Your Future. Your Financial Professional. Your Choice.
To choose the right financial professional, you need the right information. Your Advisor Guide has done a lot of the work for you. We’ve assembled a searchable network of highly trained professionals who hold top-level financial designations with specialized skills to best serve your needs. But we’re sure you have additional questions — so we created these resources to help you make the best choice for you and your financial future.
What’s It Like to Work with a Financial Professional?
Once you find a financial professional you trust, how’ll the relationship work? That depends on what you’ll ask them to do. You should expect several things from the best financial professionals.
How Does a Financial Professional Make a Living?
It’s a common question. How do financial professionals get paid? The answer is not as complicated or secretive as you might think. And the cost to you can be worth it. Learn more.
What’s the Meaning of Those Letters After Financial Professionals’ Names?
Behind the name of many financial professionals, you’ll see one or more sets of letters. These represent professional designations. Sometimes referred to as certifications or credentials, designations are not legally required for financial services professionals, but earning and maintaining a quality designation demonstrates a commitment to the profession and your financial future.
So, how do you know if a designation is high-quality? It’s an important question because, among more than two hundred designations/certifications out there, some aren’t very rigorous. In fact, some even allow financial professionals to earn them in a weekend with an easy open-book test.
Others, however, require a lot more.
Consider choosing financial professionals who hold credentials that:
- Are comprehensive and academically rigorous.
- Take significant time and effort to earn.
- Have experience, ethics, and ongoing continuing education requirements.
- Aren’t focused on sales and marketing.
- May be removed for non-compliance. The education for such designations is often earned at accredited institutions and is most often conferred by non-profit organizations.
Below, you can find designations that possess these characteristics. And we’ll explain what those letters mean.
Professional Designations Focused on You
Financial professionals who hold any of the following designations have demonstrated their commitment to providing you the best possible advice.
CAP® – Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy®
A financial professional with the CAP® designation possesses comprehensive knowledge in charitable giving and philanthropic planning. They’re experts who will provide you the guidance to make the biggest impact in the world at large.
To earn this credential, the professional must have the equivalent of three years of full-time, relevant business experience such as insurance and health care, financial services and employee benefits, higher education instruction, or government regulatory services. 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.
To maintain their designation, they’re required to complete a professional recertification program each year — including an ethics questionnaire. Every two years, they must also complete 30 credit hours of continuing education requirements and pass a recertification examination.
A financial professional with a CAP® credential can help you:
- Apply the best tax strategies, tools, and techniques for charitable giving.
- Put together business exit plans, estate plans, and legacy plans.
- Use philanthropic planning to make a more significant impact in your community and the world.
CFP® – Certified Financial Planner™
A financial professional with a CFP® designation possesses expert knowledge in fundamental financial issues and can guide you through the most common financial challenges.
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. They must also complete 6,000 hours of professional experience as a financial advisor or in roles related to the financial planning process, or 4,000 hours of apprenticeship experience.
To maintain their designation, they're required to complete 30 hours of continuing education credit every two years, including three hours of ethics continuing education credits.
A financial professional with a CFP® certification can help you:
- Establish a financial plan, including the consideration of insurance needs.
- Plan for issues related to individual taxation.
- Adopt smart strategies for retirement planning.
- Identify and make smart investment choices.
- Put together an estate plan.
ChFC® – Chartered Financial Consultant®
A financial professional with the ChFC® designation possesses expert knowledge in modern financial fundamentals and can guide you through a wide range of financial matters.
To earn this credential, the professional must have the equivalent of three years of full-time, relevant business experience such as insurance and health care, financial services and employee benefits, higher education instruction, or government regulatory services. They must also complete a comprehensive eight-course, college-level program offered by The American College of Financial Services, focusing on such topics as insurance planning, estate planning, investments, and the latest best practices in personal financial planning.
To maintain their designation, they’re required to complete a professional recertification program each year — including an ethics questionnaire. Every two years, they must also complete 30 credit hours of continuing education requirements and pass a recertification examination.
A financial professional with a ChFC® credential can help you:
- Put together a personal financial plan that meets your unique needs and life situation.
- Plan for income taxes, including planning for deductions, tax credits, capital gains and losses, and more.
- Establish and manage retirement strategies, including choosing savings plans.
- Invest wisely using the latest best practices.
- Create an estate plan and manage financial risks.
ChSNC® – Chartered Special Needs Consultant®
A financial professional with the ChSNC® designation possesses expert knowledge in the financial issues surrounding the care of those with special needs.
To earn this credential, the professional must have the equivalent of five years of relevant professional experience in financial services or law, with a focus on income tax or estate planning. Professionals with four years of relevant experience and an undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited institution are also eligible. 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.
To maintain their designation, they’re required to complete a professional recertification program each year — including an ethics questionnaire. Every two years, they must also complete 30 credit hours of continuing education requirements and pass a recertification examination.
A financial professional with a ChSNC® credential can help you:
- Develop short- and long-term financial plans focused on the care of someone with special needs.
- Navigate government benefits systems and secure the benefits you’re entitled to.
- Establish special needs trusts.
- Address issues pertaining to disability law, life insurance, special education, and healthcare.
CLU® – Chartered Life Underwriter®
A financial professional with the CLU® designation possesses expert knowledge in finding the best life insurance solutions for your unique needs.
To earn this credential, the professional must have the equivalent of three years of full-time, relevant business experience such as insurance and health care, financial services and employee benefits, higher education instruction, or government regulatory services. They must also complete a rigorous eight-course, college-level program offered by The American College of Financial Services, focusing on topics such as life insurance law, planning for business owners and professionals, income taxation, and estate planning.
To maintain their designation, they’re required to complete a professional recertification program each year — including an ethics questionnaire. Every two years, they must also complete 30 credit hours of continuing education requirements and pass a recertification examination.
A financial professional with a CLU® credential can help you:
- Choose the best life insurance solutions for you and/or your small business.
- Evaluate and purchase annuities.
- Establish an estate plan for you and/or a succession plan for your business.
- Address a number of matters pertaining to contract law, ownership rights, and other legal issues related to life insurance.
RICP® – Retirement Income Certified Professional®
A financial professional with the RICP® designation possesses expert knowledge in retirement income strategies for those preparing for and living in retirement.
To earn this credential, the professional must have the equivalent of three years of full-time, relevant business experience such as insurance and health care, financial services and employee benefits, higher education instruction, or government regulatory services. They must also complete a challenging three-course college-level program offered by The American College of Financial Services that requires approximately 180 hours of coursework and certification examinations.
To maintain their certification, they’re required to complete a professional recertification program each year — including an ethics questionnaire. Every two years, they must also complete 30 credit hours of continuing education requirements and pass a recertification examination.
A financial professional with an RICP® credential can help you:
- Build a comprehensive retirement plan so you can live comfortably.
- Utilize the best Social Security claiming strategies.
- Choose distribution options from employer-sponsored plans.
- Make smart healthcare choices and plan for long-term care needs.
- Establish tax plans and legacy plans.
WMCP® – Wealth Management Certified Professional®
A financial professional with the WMCP® designation possesses expert knowledge in goal-based investment strategies designed to allow you to live your best life.
To earn this credential, the professional must take an initial assessment, complete a six- to eight-month, college-level program offered by The American College of Financial Services, and pass a four-hour, 150-question final exam. The coursework focuses on critical topics including investment management theory, investment management tools, investment accounts, and application and portfolio management strategies. They must also pass an intensive four-hour certification exam.
To maintain their designation, they’re required to complete a professional recertification program each year — including an ethics questionnaire. Every two years, they must also complete 30 credit hours of continuing education requirements and pass a recertification examination.
A financial professional with a WMCP® credential can help you:
- Manage your wealth in ways that prioritize your interests and values.
- Tailor investments around your goals, including retirement, estate, small business , education, housing, and legacy planning.
- Identify tax characteristics and evaluate account strategies that can provide the highest after-tax performance.
- Address and mitigate risks, including how to strategically use life insurance.
CFA® – Chartered Financial Analyst®
A financial professional with the CFA® designation has the knowledge and skills to apply analytical best practices and methods to help clients thrive in today’s complex investment environment.
To earn this credential, the professional must complete three rigorous examinations focused on disciplines including accounting, economics, ethics, money management and security analysis.
To maintain their designation, they’re required to reaffirm their commitment to following the CFA Institute code of ethics and standards of professional conduct.
A financial professional with the CFA® credential can help you:
- Uncover investment opportunities based on expert analysis of complex financial data.
- Invest with confidence knowing they are held to a rigorous ethical standard.
- Explore a variety of investment tools and asset classes that can improve your portfolio’s performance and help you meet your wealth planning goals.
CPA – Certified Public Accountant
A financial professional with the CPA designation possesses the problem-solving, ethical standards, and broad business perspective to help individuals and organizations reach their financial goals.
To earn this credential, the professional should complete 150 semester hours of college coursework focused on accounting. They must then pass the Uniform CPA Examination — a difficult milestone with pass rates around 50%.
A financial professional with the CPA credential can help you:
- Determine the business structure, tax liabilities, and reporting requirements for setting up a business.
- Go beyond preparing and filing your taxes, providing planning and advice on topics such as minimizing tax liability and dealing with the IRS.
- Navigate complex circumstances such as audits, taking out loans, and life events with tax implications.
PFS™ – Personal Financial Specialist
To earn this credential, the professional must hold a CPA certificate, have the equivalent of at least two years of relevant experience, complete a minimum of 75 hours of personal financial planning education, and pass a final certification exam.
To maintain their designation, they must also complete the equivalent of 60 hours of continuing professional education every three years.
A financial professional with the PFS™ credential can help you:
- Understand and navigate all aspects of wealth management including estate planning, retirement, investing, insurance and more.
- Manage cash flow, minimize tax liability, and lower financial risk.