Membership

Membership

Why Advocis?

Advocis, The Financial Advisors Association of Canada, is the largest voluntary professional membership association of financial advisors in Canada, representing more than 7,500 members and 39 Chapters across the country.

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Review your Membership Category options below before you apply.

Membership Categories

Members are licensed, have a recognized designation or are currently enrolled in an approved designation program, and are actively providing financial advice to consumers. There are 3 categories for standard Advocis Members: Practicing Advisor members, Manager members and Provisional members.

Practicing Advisor members are those that are licensed and are already holding onto one (or several) of the approved designation(s). Advocis recognizes the following designations as being approved: CLU®, CHS™, PFA™, CH.F.C®, CFP®, CFA®, CIM®, FEA, PFP®, TEP, PI.fin, QAFP™, and CEBS. Practicing Advisor members are those who are actively providing financial advice to consumers.

Manager members are leaders in the financial services industry in Canada, who are directly or indirectly responsible for recruiting/retaining, coaching, training, education, business development, or managing financial advisors and/or planners. Manager members may be directly servicing clients or may be providing financial advice as permitted by their license(s). Advocis recognizes the following designations as being approved: CLU®, CHS™, PFA™, CH.F.C®, CFP®, CFA®, CIM®, FEA, PFP®, TEP, PI.fin, QAFP™, and CEBS. Manager members are client-facing.

Provisional members are those who are licensed and are currently, or, are in the process of starting an approved designation program and do not hold any other approved designations.  Advocis recognizes the following designations as being approved: CLU®, CHS™, PFA™, CH.F.C®, CFP®, CFA®, CIM®, FEA, PFP®, TEP, PI.fin, QAFP™, and CEBS. Maintaining one of the previously mentioned designations would prohibit you from joining Advocis as a Provisional member. Provisional members can remain in this category for 5 years.

Membership Privileges:

  • Paying members in the Practicing Advisor and Manager Member categories have voting privileges for various matters related to The Financial Advisors Association of Canada (TFAAC) at the Annual General Meeting (AGM).
  • Full access to all membership benefits and resources.
  • Institute designation fees are included in the Advocis membership fee (PFA™, CLU®, CHS™, CH.F.C.®)

GAMA Global Canada is dedicated to the professional development needs and leadership skills of all leaders who lead teams, advisors, and managers in the insurance, investment, and financial services industries. GAMA hosts the Leaders and Managers Program (LAMP) conference yearly. Please note: All Advocis members regardless of their Advocis Membership Category can join GAMA by opting into GAMA Global Canada membership for an additional cost of $119 + tax.

Advocis Membership Requirements:

  • Must have at least one approved designation and maintain their designation with the conferring body or be enrolled in an approved designation program (designation must be obtained in five years).
  • Adhere to the Advocis Code of Professional Conduct.
  • Carry sufficient E&O coverage in accordance with the nature and extent of their practice.
  • Meet Advocis’ annual CE requirements (find more information here).

 

 

 

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Membership Fee

Associate Manager members are leaders in the financial services industry in Canada who are directly or indirectly responsible for recruiting/retaining, coaching, training, education, business development, or managing financial advisors and/or planners. Associate Manager members are not licensed and are not compensated for serving clients directly (not client-facing).

Associate members are individuals in the financial service industry in Canada who are not licensed nor designated and are not compensated for serving clients directly.

Membership Privileges:

  • Members in this category do not have voting privileges at The Financial Advisors Association of Canada (TFAAC) Annual General Meeting (AGM).
  • Limited access to all membership benefits, value, and all resources.
  • Institute designation fees are included in the Advocis membership fee (PFA™, CLU®, CHS™, CH.F.C.®)

GAMA Global Canada is dedicated to the professional development needs and leadership skills of all leaders who lead teams, advisors, and managers in the insurance, investment, and financial services industries. GAMA hosts the Leaders and Managers Program (LAMP) conference yearly. Please note: All Advocis members regardless of their Advocis Membership Category can join GAMA by opting into GAMA Global Canada membership for an additional cost of $119 + tax.

Requirements:

  • Adhere to the Advocis Code of Professional Conduct.
  • Carry sufficient E&O coverage in accordance with the nature and extent of their practice.
  • Meet Advocis’ annual professional development requirements.
  • Do not provide financial advice or service clients.
  • Maintain CE requirements (find more information here).

 

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Membership Fee

Student members are those who are entering the financial services industry for the first time, have never offered financial advice, and are not insurance, mutual funds, or securities licensed. They are registered in a financial services licensing program or in a full-time financial services program of study at a recognized educational institution.

Membership Privileges:

  • Members in this category do not have voting privileges at The Financial Advisors Association of Canada (TFAAC) Annual General Meeting (AGM).
  • Limited access to all membership benefits, value, and all resources.

GAMA Global Canada is dedicated to the professional development needs and leadership skills of all leaders who lead teams, advisors, and managers in the insurance, investment, and financial services industries. GAMA hosts the Leaders and Managers Program (LAMP) conference yearly. Please note: All Advocis members regardless of their Advocis Membership Category can join GAMA by opting into GAMA Global Canada membership for an additional cost of $119 + tax.

Requirements:

 

 

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Membership Fee

Retired members are those who are either retired or working less than thirty hours per month in the financial services industry in activities such as servicing clients, but who are not actively pursuing new business. This category also includes individuals who have previously been given “life” membership status.

Membership Privileges:

  • Members in this category do not have voting privileges at The Financial Advisors Association of Canada (TFAAC) Annual General Meeting (AGM).
  • Full access to all membership benefits, value, and all resources.
  • Institute designation fees are included in the Advocis membership fee (PFA™, CLU®, CHS™, CH.F.C.®)

GAMA Global Canada is dedicated to the professional development needs and leadership skills of all leaders who lead teams, advisors, and managers in the insurance, investment, and financial services industries. GAMA hosts the Leaders and Managers Program (LAMP) conference yearly. Please note: All Advocis members regardless of their Advocis Membership Category can join GAMA by opting into GAMA Global Canada membership for an additional cost of $119 + tax.

Requirements:

 

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Membership Fee

*All membership fees are prorated, non-refundable and non-transferable, exclusive of applicable taxes. Choose between monthly and annual payment options, with the annual option featuring a discount. Please contact Member Services by email at info@advocis.ca or by phone at 1–877–773–6765 if your current Advocis membership category no longer reflects your role or function or if you have any other questions, comments, or concerns.

**If you hold a CLU® and/or PFA™ designation and operate in Ontario, you will be billed an Ontario regulation fee of $80.00 + tax. The fee is applied per designation and is a requirement of the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario (FSRA). Please note the FSRA designation fee is potentially subject to change for 2025.