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About IIFC

The CFP institute where the founder still teaches

Indian Institute for Financial Certifications. Authorised by FPSB India, teaching from Chandigarh, Delhi and live online.

What IIFC stands for

IIFC is short for the Indian Institute for Financial Certifications. It is a coaching institute that prepares finance professionals for the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER certification, known as CFP, awarded in India by FPSB India and recognised across 29 territories worldwide.

 

The programme runs through three FPSB specialist certifications, covering investment planning, retirement and tax planning, and risk and estate planning, followed by a final integrated exam that awards the charter. IIFC coaches candidates through all four.

 

IIFC has coached more than 700 finance professionals, of whom 416 or more have certified, with around 500 in training at any time. Roughly 40% of new CFP certifications in India come through IIFC coaching.

700+

Coached

416+

Certified

500+

In training

~40%

Of new certifications

IIFC is an education institute. It does not lend money, take deposits or sell financial products. If you are looking for India Infrastructure Finance Company Limited, which is sometimes shortened the same way, that is a separate organisation and unrelated to us.

Why IIFC exists

India has 3,534 certified financial planners. FPSB wants 10,000 by 2027-28.

FPSB India, December 2025

IIFC students, India Financial Planning Conclave 2024

That gap is roughly 6,500 people in under three years. Banks and wealth firms have been hiring advisers faster than anyone has been training them properly, and advisory positions sit empty because too few people hold the qualification those roles now require.

Harminder Garg saw that from the inside. He worked at FPSB India, the body that sets the standard, and before that ran HNI relationships at ICICI Bank. He left the corporate track and built IIFC around one idea: that a candidate should finish ready to advise a real client, not just ready to pass an exam. That is why he takes every batch himself rather than handing classes to rotating faculty.

Founder and chief mentor

How Harminder Garg got here

Founder and chief mentor, IIFC

Present

Teaches every batch personally across Chandigarh, Delhi and online. 8,400+ hours of training delivered.

Manager, knowledge management

FPSB India

Worked inside the body that owns and administers the CFP certification in India, on the standards he now teaches to.

Cleared the CFP challenge status exam in A grade

2007

One of the tougher benchmarks in the programme, and the credential the fast track pathway is built around.

Branch manager

ICICI Bank

Ran HNI relationship management at scale, which is where he saw the training gap that IIFC now fills.

Executive PGDM in finance from IMT Ghaziabad. PG in financial advising from IIBF. NISM XA, NISM XB and Retirement Adviser certified.

Read his full profile
LinkedIn

Mentors in eight cities

Seasoned professionals in financial education and wealth management. Past batches have included students from Kolkata, Ranchi, Bangalore, Cuttack and Pune, and one who joined after retiring as an AGM from SBI following 36 years of service.

Shilpi Srivastava

IIFC Bengaluru

Apurva Kundra

IIFC Chandigarh

Bharat Bahl

IIFC Amritsar

Munish Chauhan

IIFC Chandigarh

Birinder Jolly

IIFC Chandigarh

Prashant Jain

IIFC Noida

Adarsh Sharma

IIFC Gurugram

Nithya Kumar V P

IIFC Chennai

Wealth firms send us their own teams

Institutions pick training providers on results rather than marketing. IIFC runs closed batches for wealth and channel partner teams, with the same curriculum an individual candidate sits through, delivered to the organisation's own schedule.

IDFC Private Wealth

SBI Wealth

HDFC AMC

Recognised and honoured by FPSB India

Three awards across two consecutive years, from the body that owns the CFP certification in India.

FPSB India

Best Education Provider 2024-25

FPSB India

Best CFP Educator 2024-25

FPSB India

Best CFP Coach 2023-24

Where we teach

Two classrooms, plus live online batches with recordings.

Chandigarh

4012, First Floor, Sector 46 D, Chandigarh 160047

  • +91 82838 42598
  • 0172 4654862
CFP coaching in Chandigarh

Delhi

306 A, Third Floor, Aditya Arcade, Plot No. 30, Preet Vihar, Delhi 110092

  • +91 82838 42598
CFP coaching in Delhi

Not sure which pathway is right for you?

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About IIFC, common questions

What is the full form of IIFC?

IIFC stands for the Indian Institute for Financial Certifications. It is a coaching institute that prepares finance professionals for CFP certification, awarded in India by FPSB India. It was founded by Harminder Garg, CFP, and teaches from Chandigarh, Delhi and live online batches nationwide.

Is IIFC a bank or a finance company?

No. IIFC is an education institute. It does not lend money, take deposits or offer financial products. If you are looking for India Infrastructure Finance Company Limited, which is sometimes shortened the same way, that is a separate organisation and unrelated to us.

Is IIFC authorised by FPSB?

Yes. IIFC is an authorised education provider for the CFP certification programme in India. FPSB India has also recognised IIFC as best education provider and best CFP educator for 2024-25, and best CFP coach for 2023-24. FPSB stands for the Financial Planning Standards Board, the body that owns and administers CFP certification worldwide.

How many students has IIFC trained?

More than 700 finance professionals in total. Of those, 416 or more have cleared CFP certification and around 500 are in training at any given time. Roughly 40% of new CFP certifications in India come through IIFC coaching.

Who teaches at IIFC?

Harminder Garg, CFP, the founder of IIFC, teaches every batch at the institute personally. He cleared the CFP challenge status exam in A grade in 2007, worked as manager of knowledge management at FPSB India and was a branch manager at ICICI Bank before that. He is supported by IIFC mentors based in Chandigarh, Bengaluru, Amritsar, Noida, Gurugram and Chennai.

Does IIFC train corporate teams?

Yes. IIFC runs closed batches for institutional teams and has delivered programmes for IDFC Private Wealth, SBI Wealth and HDFC AMC. The curriculum is the same one an individual candidate sits through, run to the organisation's schedule.

Where are the IIFC classrooms?

IIFC has two classrooms. The Chandigarh centre is at 4012, First Floor, Sector 46 D, Chandigarh 160047, and the Delhi centre is at 306 A, Third Floor, Aditya Arcade, Plot No. 30, Preet Vihar, Delhi 110092. Every IIFC session is also available live online with recordings, so students join from across the country.

What does the CFP course cost and who is eligible?

IIFC coaching costs approximately Rs 1 lakh to Rs 1.5 lakh, including discount coupons worth Rs 16,250. FPSB India charges separately for registration, e-books, each exam, certification and the final assessment. Graduates take the one year regular pathway, while experienced BFSI professionals may qualify for the six month fast track, which exempts them from the three specialist exams.

How do I contact IIFC?

You can reach IIFC on +91 82838 42598 or on the Chandigarh landline 0172 4654862, by email at harminder.garg@iifcedu.in, or on WhatsApp. Requesting a callback on this page will get a mentor calling you within one working day, at no cost and with no obligation to enrol.