They must also pass an intensive four-hour certification exam. The ChFC ® designation has been a mark of excellence for financial planners for almost thirty years and currently requires more courses than any other financial planning credential. the nation’s largest nonprofit educational institution devoted to financial services. A financial professional with the RICP® designation possesses expert knowledge in retirement income strategies for those preparing for and living in retirement. A financial professional with specialized knowledge in the financial issues most important to you can help you plot a course to a financially secure future. And we’ll explain what those letters mean. Look for a professional who has attained the CFP ® — Certified Financial Planner TM —designation if you're choosing a qualified financial advisor for your family. However, while the benefits you’ve earned are guaranteed, not everyone gets the same amount — and you can make choices that either increase or decrease how much you receive and when you receive it. The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) offers a full list of recognized financial designations. Determine the business structure, tax liabilities, and reporting requirements for setting up a business. Manage cash flow, minimize tax liability, and lower financial risk. Unfortunately, there have been many documented cases where dishonorable folks use credentials they do not have. Jump-start your financial planning carreer with the ChFC® designation They must also complete a rigorous three-course graduate-level program offered by The American College of Financial Services, with a focus on philanthropic impact through family wealth, charitable giving strategies, and gift planning for nonprofits. The education for such designations is often earned at accredited institutions and is most often conferred by non-profit organizations. No Records Found, try again but do not select a state to search all. In the increasingly complex world of financial services, the key to success is being better prepared than your competition. A Chartered Financial Consultant is a professional designation representing the completion of a comprehensive course consisting of financial education, examinations and practical experience. I want to verify a professional's designation. Have experience, ethics, and ongoing continuing education requirements. Create an estate plan and manage financial risks. That depends on what you’ll ask them to do. I mean, it is the CFP coursework plus two more. — and the financial professionals in our network. To earn this credential, the professional must complete seven courses, sit for and pass the CFP® exam, and hold/earn a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university within five years of passing the exam. The American College of Financial Services. « Return to Search. Take significant time and effort to earn. Helping you make good choices. Put together business exit plans, estate plans, and legacy plans. To earn this credential, the professional should complete 150 semester hours of college coursework focused on accounting. But because of that, I think the best way to approach this is to simply think of the ChFC as a post-CFP designation. Financial professionals who possess the AEP® designation are estate planners who meet stringent requirements for experience, knowledge, educational and professional reputation, and character. Now, notwithstanding all of this, a lot of people advocate that the ChFC is a better designation because it does literally have more courses and covers more material. A Service of the American College of Financial Services. Develop short- and long-term financial plans focused on the care of someone with special needs. These courses together, culminating in the REBC designation, offer an in-depth, comprehensive approach to education on the issue. It’s an important question because, among more than two hundred designations/certifications out there, some aren’t very rigorous. How do financial professionals get paid? In fact, some even allow financial professionals to earn them in a weekend with an easy open-book test. It was a unique program focusing on retirement income, legacy and being proactive in teaching your clients to avoid the common pitfalls in retirement planning. A CFP is required to take seven courses, while a ChFC must take nine courses, two of which are application-based courses. They must also complete a challenging three-course, college-level program offered by The American College of Financial Services focused on disability and lifetime planning, legal and financial issues for special needs families, and financial planning for the care of minors and adults with special needs. The school has offered this credential since 1982 and is, at time of writing, the only institution which does so. Establish an estate plan for you and/or a succession plan for your business. YourAdvisorGuide.com is sponsored by The American College of Financial Services. Michael Stepanski is a financial advisor in Marlton, NJ, and has earned his CFP, CHFC. He must meet the CFP ® Board's education, examination, experience, and ethics requirements to use this designation. © 2021 The American College of Financial Services. 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