CISI Chartered Firm™ status

CISI Chartered Firm™ status denotes that a firm is operating at the highest levels of trustworthiness and professionalism expected from the sector.


Chartered Firm Status

CISI Chartered Firm Status recognises firms that embed professionalism, ethical behaviour and lifelong learning throughout their organisation. It helps firms strengthen their trust and confidence in the financial service industry and standout in a competitive market.


Why become a CISI Chartered Firm?

Becoming a CISI Chartered Firm demonstrates your organisation’s commitment to high standards of professionalism, ethics and competence. The designation recognises firms that invest in their people, uphold professional standards and contribute to greater trust and confidence across financial services.

Chartered Firm Status can enhance your reputation, distinguish your business and give clients, employees and the wider profession confidence in your organisation’s commitment to excellence.

Professional standards

Show that your firm acts with integrity, maintains high professional standards and supports ongoing professional development.

Professional recognition

Becoming a CISI Chartered Firm™ provides strong external recognition of your commitment to the highest ethical and professional standards, as well as achieving respect and acknowledgement from the profession.

Business advantage

Stand out in a competitive market through use of the Chartered Firm designation, clearly identifying your organisation as one committed to professionalism, integrity and excellence.

Eligibility criteria

Check your eligibility

In order to achieve CISI Chartered Firm™ status, the following criteria must be met in full:

The firm must be recognised and regulated by the FCA or the relevant regulator.

A minimum of 50% of staff in the firm’s core area of speciality must personally be Chartered MCSI, Chartered FCSI or Chartered FCSI (Financial Planning).

The entire firm’s Board*, together with a minimum of 90% of staff in the firm’s core area of speciality, must be members (at any level) of the CISI.

The firm must actively encourage and support their staff to progress through the CISI qualifications programme.

The firm must have in place an appropriate professional development programme in line with CISI CPD requirements.

The firm must have in place core values and business practices that align with the CISI Code of Conduct.

One of the firm’s Board*, who must personally be a CISI Chartered member, must take on the role of Responsible Member. This person is the principal point of contact on CISI Chartered Firm™ status with overall responsibility for the application.

The firm must have been trading for a minimum of three years.

The firm must be based in the UK, Isle of Man or Channel Islands.

*Note: where the firms core area of specialty of the company or partnership is not Securities & Investment and a specialist division has been created for the purpose of managing this part of the business, the CISI may, at its discretion, recognise the management entity as equivalent to the Board.


Applications for CISI Chartered Firm™ status will not be accepted from applicants who fall within the following categories:



Sole traders

Limited liability companies which have one director only and fewer than three employees

The CISI Chartered Firm™ Process

If your firm is aligned to the principals of CISI Chartered Firm™ status, achieving this recognition should be your goal.

The application criteria have been specifically developed to showcase your firm’s commitment to our high standards. CISI Chartered Firms™ must demonstrate that they meet these criteria when applying and continue to do so on an annual basis.

This ensures that consumers can trust firms displaying this status, knowing they uphold these high standards and have our endorsement.

View the full criteria in the Guide to Becoming a CISI Chartered Firm™ below.


Submit your application

Internal review

Criteria met or advice on how to meet the criteria

If the criteria are met, the application will be approved

Invoice and payment

Inclusion on the CISI website and Chartership certificate sent
Annual renewal and re-confirmation

Fees

The annual fee for becoming and remaining a CISI Chartered Firm™ is:

  • £500 for firms with up to 49 employees
  • £1000 for firms with 50 or more employees
  • £200 for CISI Accredited Financial Planning Firms, regardless of firm size
The fee is paid when your firm is approved as a CISI Chartered Firm™ and then annually.

 

Timeframe

We will confirm receipt of your application form within 2 working days.

We will conduct an initial review of your application within 10 working days of receipt, after which we will contact you with a full update, including any additional information that may be required to approve the application.

We aim to fully process all applications within 1 month of receipt, but please note that for complex applications or where significant additional information is required this may take longer. Where this is the case we will keep you fully updated throughout the application process.

Hear from some of our Chartered Firms

The business philosophy of GSB is founded on a commitment to ethical values, which serves as a testament to our determination to maintain the highest standards of professionalism for our clients. As the first international CISI Chartered FirmTM, we are committed to being thought leaders in cross-border advice.
Being a CISI Chartered FirmTMserves as a testament to our unwavering commitment to upholding those standards. It is a recognition of the GSB team's expertise and professionalism as highly qualified practitioners, who consistently deliver best-in-class advice. This reinforces our ongoing efforts to provide exceptional service to our clients. - Ross Whatnall Chartered MCSI, Co-founder and CEO of GSB

Being a Chartered Firm demonstrates our commitment to the highest possible standards. Our clients (both existing and prospective) should have confidence they are dealing with a reputable and professional advice company that places their interests first. All firms that qualify should apply as the process is straightforward and helps distinguish you from your competitors.

Contact us to get started

To find out more about becoming a CISI Chartered Firm™, please contact charteredfirms@cisi.org

CISI Chartered FirmsTM

 

Chartered Firm Status is awarded by the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI) in recognition of a firm's commitment to professionalism, ethical conduct and the development of its employees. Chartered Firm Status does not constitute regulatory authorisation, approval or endorsement by the CISI.
Firms holding Chartered Firm Status may be established, authorised or regulated in different jurisdictions and may be subject to different legal and regulatory requirements. The CISI is not a regulator and does not supervise firms' regulated activities. Users should make their own enquiries regarding a firm's regulatory status, authorisations and applicable legal and regulatory obligations in the relevant jurisdiction.