MIT-WPU School of Commerce & Economics Signs MoU with FPSB India to Empower Students with CFP® Certification

2026-09-28 06:59:00 Education

Mumbai/Pune, 28 September 2026: 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.

About FPSB India

FPSB India is the Indian subsidiary of Financial Planning Standards Board Ltd. (FPSB), the global standards-setting body for the financial planning profession and owner of the international CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® certification program. For more information, visit india.fpsb.org

About FPSB Ltd.

FPSB manages, develops and operates certification, education and related programs to benefit the global community by establishing, upholding and promoting worldwide professional standards in financial planning. FPSB demonstrates its commitment to excellence with the marks of professional distinction – CFP, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER and CFP Logo Mark – which it owns internationally. FPSB and its global network of organizations certify CFP professionals in 29 territories. CFP professionals are certified in Australia, Austria, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chinese Taipei, Colombia, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Macau, Malaysia, the Netherlands, New Zealand, People’s Republic of China, Republic of Korea, San Marino, Singapore, South Africa, Switzerland, Thailand, the United Kingdom and the United States. There are 236,300 CFP professionals worldwide. For more, visit fpsb.org

FPSB owns the CFP, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER and (the CFP Marks) outside the United States, and permits qualified individuals to use the marks to indicate that they meet FPSB’s initial and ongoing certification standards and requirements. CFP professionals may use the CFP marks in the territory or region in which they are certified.

About CFP Certification

CFP certification is the global symbol of excellence in financial planning and represents financial planners who commit to standards of competency and ethics, and to putting clients’ interests first. The CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER credential represents financial planning professionals who commit to better serving their clients through rigorous international standards, ethical practices and lifelong learning.