Certified Financial Consultant – ChFC®
The CHFC® designation is granted by The American College. A CHFC® candidate must successfully complete the program which requires the candidate to:
- Complete seven required courses (Financial Planning: Process and Environment, Fundamentals of Insurance Planning, Income Taxation, Planning for Retirement Needs, Investments, Fundamentals of Estate Planning and Financial Planning Applications
- Complete two elective courses
- Complete three years of full-time business experience
- Agree to comply with The American College Code of Ethics and Procedures
Complete ongoing continuing education requirements
Life Underwriting Training Council Fellow – LUTCF®
The LUTCF designation is granted by The National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors. A LUTCF candidate must successfully complete the program which requires the candidate to: Complete three required courses, agree to comply with NAIFA’s Code of Ethics and Procedures and to complete ongoing continuing education requirements.
Certified Life Underwriter- CLU®
The CLU® designation of the oldest and most respected credentials in financial services, dating back to the late 1920’s. It represents a thorough understanding of a broad array of personal risk management and life insurance planning issues and stresses ethics, professionalism, and in-depth knowledge in the delivery of financial advice. CLU® candidates must complete eight college-level courses, five required and three electives. The required courses include Fundamentals of Insurance Planning, Individual Life Insurance, Life Insurance Law, Fundamentals of Estate Planning, and Planning for Business Owners and Professionals. Electives topics cover financial planning, health insurance, income taxation, group benefits, investments, and retirement planning.
Chartered Advisor for Senior Living – CASL®
CASL® is a rigorous credential in the senior and retirement planning space, with curriculum that covers wealth accumulation, income distribution, and estate planning for those preparing for or in retirement. Advisors taking this program commit between 250 and 300 hours of study and take about 18 months to complete the designation. The CASL® requires five college-level courses: Understanding the Older Client, Health and Long-Term Care Financing for Seniors, Financial Decisions for Retirement, Investments and Fundamentals of Estate Planning.
Certified Fund Specialist – CFS®
The CFS designation is granted by The Institute of Business and Finance (IBF). A CFS candidate must have either a bachelor's degree or two thousand (2,000) hours of financial services work experience. In addition, the candidate must complete a self-study program that has six (6) modules and takes approximately fifteen (15) weeks to complete, pass three (3) proctored exams, and complete a case study. The candidate must also agree to comply with IBF’s Code of Ethics and procedures and to complete ongoing continuing education requirements.
Certified Tax Specialist – CTS®
The CTS® designation is granted by The Institute of Business and Finance (IBF). A CTS candidate must have either a bachelor's degree or one (1) year of financial services work experience. In addition, the candidate must complete a self-study program, pass three (3) proctored exams, and complete a case study. The candidate must also agree to comply with IBF’s Code of Ethics and procedures and to complete ongoing continuing education requirements.
Registered Financial Consultant – RFC®
The RFC® designation is granted by The International Association of Registered Financial Consultants (IARFC). An RFC candidate must have three (3) full years of experience as a financial planning practitioner, the required licenses to engage in financial planning profession, a sound record of business integrity with no suspension or revocation of any professional designations or licenses. To hold the RFC designation, the candidate must hold one of the following designations: AAMS®, CFA®, CFP®, ChFC®, CPA®, EA®, or LUTCF®. In addition, the candidate must agree to comply with IARFC’s Code of Ethics and procedures and to complete ongoing continuing education requirements.
