Interpreting the Practice Standard for Monitoring Progress

Response A is not the best response because a CFP® professional must communicate to the Client how and when the CFP® professional will monitor progress toward the Client’s goals.

Response B is not the best response because monitoring progress on an annual basis may not be an appropriate interval for some Clients.

Response C is the best response. This case involves the Monitoring Progress and Updating standard of the Practices Standards for the Financial Planning Process (Standard C.7.).

The Practice Standards provide that a CFP® professional must establish with the Client whether the CFP® professional has monitoring and updating responsibilities. When the CFP® professional has responsibilities for monitoring and updating, the CFP® professional must communicate to the Client:

1. Which actions, products, and services are and are not subject to the CFP® professional’s monitoring responsibility;
2. How and when the CFP® professional will monitor the actions, products, and services;
3. The Client’s responsibility to inform the CFP® professional of any Material changes to the Client’s qualitative and quantitative information;
4. The CFP® professional’s responsibility to update the Financial Planning recommendations; and
5. How and when the CFP® professional will update the Financial Planning recommendations.

The Practice Standards further provide that a CFP® professional who has monitoring responsibilities must analyze, at appropriate intervals, the progress toward achieving the Client’s goals. The CFP® professional must review with the Client the results of the CFP® professional’s analysis. A CFP® professional who has monitoring responsibility also must collaborate with the Client in an attempt to obtain current qualitative and quantitative information concerning the Client’s personal and financial circumstances. Where circumstances warrant changes to the Client’s goals, recommendations, or selections of actions, products or services, the CFP® professional must update as appropriate in accordance with the Practice Standards. A CFP® professional also must comply with applicable federal and state laws, rules, and regulations that apply to monitoring services.

In this case Jim needs to determine what interval is appropriate for analyzing Sally and George’s progress towards retirement. In making that determination, he might consider, among other factors, Sally and George’s demonstrated ability to stick to the plan, the consequences to Sally and George of deviating from the plan, and the probability that Sally and George will achieve their goals, taking into account their investment portfolio, retirement date, life expectancy, and expenses. Jim may need to reevaluate the monitoring interval should the market experience significant volatility or if Sally and George experience other material qualitative or quantitative changes to their financial or personal circumstances.