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The Personal Financial Planner’s Manual™

will guide you through current and up-to-date concepts, definitions and strategies required to address client’s needs with examples as to how they apply to client situations that you would find on the Examinations. 

The Manual includes 69 chapters addressing the components of financial planning as defined in the CFP® and the PFP® Professional Competency Profiles: financial planning practices, financial management, income tax planning, investment planning, education planning, risk management, retirement planning and estate planning. 

“I have used the PFP Manual by Gobeil & Associates for approximately half my 50-year professional career as a public accountant. It is often my first reference choice for researching topics related to my practice and personal use. The series of continuing education courses and feedback, provided as part of the reasonably priced subscription service, is an added bonus.” Barry J. Smith, CPA, CA, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

The Personal Financial Planner's Manual

A Professional Reference Service for a Windows PC or MAC Computer

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Continuing Education Credits

The Current Developments in Personal Financial Planning is a series of continuing education courses with 6 hours of continuing education credits for each offering. You would complete a course by reading certain chapters of a quarterly update to The Manual and passing a multiple-choice exam.

If you have a current license for the Personal Financial Planner's Manual, you can complete four of the continuing education courses every year for 24 hours of continuing education credits at no extra cost.

Current Developments

 

CONCISE, PRACTICAL INFORMATION

  • Disability insurance - Probabilities of disability, the provisions in policies, individual versus group plans, strategies to obtain adequate, and tax implications.
  • Education - Tuition fees and room and board at universities, RESPs, CESGs and the Canada Student Loans, and tax considerations.
  • Employee benefits - Statistics on income and taxes in Canada, employment law, and taxation of employee benefits.
  • Estate planning - The planning process, spousal and testamentary trusts, wills checklist, a sample will, and tax considerations.
  • Income tax - Tax tables, calculations of tax, automobile benefits, deadlines, recent changes and tax planning considerations.
  • Investments - Strategies and selection criteria for T-Bills, term deposits, common shares, preferred shares, warrants, calls and puts, Canadas, corporate bonds, mutual funds, and mortgage-backed securities.
  • Life insurance - Analysis of life insurance needs, life expectancy, the provisions in term, whole life, universal and group insurance contracts, CPP benefits, tax considerations, and strategies to reduce risk and cost.
  • Lifestyle expenditures - Guidance on expenditures including budgeting practices, family expenditures in Canada, CPI information, and strategies for reducing expenditures.
  • Mortgage and housing - Costs of home ownership, mortgages, tax considerations, strategies for purchasing and financing a home, and a national survey of housing prices.
  • Pensions - Types of plans, pension contributions, regulations, funding, benefits, strategies and sources of information.
  • Portfolio design - Profile of the investor, investment characteristics, income tax considerations, strategies, reporting on investment performance, and a portfolio design checklist.
  • Professional standards - Emerging professional standards for the conduct of a PFP practice, acceptance of an engagement, and preparation of personal financial statements.
  • Quick reference - Current federal and provincial tax rates, prescribed interest rates, amounts and rates for CPP, OAS and EI.
  • Retirement issues - The retirement planning process, retirement income projections, retirement savings plans, life expectancy, tax considerations, and strategies.
  • RRSPs and DPSPs - Qualified investments, contribution limits, earned income, carry forward, excess contributions, rollovers, and strategies to maximize benefits.

You can use the Manual as a reference service to keep your knowledge current and meet your continuing education requirements.

  • Gobeil and Associates

    “I relied entirely on the Personal Financial Planner's Manual as my study material during preparation for the CFP® Exam. I found the material very detailed, technically sound and insightful. Your preparation guide was particular helpful in focusing my study time.

    In my financial planning practice, I have made reference to the Manual on numerous occasions. I keep it on my credenza within arm's reach. The manner in which the material is presented is very applicable to everyday situations and I apply the concepts outlined with ease.”

    CFP®, PFP, Senior Financial Advisor