AI Guidance for CFP® Professionals: CFP Board Drafts New Ethics Guidance

CFP® Board Updates

The CFP Board is proactively addressing how artificial intelligence intersects with the ethics and standards expected of CFP® professionals. On November 7, 2025, the Board announced the development of new guidance aimed at helping certificants ethically and responsibly integrate AI tools into financial planning practices.

Why the CFP Board Is Acting Now

  • Increased use of AI: From client onboarding to portfolio construction, AI is transforming how financial advisors operate.
  • Ethical risks: As AI systems take on more decision-support functions, the risk of biased or non-transparent outputs grows.
  • Public trust imperative: The CFP Board wants to ensure that public trust in the CFP® mark remains intact as the industry evolves.

What the Draft Guidance May Include

  • Best practices for vetting AI vendors and platforms.
  • Principles for maintaining professional judgment when using AI-generated recommendations.
  • Transparency standards: How to disclose the use of AI to clients.
  • Risk management strategies to ensure compliance with the Code of Ethics and Standards of Conduct.

The guidance will likely not prohibit AI but rather help CFP® professionals make informed, ethical decisions when incorporating it into their work.

Why This Matters to Practicing Professionals

As AI adoption accelerates, clients may start asking more questions about how their financial planner uses it. Being ahead of this curve can become a trust-building opportunity.

CFP® professionals who engage with the guidance early can:

  • Demonstrate due diligence and ethical foresight.
  • Develop compliance documentation for audits or client transparency.
  • Train team members and junior advisors on acceptable AI use.

Next Steps

The CFP Board is currently accepting feedback from stakeholders and will release finalized guidance in early 2026.

You can read the official announcement and submit input here: https://www.cfp.net/news/2025/11/cfp-board-drafts-ethics-guidance-on-artificial-intelligence

Sources

  1. CFP Board. CFP Board Drafts Ethics Guidance on Artificial Intelligence. https://www.cfp.net/news/2025/11/cfp-board-drafts-ethics-guidance-on-artificial-intelligence
  2. ThinkAdvisor. CFP Board Tackles Ethical Use of AI by Planners. https://www.thinkadvisor.com/2025/11/08/cfp-board-ethical-ai-practices/
  3. Financial Advisor Magazine. CFP Board Seeks Feedback on AI Guidance. https://www.fa-mag.com/news/cfp-board-seeks-feedback-on-ai-guidance-76792.html
  4. InvestmentNews. AI Tools Pose New Challenges for CFP Professionals. https://www.investmentnews.com/ai-cfp-board-ethical-challenges-2025-248791
Posted in CFP Board Updates

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