- Collaboration to strengthen financial planning and
wealth management education in India, aligning students with global
standards
·
Eligible students to
pursue the CFP® certification pathway alongside their academic programmes, gaining
specialised financial planning knowledge and career-ready skills for the
financial services sector
Pune: The School of Commerce & Economics at MIT World Peace
University (MIT-WPU), Pune, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with
FPSB India, the Indian subsidiary of Financial Planning Standards Board Ltd.
(FPSB), to enable eligible students to pursue the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL
PLANNER® (CFP®) certification alongside their academic programmes. The
collaboration will provide students with globally recognised education and
professional capabilities in financial planning and wealth management,
preparing them for careers across the evolving financial services sector.
The
partnership comes at a time when India’s financial ecosystem is expanding
rapidly, with increasing access to formal financial services, growing household
participation in investment products and a rising need for professional
financial advice. According to the Reserve Bank of India’s Financial Inclusion
Index, India’s financial inclusion score rose to 70.0 in March 2026,
reflecting continued progress across access, usage and quality of financial
services.
The
CFP® certification, globally recognised as a benchmark for professional
financial planning, represents a high standard of knowledge, competence and
ethical practice in financial planning. The certification covers critical areas
including investment planning, retirement planning, taxation, risk management
and estate planning, enabling financial professionals to provide comprehensive,
client-centric financial planning solutions.
With
more than 236,300 CFP® professionals across 29 territories as of September
2026, the certification has a strong global presence and continues to gain
recognition as a mark of excellence in professional financial planning. In
India, the number of CFP® professionals has grown to approximately 3,534 in
2026, marking significant growth over the past few years. This growth
reflects the increasing demand for qualified financial planning professionals
and the growing recognition of the importance of professional, holistic and
goal-based financial planning in India.
The
expansion coincides with the country's rapidly evolving wealth management
landscape. India’s mutual fund industry, for instance, recorded assets under
management of ₹82.22 lakh crore in June 2026, while monthly Systematic
Investment Plan (SIP) contributions stood at ₹31,781 crore, according to
industry data.
India’s
financial inclusion journey has also significantly expanded the formal
financial ecosystem. Under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY), more
than 58 crore accounts have been opened, with deposits exceeding ₹3
lakh crore as of July 2026. As access to banking, insurance, pensions and
investment products broadens, the need for qualified professionals who can help
individuals make informed financial decisions is also gaining importance.
The
MoU will enable eligible MIT-WPU students to access the CFP® certification
pathway alongside their academic programmes. Through this industry-academia
collaboration, students will have the opportunity to develop practical
capabilities that complement their academic learning and prepare them for roles
across banking, insurance, investment advisory, wealth management, fintech and
other segments of the financial services industry.
Commenting
on the collaboration, Ramesh Vishwanathan, CEO, FPSB India, said, “India’s
expanding financial ecosystem and its nuances make financial education increasingly
important for individuals aspiring a career in financial services. As financial
choices become more complex, students entering the financial services sector
need the ability to understand individual circumstances, evaluate priorities
and apply their knowledge with sound professional judgement to help their
customers make informed financial decisions. Our partnership with MIT-WPU is an
important step towards connecting classroom learning with globally benchmarked
professional standards. Through the CFP® certification pathway, we aim to equip
students with practical capabilities, ethical grounding and a broader
understanding of the responsibilities involved in serving individuals and
families, while strengthening the pipeline of future-ready talent for India’s
evolving financial services ecosystem.”
Dr.
Anjali Sane, Professor & Dean, School of Economics and Commerce, MIT-WPU, said, “This MoU reflects our
vision to integrate global professional standards into academic programmes and
provide students with opportunities that extend beyond the classroom. By
creating a pathway towards CFP® certification, we aim to equip our students with
relevant knowledge and practical capabilities while preparing them to
contribute meaningfully to India’s financial inclusion and wealth creation
journey.”
The
collaboration is also expected to strengthen the interface between academic
learning and industry requirements. Students pursuing the certification will
gain exposure to practical aspects of financial planning, including cash-flow
management, investment planning, taxation, retirement planning, risk management
and estate planning. The global nature of the CFP® certification can further
support students seeking professional opportunities across markets where the
certification is recognised.
As
India moves from expanding access to financial services towards deeper
participation in formal savings and investment products, professional financial
planning is emerging as an important component of the financial services
ecosystem. The partnership between MIT-WPU and FPSB India seeks to contribute
to this transition by preparing the next generation of commerce and economics
graduates with internationally benchmarked financial planning capabilities.