What authority enforces CFP Board's Code of Ethics and Standards of Conduct?

• A. The CFP Board enforces the Code and Standards; complaints are handled through the CFP Board's disciplinary process.
• B. State regulators enforce it.
• C. The SEC enforces it.
• D. The FTC enforces it.

Answer: (A)

Enforcement authority comes from the CFP Board itself. The Board upholds its Code of Ethics and Standards of Conduct through its own disciplinary process, investigating alleged violations and, if warranted, imposing sanctions such as suspension or revocation of the CFP credential. This private regulatory mechanism exists specifically to oversee CFP professionals and protect the public trust in the credential.

State regulators, the SEC, and the FTC handle other legal or regulatory issues in the financial industry—such as securities laws, investment adviser registrations, and consumer protections—rather than enforcing the CFP Board’s internal ethics rules. If a conduct issue also breaches those laws, regulators may take separate action for those legal violations, but the CFP Board enforces its own standards for certification.