Former Amherstburg resident finishes in top three in national exam

Jayson Bastien had a third place finish in the Certified Financial Planner exam.

A former Amherstburg resident has scored very high in a national financial planner exam.

Jayson Bastien, representing Edward Jones, came in third place in the June 2025 sittings of the Certified Financial Planner exam and thus earned a spot on the President’s List. The results were recently announced by FP Canada, with Bastien finishing behind only Benjamim Margles of Toronto and Travis Feddema of Grimsby.

Capturing first in the Qualified Associate Financial Planner exam was Charles Legge of Aurora.

“Congratulations to Benjamin, Travis, Jayson, and Charles for their outstanding performances on the CFP exam and QAFP exam,” says FP Canada President and CEO Tashia Batstone in a press release. “Earning a top score on an FP Canada certification exam is no small accomplishment. We at FP Canada wish you the best in your financial planning careers.”  Bastien was pleased with his overall performance.

“The exam is nationwide,” he said. “Everyone looking to become a Certified Financial Planner has to take this step.”

Finishing in the top three was “a pleasant surprise and a confidence boost for our team.” Bastien added it also gives their clients an added level of confidence.

“It was a great result for the last few months of hard work,” said Bastien.

The exam lasts six hours, broken up into two three-hour segments, with it being a competency-based exam testing the person’s knowledge, case writing and ability to analyze information. 

Edward Jones assisted with the process heading into the exam and put forth various case studies so that Bastien and others who took the exam could hone their skills.

“It’s definitely a rigorous process,” he said. 

While preparing for the exam took months and some time away from family at points, the result proved positive. Bastien said their ultimate goal is when clients achieve their goals and what is important to them.

According to FP Canada: “Certified Financial Planner® certification is the most widely recognized financial planning designation in Canada and throughout the world and is considered the gold standard for the profession. CFP professionals have demonstrated the knowledge, skills, experience and ethics to provide holistic financial planning strategies and solutions at the highest level of complexity required of the profession and work with their clients to build a financial plan so that they can Live Life Confidently™. CFP professionals in Canada are certified by FP Canada, a national, not-for-profit professional body working in the public interest. There are about 17,300 CFP professionals across Canada, part of an international network of more than 230,000 in 27 territories around the world. CFP certification has also been approved by the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario (FSRA) as a valid credential for individuals using the Financial Planner title in Ontario.”

Former Amherstburg resident finishes in top three in national exam

By Ron Giofu