December 22, 2010
Announcement of successful candidates for the Second CFP® Certification Examination in 2010
Japan Association for Financial Planners, a non-profit organization, (JAFP; Hiroshi Kato, Chairman) today announced the candidates who have successfully passed the Second CFP® Certification Examination held in 2010. This is the 31st CFP® Certification Examination and it was held in ten cities throughout Japan on November 14 and 21, 2010. A total of 8,003 sat for the examination, of which 649 passed all six subjects, resulting in a pass rate of 8.1%.
Those 649 successful candidates must complete the Practice and Ethics Program for CFP® certification and fulfill a further three years of experience requirement prior to CFP® certifications being granted.
JAFP introduced the CFP® certification program into Japan in 1992, and as of December 1, 2010 there are 17,125 CFP® certificants in this country.
The CFP® Certification Examination is held twice a year by JAFP in June and November. The next examination is scheduled on June 12 and 19, 2011.
November 24, 2010
Increasing Trend for Financial Planning Consultation on Life Planning Questionnaire Survey to JAFP Members
Announcement of FY2010 Financial Planner Practice Survey Results
Japan Association for Financial Planners, a non-profit organization, (JAFP; Hiroshi Kato, Chairman) has compiled its Financial Planner Practice Survey Results, which was implemented targeting financial planners who are members of JAFP.
The survey was implemented in July 2010, targeting financial planners with CFP® certification and AFP certification recognized by JAFP. Questions in the survey included those on the certification status of financial planners and the status of the practice, as well as views and evaluations of financial planning. A total of 11,804 persons provided valid responses.
I. Status of financial planner practice
- There is a tendency for annual income of financial planners to increase in line with their length of experience in practice. Approximately one in every six to seven respondents with more than nine years of experience in financial planning practice has an annual income over 10 million yen.
- 31% of respondents with CFP® certification and 34% of those who primarily provide life planning consultancy services have seen their financial planning practice income increase.
- On average financial planners provide 6.7 financial planning practices each month. 34% of respondents who primarily provide life planning consultancy services had seen an increase in the number of consultations per month over the previous year.
II. Typical financial planners' clients
- Most individual clients are "company directors and executives," (36%), followed by "company employees," (30%).
- The top three consultation areas from individual clients have similar proportions: "financial asset planning" (25 %), "life planning (education/funds to purchase home, etc.)" (21%), and "estate and business succession planning" (20%).
III. Utilization of financial planner certifications
- 68% of companies where respondents are working encourage employees to acquire financial planning certification(s).
- 63% of respondents belonging to financial institutions, real estate and other general businesses answered that they promoted their financial planning certification(s) to clients by putting the certification(s) on their business card or name card.
- The highest degree of clients' satisfaction on the receipt of financial planning services is "advice on the purchase or cancellation of various kinds of insurance" (36%), followed by "being able to understand life planning concepts" (33%).
IV. Views and evaluations of financial planning
- Approximately 80% of respondents who acquire financial planning certification(s) answered that they were satisfied with obtaining the certification(s). With regard to the most beneficial area of financial planning-related knowledge and skills, 63% of respondents replied "concepts about life planning," followed by "tax planning" (42%) and "individual cash flow, balance sheets" (41%).
October 7, 2010
Various seminars and consultations on life and money provided nationwide by financial planners around FP Day (November 6)
Japan Association for Financial Planners, a non-profit organization, (JAFP; Hiroshi Kato, Chairman) has designated the first Saturday in November each year as "FP Day," which this year falls on November 6. For a period of one month before and after "FP Day", a series of events including free seminars and consultations in connection with life and money by financial planners will be held in every prefecture (all 50 chapters) throughout Japan. These events are the largest-scaled public education activities offered by JAFP and are endorsed by the Financial Services Agency.
The seventh "FP Day" will take place with the slogan; "Make Your Dreams Come True" for the local consumers. A variety of events that are useful to their individual daily lives, including money-related seminars and individual financial planning consultations, will be held. The seminars will cover a wide-range of topics from management of household finance, life planning, home mortgages, to planning for life after retirement. In addition, some chapters will offer financial education activities specifically targeting children. JAFP chapter members will come together to present a series of highly original events.
As the long-lasting economic downturn brings forth a sense of uneasiness about their daily household finances and life after retirement, JAFP will offer all seminars and consultations free of charge to give consumers opportunities to clear their concerns and questions about life and money.
September 9, 2010
JAFP Establishes Personal Finance Education Guidelines "Personal Finance Education Standards" Announced on September 9, 2010
Standardizing necessary knowledge and skills for personal financial planning and daily living for each stage in life (student, single and family, senior citizen).
Japan Association for Financial Planners, a non-profit organization, (JAFP; Hiroshi Kato, Chairman) has established "Personal Finance Education Standards," which were announced on September 9, 2010.
The Personal Finance Education Standards were made to promote personal finance education and boost public awareness about the importance of personal finance, compiling knowledge and skills necessary for each stage in life.
August 4, 2010
Third grade Certified Skilled Worker of Financial Planning Examination to be Launched by JAFP
First examination date set for Sunday, January 23, 2011
Japan Association for Financial Planners, a non-profit organization, (JAFP; Hiroshi Kato, Chairman) will implement the Third grade Certified Skilled Worker of Financial Planning Examination, a national certificate system, from Sunday, January 23, 2011.
July 21, 2010
Announcement of successful candidates for the First CFP® Certification Examination in 2010
Japan Association for Financial Planners, a non-profit organization, (JAFP; Hiroshi Kato, President) today announced the candidates who have successfully passed the First CFP® Certification Examination held in 2010. This is the 30th CFP® Certification Examination and it was held in ten cities throughout Japan on June 13 and 20, 2010. A total of 7,625 sat for the examination, of which 598 passed all six subjects, resulting in a pass rate of 7.8%.
Those 598 successful candidates must complete the Practice and Ethics Program for CFP® certification and fulfill a further three years of experience requirement prior to CFP® certifications being granted.
CFP® certification is granted only to those who possess the highest standards of competency, and are able to provide professional financial planning advice to clients. The CFP® certification programs are offered in 23 countries and regions on five continents (as of July 2010). There were 126,016 CFP® certificants worldwide as of December 2009.
JAFP introduced the CFP® certification program into Japan in 1992, and as of July 1, 2010 there are 17,127 CFP® certificants in this country.
The CFP® Certification Examination is held twice a year by JAFP in June and November. The next examination is scheduled on November 14 and 21, 2010.
June 28, 2010
Financial planners respond to consumers' questions and concerns about life and money by telephone consultations
"Life and Money Hotline" Available on July 10 (Sat)!
Japan Association for Financial Planners, a non-profit organization, (JAFP; Hiroshi Kato, President) will also offer a temporary telephone consultation "Life and Money Hotline" on Saturday, July 10, 2010, due to increased demand during the summer bonus season. CFP® certificants* will respond to consumers' questions and concerns about life and money by telephone consultations.
* The CFP® certification is granted only to the individuals who possess highly qualified competency, and who are able to provide professional financial planning advice to clients.
May 14, 2010
A unique contest that encourages elementary school students to create their own "life plan sheets," based on their "dreams for the future" that set out paths to realizing these dreams!
The Fourth "National Elementary School Essay Contest for Secrets to Have Dreams Come True"
Organizer: Japan Association for Financial Planners
Application Period: Monday, June 1, 2010 to Saturday, October 31, 2010
Text Book: Learn through Manga Series, Secrets of Work Secrets to Have Dreams Come True- The Works of Financial Planners in Life Planning
Japan Association for Financial Planners, a non-profit organization, (JAFP; Hiroshi Kato, President) will hold the Fourth "National Elementary School Essay Contest for Secrets to Have Dreams Come True" (Application period: June 1 to October 31), for elementary school students.
April 23, 2010
Life Planning Awareness Survey for People in their Prime Working Years (30's- 40's)
Japan Association for Financial Planners, a non-profit organization, (JAFP; Hiroshi Kato, President) has compiled the results of a Life Planning Awareness Survey for People in their Prime Working Years (30's-40's) that was implemented in January 2010, targeting men and women between the ages of 30 and 49 nationwide. A total of 4,911 valid responses were received.
- Almost half of respondents (49.4%) indicated that the cause for major concern or anxiety was "life planning post-retirement," followed by "pensions" (38.5%) and "nursing care for parents" (37.3%). These responses demonstrate that many people have a realistic approach to issues associated with post-retirement. At the same time, they have more immediate concerns or anxiety about such things as "day-to-day family budget management" (35.1%), "preparing for sickness, injury or death" (34.1%), and "children's education costs" (32.8%).
- A total of 95.0% of respondents were aware of the term "financial planning." With regard to a life plan, the responses were as follows: "I am about to start considering" (31.3%), "I am collecting information" (21.2%), and "I have already drawn up a specific life plan" (12.9%). On the other hand, 34.6% responded that "I have not particularly thought about it yet." Also, among those who have already implemented "financial planning," 65.6% responded that their plan was proving useful.
March 24, 2010
"My Future Career" as expressed by the 1,542 students who took part in the Third National Elementary School Essay Contest for Secrets to Have Dreams Come True
The most popular career among elementary school students is "baseball player" for boys and "confectioner" for girls
● Many boys aspire to become sports players, with four sports appearing in the top ten.
● For girls, careers in which women are typically active, such as nursery school teacher or nurse, rank high.
● Professions such as doctor, teacher or manga artist are popular for both boys and girls.
Japan Association for Financial Planners, a non-profit organization, (JAFP; Hiroshi Kato, President) last year held the Third National Elementary School Essay Contest for Secrets to Have Dreams Come True aimed at elementary school students all over Japan. Applications were accepted between June 1 and October 31, 2009, with the results of the contest announced on February 26, 2010. JAFP has now summarized the results with regard to what occupations students would like to be in the future, based on the content of their essays.
■Future Career (Top 10)
＜Boys＞
| Rank |
Future Career |
Number |
| 1 |
Baseball player |
146 |
| 2 |
Football player or coach |
106 |
| 3 |
Scholar or researcher |
46 |
| 4 |
Medical doctor |
42 |
| 5 |
Teacher |
21 |
| 6 |
Swimming athlete or coach |
20 |
| 7 |
Game designer or other game-related artist |
17 |
| 8 |
Manga artist |
16 |
| 9 |
Pilot or other aviation-related job |
14 |
| 10 |
Basketball player |
13 |
|
|
＜Girls＞
| Rank |
Future Career |
Number |
| 1 |
Confectioner
(including pastry chef) |
94 |
| 2 |
Nursery school teacher |
64 |
| 3 |
Teacher |
57 |
| 4 |
Medical doctor |
52 |
| 5 |
Nurse |
28 |
| 6 |
Novelist or writer |
27 |
| 7 |
Veterinary doctor |
27 |
| 8 |
Manga artist |
27 |
| 9 |
Singer |
24 |
| 10 |
Beautician or hair & make-up artist |
19 |
|
February 26, 2010
Announcement of the Results of the Third National Elementary School Essay Contest for Secrets to Have Dreams Come True
Japan Association for Financial Planners, a non-profit organization, (JAFP; Hiroshi Kato, President) has announced the prize winners in its Third National Elementary School Essay Contest for Secrets to Have Dreams Come True, which was held during this fiscal year. JAFP holds this contest for elementary school students throughout the country as part of JAFP activities in personal finance education which contribute to enrichment and improvement of national citizens' lives, with the aim of enlightening children about drawing out a life plan and the importance of money.
The theme of the contest is "My Dreams for the Future." It is unique in that contestants are required to submit two documents in a set: a "Life Plan Sheet" that sets out specific efforts they intend to make and for what purposes money will be required to fulfill their dreams, and an essay in which they describe their feelings, thoughts and pictures about their dreams for the future.
The contest received a total of 1,542 applications during the application period from June 1 to October 31, 2009, sent from around the country.
The various prizes awarded are as detailed below.
Individual Prizes
■Most Outstanding Essay Prize (1)
■Outstanding Essay Prizes (5)
■Encouraging Essay Prizes (10)
School Prizes
■Most Outstanding School Prize (1)
■Outstanding School Prize (2)
|
