What is a Chartered Life Underwriter®?

A Chartered Life Underwriter® has earned the premier credential in the insurance profession, representing eight or more comprehensive college-level courses covering all aspects of insurance planning, estate and retirement issues, taxation, business insurance, and risk management. For more than 80 years, the American College, a non-profit educator with the highest level of accreditation, has conferred this designation.

Advisors with the CLU® designation are required to serve you with the highest level of professionalism. The authority to use the CLU ® mark is granted by the Certification Committee of the Board of Trustees of The American College and that privilege is contingent on adherence to strict ethical guidelines. All CLU® advisors are required to do the same for clients that they would do for themselves in similar circumstances, the standard of ethical behavior most beneficial for their clients.

What is a Chartered Financial Consultant®?

A Chartered Financial Consultant® has completed the most extensive educational program required for any financial services credential. Each ChFC® has taken at least eight college-level courses on all aspects of financial planning from the American College, a non-profit educator with the highest level of academic accreditation.

Advisors with the ChFC® designation are required to serve you with the highest level of professionalism. The authority to use the ChFC ® mark is granted by the Certification Committee ofthe Board of Trustees of The American College and that privilege is contingent on adherence to strict ethical guidelines. All ChFC® advisors are required to do the same for clients that they would do for themselves in similar circumstances, the standard of ethical behavior most beneficial for their clients.

A ChFC® can assist you in many areas. He can help with creating a comprehensive financial approach, assist in protecting your assets and managing risk with appropriate levels of insurance, managing taxes better for you and your business, helping you secure your retirement, building an investment approach to help you reach your goals, and enhancing the value of your estate to take care of your loved ones.

What is a Certified Financial Planner™?

A CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®) is a licensed professional who has completed specialized training and abides by a strict ethical standard. To attain a CFP® certification, professionals must meet educational coursework requirements (including a bachelor’s degree), complete the CFP® Certification Examination, attain 6,000 hours of experience through the Standard Pathway or 4,000 hours of experience through the Apprenticeship pathway, and adhere to ethical standards including a background check.

CFP® professionals understand the financial climate and are trained to make financial recommendations with your best interest in mind. CFP® professionals deal with more than just investments and can help clients with budgeting, retirement planning, saving for educational expenses, tax management, and insurance coverage management.

Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. (CFP Board) owns the certification markets CFP®, CERTIFED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, CFP® (with plaque design), and CFP® (with frame design) in the U.S., which it authorizes uses of by individuals who successfully complete CFP Board’s initial and ongoing certification requirements.

What is a Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor?

The Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor credential, obtainable by passing the NAPA CPFA Examination, was created by the nation’s top advisors and retirement planning experts. The credential proves an advisor’s ability to successfully and knowledgeably work with retirement plans. Advisors holding the CPFA credential are experts in acting as a plan fiduciary or assisting a plan fiduciary.

Coursework for the program to earn the CPFA credential covers topics in four key areas implemented in the practice of retirement planning daily: fiduciary roles and responsibilities, fiduciary oversight, plan investment management, and plan management.