What Will Happen If I Stop Paying for FRM Membership

An FRM membership gives finance professionals access to resources, networking, and career support. If you stop paying for it, some benefits are lost, but your FRM certification remains valid. 

Introduction

Many people who take the FRM exam also sign up for an FRM membership. An FRM membership provides you helpful study materials, updates, and tools to support exam preparation. With an FRM membership, you can also connect with other finance professionals and attend webinars or events. Some students wonder what happens if they stop paying for their FRM membership. 

Even without active payment, understanding the value of FRM membership helps you make the right decision for your FRM career.

Understanding GARP FRM Membership

The FRM membership is offered by GARP, the organisation that manages the FRM exam. Many students who take the FRM course also get this membership to access extra resources and professional support.

What FRM membership includes

The FRM membership comes with several features:

• Access to study materials and updates related to the FRM course.
  
• Invitations to webinars, networking events, and industry discussions.
  
• You get GARP’s newsletter which shares updates and news about risk management and finance.
• Access to the online professional community where members can connect and share insights about the FRM course.

Annual fee structure

The FRM membership needs an annual fee. The amount can vary based on your location and membership type. This fee covers access to all the resources, webinars, and networking opportunities. Students who register for the FRM course often include this fee as part of their yearly planning to make the most of professional benefits.

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Key benefits of maintaining membership

Maintaining FRM membership provides continuous support for finance professionals and students. The following are the benefits:

• Staying updated on the latest developments in risk management and the FRM course content.
• Opportunities to network with other professionals and FRM holders.
• Access to exclusive study materials and guides that complement your FRM course preparation.
• Recognition as an active member of the finance and risk management community.

What Happens If You Stop Paying for FRM Membership

Stopping your FRM membership can change how you use certain resources and benefits.

• Access to GARP resources and tools gets revoked

When you stop paying, access to GARP’s study materials, practice questions, and online tools is removed. These resources often support students preparing for the FRM course, so losing them can make exam preparation harder.

• Loss of member-only benefits and community

Non-paying members lose benefits like invitations to webinars, networking events, and professional discussion groups. The community of finance professionals, which is part of the FRM membership, becomes unavailable, reducing opportunities to learn from peers.

• No impact on your FRM certification status

Your FRM certification stays valid even if you choose not to continue paying for your membership. You remain a certified finance professional. Stopping the membership only changes the support and benefits you receive, not your official credentials.

• Possible consequences for professional development

Without an active FRM membership, staying updated on industry news and risk management developments can be more difficult. You may also miss chances to attend member-only workshops or webinars, which can slow professional growth.

FRM Certification vs FRM Membership

Many people confuse what is FRM with the membership benefits. The certification and the membership serve different purposes.

• Certification remains valid after passing both exams

Once you pass both parts of the FRM exam, your FRM certification is officially recognised. It stays valid for life, even if you never take out or stop your FRM membership.

• Membership is not mandatory to keep your FRM title

Being a member of GARP is optional. You do not need an active FRM membership to use the FRM title. Many certified professionals stop their membership but still hold their FRM designation.

• Membership offers added benefits but doesn’t affect your designation

The FRM membership gives extra benefits like access to webinars, professional networks, and study resources. These are helpful for career growth and staying updated. However, having a membership or stopping it does not change your official certification or designation.

Reasons Some Professionals Pause Their Membership

Many FRM professionals pause their FRM membership for different reasons.

• Cost considerations
  Some members pause their membership because of the annual fee. If they want to save money temporarily, stopping payments for a while can help manage expenses.
• No immediate need for GARP resources
  Not everyone needs study materials, webinars, or networking events all the time. Professionals who have finished the FRM course or are not currently studying can stop their membership until they want to use the resources again.
• Temporary career break or shift in focus
  Some members take a break from their careers or focus on other projects. At this time, they may not use the FRM membership benefits and could stop it until they go back to work in finance or start studying for exams again.

Why You Might Still Want to Keep Your Membership Active

Even though some professionals pause their FRM membership, there are many reasons to keep it active.

• Continuous access to learning resources
  An active FRM membership provides ongoing access to study materials, webinars, and guides. This is useful for professionals who want to stay updated after completing the FRM course or keep learning about risk management.
• Networking and industry exposure
  Membership allows you to connect with other finance professionals through events, online groups, and discussions. These networking opportunities can help you learn from peers and stay connected to the industry.
• Professional credibility and visibility
  Being an active member shows commitment to your profession. It can make your profile stronger and increase credibility in the eyes of employers and colleagues.
• Easier access to career opportunities
  Members often get early notifications about job openings, internships, and other career opportunities. This access can make it easier to advance professionally and explore new roles in risk management and finance.

How to Rejoin FRM Membership Later

If you stop your FRM membership, it is usually easy to join again later.

• Simple reactivation process through GARP
  Most members can restart their FRM membership by logging in to the GARP portal and completing the reactivation steps. The process is simple and easy to follow.
• Paying the membership fee again
  You will need to pay the annual membership fee to reactivate. This may include any past dues if your membership was inactive for some time.
• Regaining access to member benefits
  After reactivating, you can use all member resources again, like study materials, webinars, networking events, and professional groups. This lets you keep learning and growing in your finance career.

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Conclusion

Pausing or stopping your FRM membership means you lose use of resources, networking chances, and other member benefits, but your FRM certification stays valid. You can start your membership again later by paying the fee and get all the benefits back. Having an active membership helps you to learn, meet other professionals, and grow in your career, while pausing it can save money or fit your schedule better.

FAQs on What Will Happen If I Stop Paying for FRM Membership

Does my FRM certification expire if I stop paying for membership?

Even if you stop paying for the membership, your FRM certification stays officially valid.

Can I rejoin GARP membership after cancelling it?

You can rejoin GARP membership anytime by paying the fee again.

What benefits will I miss out on if I don’t renew my membership?

You will lose access to study materials, webinars, networking events, and member-only resources.

Is it compulsory to pay for FRM membership every year?

Membership is optional and not required to keep your FRM title.

How much does it cost to renew GARP membership?

The fee varies, but you need to pay the annual membership amount to renew.

Current Role

Co-Founder & CEO at Zell Education

Education

• ACCA – Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, Finance (2011 – 2014)
• Bachelor of Commerce (BCom), Financial Markets from H.R. College Of Commerce & Economics (2010 – 2013)

Location

Mumbai, India

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ACCA Certified