PRP | Professional Retirement Planner Canadian Association of Pre-Retirement Planners |
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| RFP | Registered Financial Planner Institute of Advanced Financial Planners (previously administered by the Canadian Association of Financial Planners) |
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| SFC | Specialist in Financial Counseling (program phased out) Canadian Securities Institute |