This is satisfying good news. Financial planners have been through a period of considerable change and adaption. but the advances are now to be seen and hopefully more gains will be realised with a stronger body overseeing professional standards and conduct and showing peer leadership. Thankfully some of the attempts to water down professional standards, such as excusing some planners from passing exams, came to nought.

The big test is a survey of clients and actual clients as to their opinion of the current standing of financial planners and advisors. I think there is still quite a journey to lift the financial planning profession in their eyes, but the results of this study underwrite the profession.