FPSB HOLDS
SEMI-ANNUAL COUNCIL MEETING IN JAPAN

1. A participant deep in thought during the FPSB Council Meeting.

2. Japan Association for Financial Planners (JAFP) President Hiroshi Kato addressing the FPSB Affiliates at the Welcome Reception.

FPAS President James Sim, CFP® and Chief Operating Officer, Benedict Wang – together with more than 50 professionals from the 23 Affiliates – attended the Financial Planning Standards Board Ltd (FPSB) Council Meeting in Tokyo, Japan on 22 to 23 April 2009. Hosting the meeting was the Japan Association for Financial Planners (JAFP), who provided its office, staff and other resources to facilitate a fruitful and successful event.

Several Affiliates, which included the Financial Planning Association of Singapore (FPAS), the Financial Planners Standards Council (FPSC) from Canada, Institute of Financial Planners of Hong Kong Ltd (IFPHK), Financial Planning Association of Malaysia (FPAM), Institute of Financial Advisers (IFA) from New Zealand and Institute of Financial Planning Ltd (IFP) from United Kingdom would be participating in the next Job Analysis Survey.

The joint venture and coordinated efforts between the six Affiliates would allow the survey to be cost-efficient and would also give the participating bodies a better understanding of the approaches that would best suit the interviewees.

FPAS recognises the importance of this survey to its members, particularly in validating competency profile information in surveying the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERTM professionals, and would also tie in greatly with both the curriculum and career development for the members.

Currently, the survey is in its primary stage of planning. Subsequently, a questionnaire would be developed by a research firm in consultation with each participating country and would be circulated to the CFP® professionals, after which, the results of the survey would then be interpreted by a psychometrician facilitated by FPSB, who would also be aiding in designing the survey.
FPAS plans to implement this survey in the first half of 2010.

We would like to encourage the CFP® professionals to participate in the survey once it is created. The results collected would provide invaluable data for FPAS to continue adding value to its members’ professional careers.

Some of the other topics discussed during the meeting included CFP® certification standards matters and updates from the FPSB Council.

During the meeting, FPAS and the other 21 Affiliates also voted to welcome The Netherlands as the 23rd FPSB Affiliate.

3. FPSB Executive Assistant Kati Stenger interacting with meeting delegates at the Welcome Receptions.
4. A traditional sake ceremony during the FPSB Gala Dinner.
5. Kati Stenger and fellow attendees helping themselves to some refreshing sake.
6. (Left to right): JAFP Senior Executive Director, Toshiharu Shirane, FPAS President James Sim and
JAFP Executive Director, Koichi Ito.
7. Delegates actively engaging in discussions.
8. Attendees seated in the meeting room.
9. FPSB Council Meeting, Tokyo, Japan
(Second row, nine from left) FPAS President James Sim, CFP®
(Second row, second from right) FPAS Chief Operating Officer, Benedict Wang.