Phil Billingham on what the IFP-CISI merger means for financial planners

The starting point of any commentary in this area is to recognise one simple fact - the financial planning profession in the UK, however small, would simply not exist without the pioneering work and vision of the likes of Paul Etheridge MBE and others of his generation that set up the IFP in the first place 29 years ago. Whilst growth of the membership has been slower than many would have liked, the IFP has created a world class and worldwide - and I can attest to that - reputation for standards, integrity and quality of membership. That, in turn, has allowed the IFP to punch well abo...