Certified Financial Planner™
The Certified Financial Planner™ professional is one of the most recognized and respected credentials in the financial industry. Take it from the Wall Street Journal, which notes that “Anyone can hang out a sign as a financial planner, but that doesn’t make that person an expert … It’s best to go with a certified financial planner (CFP), which is an instant signal of credibility.”
To learn more about the CFP designation, watch the video below or visit LetsMakeaPlan.org.
Certified Investment Management Analyst
Unlike many other financial designations, the Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA) certification focuses exclusively on investments. Those who have earned the CIMA certification have passed a qualifying exam, completed a rigorous education requirement at an accredited business school, and passed a certification exam. The CIMA education program and exam covers topics such as modern portfolio theory, performance measurement, manager selection and investment policy.
Chartered Financial Consultant®
A Chartered Financial Consultant® (ChFC®) has received special training to help meet the advanced financial planning needs of individuals, professionals and small business owners. Those who complete the nine courses required to earn the designation are familiar with key issues in financial planning, including insurance, income taxation, retirement planning, investments and estate planning. The average amount of study time required to earn this credential is more than 400 hours, and those who have the ChFC® designation are also required to complete 30 hours of continuing education every two years.
Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor
A Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor(SM) (CRPC®) advises people on their pre- and post-retirement planning needs. Those who have earned this designation have completed specialized training in retirement planning issues, including employer-sponsored retirement plans, traditional and Roth IRAs, asset management, estate planning, investment strategy, long-term care and retirement distributions. Designees must complete 16 hours of continuing education every two years.