Edward Mora, CFP® to Serve as 2011 Disciplinary and Ethics Commission Chairman

Will have responsibility for leading vital group that enforces ethical standards for CFP^® professionals

WASHINGTON, Jan. 4, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Edward Mora, CFP^®, has been appointed to serve as the 2011 Chairman of the Disciplinary and Ethics Commission (DEC), an independent body charged with upholding the value and integrity of the CFP® certification by enforcing CFP Board's Standards of Professional Conduct.

"Our ability to vigorously enforce violations of our Standards sets us apart from any other certification or designation in the financial services industry," said Kevin R. Keller, CAE – CFP Board's Chief Executive Officer. "Ed Mora will play a critical role in ensuring that we are fulfilling our mission to the public by providing a fair process for those individuals who come before the DEC and face the possibility of discipline."

CFP Board enforces the Code of Ethics, Rules of Conduct and Practice Standards (each of which is included in the Standards of Professional Conduct), and establishes a process for applying the Standards to allegations of professional misconduct.

The Rules of Conduct establish the high standards expected and a level of professionalism required of CFP® professionals. The Rules of Conduct are binding on all CFP® professionals, regardless of their title, position, type of employment or method of compensation, and they govern all those who have been granted the right to use the CFP® marks.

The DEC is comprised of nine commissioners, seven of whom are CFP® professionals. The remaining two are public representatives. The DEC meets three times a year to hear cases and mete out discipline, which may include the suspension or revocation of an individual's right to use the CFP® marks. All cases may be appealed to the Appeals Committee of CFP Board's Board of Directors.

"It is an honor to serve and be part of an organization that strives to enhance the reputation of Certified Financial Planner™ professionals through a deliberative process that is fair to the CFP® professionals whose conduct is under review, and credible to the public, which has a right to receive services from someone required to follow high ethical standards," said Mora. "I take this responsibility very seriously."

Mora has more than 17 years of experience in the wealth management industry and currently serves as Vice President and Senior Relationship Manager for Bank of the West Wealth Management in Newport Beach, California.  Previously, Mora established and managed Union Bank's wealth planning practice and was a senior strategy consultant for Deloitte & Touche LLP.  He earned a Bachelor of Science in Finance from California State University at Long Beach and an MBA with honors in Financial Decision Systems from Loyola Marymount University.  

A CFP^® professional and Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC) since 1998, Mora has been serving as a Commissioner on the DEC since 2008.  Additionally, he serves on the Board of Directors of the Financial Planning Association – Orange County Chapter where he chairs the Government Relations Committee. Mora is also a member of the Orange County Steering Committee for the California Jazz Foundation, the Finance Committee of the Sigma Pi Educational Foundation and the CSULB College of Business Administration's Alumni Advisory Board.

ABOUT CFP BOARD

The mission of Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. is to benefit the public by granting the CFP^® certification and upholding it as the recognized standard of excellence for personal financial planning. The Board of Directors, in furthering CFP Board's mission, acts on behalf of the public, CFP^® certificants and other stakeholders. CFP Board owns the certification marks CFP^®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, and the federally registered CFP (with flame design) in the U.S., which it awards to individuals who successfully complete CFP Board's initial and ongoing certification requirements.  CFP Board currently authorizes more than 62,000 individuals to use these marks in the U.S.

SOURCE Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc.