Our Chartered status in the UK
At bdhSterling, we’re proud to be the only UK Chartered financial planning firm with offices in both the UK and Australia. We first achieved Chartered status in January 2020 and are delighted to have had this prestigious accreditation renewed for 2026.
Awarded by the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII), the professional body for insurance and financial planning in the UK, Chartered status represents the highest level of excellence in our profession.
What Chartered Status Means
Chartered status is the pinnacle of financial planning standards in the UK and positions our firm among the UK’s leading practices. It signifies that a firm demonstrates:
- Professional qualifications and technical competence
Chartered firms must meet rigorous criteria for adviser qualifications, evidencing the highest levels of financial expertise, technical knowledge, and professional competence.
- Ongoing commitment to learning
To retain Chartered status, firms must continually enhance their knowledge through regular Continuing Professional Development (CPD), ensuring they remain aligned with evolving regulation, best practice, and market developments.
- Ethical conduct and best‑practice standards
Chartered firms adhere to the CII’s Code of Ethics, ensuring honesty, integrity, transparency, and fairness in all client interactions. This code is enforceable through formal disciplinary processes.
Put simply, when you work with a Chartered firm, you are working with proven professionals who operate at the highest standard in the industry.
Why Choose a Chartered Financial Planning Firm
Only a very small number of UK financial planning firms hold Chartered status. Whether you are based in the UK, Australia or planning cross‑border financial moves, our Chartered status gives you complete confidence that:
- Your advice is provided by highly qualified professionals
- Your best interests are always prioritised
- Your financial plan is supported by robust governance and oversight
- You receive advice shaped by a long‑term, ethical approach
For clients in the UK and Australia, our dual‑location Chartered status provides a unique advantage, combining UK regulatory excellence with cross‑border advice expertise.
Learn more about Chartered Status
Watch this short video from the Chartered Insurance Institute to learn more about what it means to work with a Chartered firm.
How Our Chartered Status Benefits You
Our Chartered accreditation reinforces every part of our service:
- Higher‑quality financial advice grounded in technical expertise
- Clear, ethical recommendations built around your best interests
- Enhanced governance and oversight, ensuring robust advice standards
- Peace of mind knowing you’re working with a firm recognised for professionalism
- Cross‑border expertise from the only UK Chartered firm with offices in Australia
If you’d like to understand more about how working with a Chartered firm can support your long‑term financial objectives, our team would be happy to help.
To explore how we can support you further, please visit:
Chartered Status and What It Means for You
Chartered status is the highest accreditation awarded by the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII). It recognises firms that meet rigorous standards in professional qualifications, technical competence, ethical conduct and continuous professional development. Only a select group of UK financial planning firms hold this status.
Chartered status gives you the confidence that your adviser operates at the highest professional and ethical standard. You can expect robust technical knowledge, transparent advice, strong governance and a long term, client focused approach.
Chartered status must be renewed annually. Firms must demonstrate ongoing learning, ethical practice and adherence to the CII’s strict criteria every year to retain the accreditation. bdhSterling first achieved Chartered status in 2020 and has maintained it ever since.
Many of our advisers hold individual Chartered Financial Planner status, while the firm as a whole holds Corporate Chartered status. This means you benefit from a consistently high standard of advice across the entire organisation.
We are the only UK Chartered financial planning firm with offices in both the UK and Australia, offering clients a rare combination of Chartered excellence and specialist cross border financial planning expertise.
Clients benefit from the reassurance of UK Chartered accreditation alongside advice tailored for cross border financial planning, pension and investment considerations. It’s an ideal combination for expats, returning migrants and internationally mobile professionals.
Chartered status is awarded by the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII), which is authorised by the UK Privy Council to confer Chartered titles. This makes it one of the most respected professional designations in financial services.
As a Chartered financial planning firm, we provide advice across pensions, investments, tax planning, retirement planning and cross border financial strategies. Our expertise spans both UK and Australian financial systems.
You can check a firm’s Chartered status on the CII Register. bdhSterling is listed as a Corporate Chartered Financial Planning Firm, confirming that we meet the CII’s strict accreditation criteria.
You can contact our team via our website to arrange a conversation with one of our Chartered financial planners. We’ll be happy to discuss how Chartered advice can support your long term financial goals.