Bedel Financial Consulting is proud to have Certified Financial Planner™ practitioners, chartered financial analysts, and investment analysts on staff. Is working with a Certified Financial Planner™ certificant that important? Yes, says Elaine Bedel, who has been a CFP® practitioner since 1981. "A Certified Financial Planner™ Practitioner's broad knowledge helps create the total financial picture for a client. It's knowing how financial areas like investments, insurance and employee benefits all fit together," Elaine says. "Sometimes a client won't know to ask 'what are my other options?' A CFP® Practitioner looks at all the options, even ones that he or she may not be directly involved in managing." Elaine says a CFP® Practitioner is bound and guided by a Code of Ethics to put the client's interest first. "Our primary ethical standard is to meet the client's needs with a financial plan and recommendations that are personalized. We are obligated to practice in the most efficient and effective manner to meet the goal of 'what is the best I can do for this client?' Working with a planner who has the CFP® certification gives clients an extra level of comfort." Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. owns the certification marks CFP®, Certified Financial Planner™ and federally registered CFP (with flame logo) in the U.S., which it awards to individuals who successfully complete initial and ongoing certification requirements.