“With the deployment of our new professional development strategy and by working with industry players, our efforts have paid off. For example, the number of registrations for the CSF's training courses has jumped spectacularly, from 1,834 in 2022 to 44,769 in 2024,” points out President and CEO Marie Elaine Farley, Ad. E., IAS.A. “For the CSF, competence and probity are fundamental qualities of our professionals, and it is clear that the CSF has been able to make a difference for many of them”.

The strategic planning exercise also provided an opportunity to gather the views and concerns of all stakeholders and the ecosystem with regard to the CSF's services and mission to protect consumers, despite the challenges presented by a rapidly changing environment. The new 2024-2026 strategic plan, entitled Building the Future, Together, already well underway, reaffirms the organization's commitment to adding value and the importance of collaborating with the industry.

Emphasis on professional development

For the benefit of its members, the CSF has put nineteen new “100% CSF” training courses online, fifteen of which are offered free of charge. At its annual training event, ProLab CSF, master classes were offered in partnership with renowned professors from HEC Montréal, Université de Sherbrooke, Université Laval and the Institut national de recherche scientifique (INRS). 94% of members who attended the multidisciplinary skills conferences said they found the theme highly relevant, and 98% were satisfied with their experience.

A new digital space dedicated to professional development managers

The CSF, in collaboration with the industry, has innovated with the development of the Espace partenaire de formation, which offers those responsible for professional development and compliance a tool for applying for recognition of training by both the CSF and the Institut de planification financière. By ensuring that its 34,000 professional members are properly trained, the CSF is simplifying its processes and pursuing its primary mission of protecting consumers of financial products and services.

Promising partnerships

In 2024, the CSF renewed cooperation agreements with ÉducÉpargne, Option consommateurs and Protégez-Vous, as well as with Université Laval and Université de Sherbrooke, to further its mission. The close collaboration between the CSF, ÉducÉpargne and INRS enabled us to orchestrate a public campaign on the disparities between men and women in terms of retirement savings, with notable results. Partnerships were also forged with the Association de planification fiscale et financière (APFF), Cercle finance du Québec and Éditions du Journal de l'assurance, providing CSF members with high-quality training courses and webinars.

Raising public awareness

The CSF also published branded content in major Quebec dailies to mark its 25th anniversary, highlight members' professional obligations and explain developments in the financial sector.

On reading the 2024 activity report, it is clear that the CSF has made every effort to carry out its mission of protecting the public.

The 2024 activity report can be downloaded from the CSF website (in French only).