The CFP® designation is administered and regulated by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. Financial planners that wish to obtain a CFP® designation must meet several requirements mandated by the CFP® board, including minimum education and experience requirements in the areas of financial planning, insurance and investment planning, and retirement and estate planning, which could take as many as three years. CFP® candidates must also pass a 10 hour written examination and background check. Once a planner has obtained the CFP® designation, they must complete continuing education requirements to keep it.
This designation is not required by law for individuals who want to practice financial planning, rather it is intended to identify for consumers experienced and knowledgeable professionals. In addition to their exams, certificants must agree to abide by the CFP Board's Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility which puts clients' interests first, and comply with the Financial Planning Practice Standards which spell out what clients should be able to reasonably expect from the financial planning engagement.
A designation granted by the American College in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania to individuals who have completed training in life insurance and personal insurance planning. To obtain the designation, individuals have to complete advanced courses and exams in several topics including insurance, investments, taxation, employee benefits, estate planning, accounting, management and economics.
An individual who has passed the uniform CPA examination administered by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), and who has received state certification to practice accounting. To achieve this designation, an individual usually has to complete 5 years of education and a degree of work experience. Additionally, CPA’s must complete a certain number of hours of continuing education each year.
A Personal Financial Specialist is a certified public accountant (CPA) who also offers financial planning services. The title is authorized by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) after the completion of a review process that involves an exam and recommendations from clients and colleagues. The designation also requires a minimum of three years of financial planning experience.
CFS is the oldest designation in the mutual fund industry. Training is provided by the Institute of Business & Finance (IBF) in the form of a 60-hour self-study program followed by a final exam. Course topics include, but are not limited to, portfolio theory, dollar-cost averaging and annuities.
The Institute for Divorce Financial Analysts (IDFA™) is the premier national organization dedicated to the certification, education and promotion of the use of financial professionals in the divorce arena. The Institute provides comprehensive training using a variety of knowledge and skill-building techniques. Certificants are qualified to help their clients with financial issues that will affect the rest of their lives.
