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CPA: Fiduciary Duties

Understanding the Evolving Role of Advisors: Strategies for Compliance, Legal Duties, and Ethical Decision-Making in Today's Financial Landscape

Created byBernie Plett
IntermediateUpdated May 3, 2025

What You'll Learn

  • check_circleUnderstand how the fiduciary role of the CPA has evolved over time.
  • check_circleDefine what it means to act as a fiduciary in today’s financial environment.
  • check_circleRecognize the risks and responsibilities tied to fiduciary duties.
  • check_circleIdentify situations where fiduciary obligations may arise with aging clients.
  • check_circleLearn strategies to manage compliance and reduce legal exposure.
  • check_circlePrepare for ethical challenges as clients become more dependent on advisor input.

About This Course

Today’s financial world—and the role of the CPA—has grown far more complex. In addition to traditional responsibilities like tax preparation, audits, and financial planning, advisors are now routinely called upon for guidance in areas such as estate planning, family trusts, foundations, and real estate partnerships. Clients are living longer, and as they age, many rely increasingly on their advisors—not just for financial advice, but for decision-making support, blurring the line between advisor and fiduciary.

This course explores the evolving fiduciary role of the CPA over the past 35–40 years and how it is defined in today’s professional environment. It addresses the legal and ethical responsibilities that come with this role and offers practical strategies for managing compliance and reducing the risk of liability. Whether you're already serving in a fiduciary capacity or anticipate doing so, this course helps you navigate the challenges with clarity and confidence.

Course Content

1 activity • 1 videos • duration: 55m

remove
Section 11 videos • 55 min
  • videocamCPA Fiduciary duties
    Duration 55:40

Your Instructor

Bernie Plett

CFP, WMT, FCSI, PFP

menu_book1 courses
star14 reviews

Credit Information

Is this course eligible for my CPD requirements as a Canadian CPA?

Provincial regulators of CPAs in Canada do not require that independent providers of CPD be approved to offer courses. Instead, individual CPAs are responsible for assessing whether a CPD activity meets their requirements, and may take activities from any source provided those requirements are met.

Every course offered on LearnFormula is delivered by a qualified subject matter expert or learning organization, and advances learning objectives that are relevant to the responsibilities or professional competencies of Canadian CPAs. All activities on LearnFormula are quantifiable in terms of hours, and are also verifiable, in that users receive documented evidence of their attendance via a certificate of completion after finishing a course (and this certificate is stored by LearnFormula indefinitely). Nearly 100,000 Canadian CPAs successfully satisfy their CPD requirements via LearnFormula on an annual basis.

What Students Are Saying

4.6 out of 5
Student's Choice
14 reviews
  • LW
    Llew W.
    starstarstarstarstar

    Well laid out and methodical. Useful addvice.

  • DH
    Douglas H.
    starstarstarstarstar

    Excellent course. Vert informative.

  • VP
    Vicki P.
    starstarstarstarstar

    Having had little exposure to these fiduciary duties previously, this has opened my eyes in a very clear and useful way with this course. The concept of collaborating with other appropriate professionals in regards to an individual or perhaps a trust, while not breaching the fiduciary duties of an individual, demonstrates that we can no longer do an annual 'set and forget' type of management

  • CW
    Colin W.
    starstarstarstarstar

    Well laid out.

Frequently Asked Questions

We are a registered provider with 300+ associations and regulatory bodies worldwide. We operate across 27 global markets including Canada, the US, Australia, and the UK. Every course page clearly displays its specific accreditations. Upon completion, you receive a professional certificate that can be validated online. Our certificates include all necessary accreditation details, credit hours, and completion dates, and are formatted specifically to meet the submission requirements of most global regulatory bodies.

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