Finding a financial advisor can be a challenging task. There are thousands of advisors to work with and many offer the same services and job titles. Professional designations provide a standardized way to communicate their knowledge and education.
So what do those letters after your advisor's name mean? Read below to see what each designation represents.
The CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® certification is the standard of excellence for financial planners. CFP® professionals have met extensive training and experience requirements, and commit to CFP Board's ethical standards that require them to put their clients' interests first. CFP® professionals take a holistic, personalized approach to bring all the pieces of your financial life together.
The CFA® Program provides a strong foundation in advanced investment analysis and real-world portfolio management skills.
The ChFC® degree program requires students to complete nine college-level courses or 27 hours of college credit in the field. Students must achieve mastery of more than 100 integrated advanced financial planning topics, including:
Chartered Life Underwriter® is a designation that shows expertise in life insurance, estate planning, and business planning. A CLU® certification gives advisors an in-depth knowledge of life insurance underwriting concepts and life insurance law within the context of overall risk management, the necessary knowledge to help clients address their estate planning needs, and an understanding of solutions addressing the life insurance underwriting needs of business owners and professionals.
A retirement income certified professional (RICP®) is a financial professional who specializes in retirement income planning. RICPs advise retirees and near-retirees as to the best way to use the assets they have accumulated for retirement to live comfortably within a realistic budget and not run out of money prematurely.
A Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA®) uses their knowledge of tax law, asset distribution and short- and long-term financial planning to achieve equitable divorce settlements. A CDFA® can provide in-depth financial analysis and advice to the attorneys and divorcees relating to the divorce.
