For immediate release

FINANCIAL PLANNING WEEK: November 19-25

“It’s About Time” -- The Countdown to FPW Begins!

April 24, 2012, Montreal, Qc — The Institut québécois de planification financière (IQPF) and Financial Planning Standards Council (FPSC®) have jointly declared November 19-25, 2012 as Canada's fourth annual Financial Planning Week (FPW).

Financial Planning Week is part of an ongoing effort to make financial planning a cornerstone of sound financial management. Both organizations conduct proactive campaigns to encourage involvement from industry and other stakeholders, and to encourage consumer awareness and participation.

With 29 weeks until FPW, IQPF and FPSC are encouraging consumers to put time on their side and start their financial planning – beginning today! New this year at www.financialplanningweek.ca is an online calculator tool which clearly shows how putting aside money each week (no matter how small the amount) can add up to something significant.

Financial planning encompasses much more than savings. As such, IQPF and FPSC will host activities leading up to and during FPW in their respective markets to inform stakeholders about various facets of financial planning. More details will be announced in the weeks ahead!

Highlights of FPW include:

FPW Challenge, contests: In the coming weeks, IQPF will announce contests and activities that educate people about financial planning and encourage engagement – with the chance to win a $5,000 TFSA or an IPad. Visit www.planifiez.org and IQPF’s Facebook page www.facebook.com/IQPF.Planification.Financiere regularly for details.

Building on last year’s successful FPW Challenge, FPSC will again challenge CFP professionals to present their best ideas for promoting financial planning in their communities and inspire Canadians to take action (details on contest to come).

Websites, social media campaigns: Visit www.planifiez.org and www.financialplanningweek.ca for updates and to take advantage of useful tools and resources. Both organizations will also engage in social media and public relations campaigns.

Financial Planning Vision 2020 Symposium: On November 20, FPSC will host Canada’s fourth annual Vision 2020 Symposium. Industry, regulators and financial planning professionals will gather for discussion and presentations on key issues, to advance the profession for the benefit of all Canadians.

Jocelyne Houle-LeSarge, President and CEO, IQPF, says, "We are pleased to participate in Financial Planning Week, and to remind consumers that achieving life goals takes planning. While anyone can give advice about money, not everyone is qualified to provide competent, ethical and appropriate advice for you. Consult with a professional financial planner today to get time on your side and make your financial goals a reality.”

“Our message this year to Canadians is to put time on their side and take action today,” says Cary List, President and CEO, FPSC. “As we prepare for the fourth annual Financial Planning Week, we invite all stakeholders to join us in the effort: make a plan, get involved and take action to help advance financial planning for the benefit of all Canadians.”

Financial Planning Week is now part of November’s Financial Literacy Month. FPSC is a proud member of the Financial Literacy Action Group (FLAG), a coalition of seven non-profit organizations that declared November as Financial Literacy Month. Financial Planning Week is a dedicated week within the Month.

About IQPF: The Institut québécois de planification financière (IQPF) contributes to the protection and economic well-being of Quebec consumers by overseeing the training and qualification of financial planners. For over 20 years, the IQPF has been working to make personal financial planning a full-fledged professional discipline, staying at the leading edge of developments and trends in the financial services industry. The Quebec government recognizes the IQPF as the only institution authorized to award the financial planner diploma and monitor the professional development of its graduates. Currently, 5,000 financial planners are authorized to practise the profession. See www.iqpf.org for more information.

About FPSC: Financial Planning Standards Council (FPSC®) is a not-for-profit organization which develops, promotes and enforces professional standards in financial

planning through CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® certification, and raises Canadians'

awareness of the importance of financial planning. FPSC's vision is to see Canadians improve their lives by engaging in financial planning. Currently, there are more than 17,500 CFP professionals in Canada and more than 140,000 CFP certificants in 24 countries worldwide. See www.fpsc.ca for more information.

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CONTACTS: For more information and to arrange interviews please contact:

FOR IQPF: Liette Pitre Communications Coordinator 514-767-4040 or 1-800-640-4050 x 235 lpitre@iqpf.org Hélène Berger Vice-President & Director of Communications 514-767-4040 or 1-800-640-4050 x 247 hberger@iqpf.org

FOR FPSC: Eileen Chadnick Chadnick Communications (for FPSC) 416.631.7437 or eileen@chadnick.com Heather Mills Manager, Marketing Communications FPSC 416.593.8587 x 235 or hmills@fpsc.ca