® certification requires meeting experience and ethics requirements, successfully completing financial planning course work and passing the certification examination covering the following topics: financial planning principles, employee benefits planning, investment planning, income tax planning, and retirement and estate planning.
Income Tax
The AWMA℠ certification requires abiding by a code of ethics and passing a certification examination covering coursework that addresses the asset management needs of individuals. The coursework provides candidates with advanced knowledge in asset management, allocation and selection, investment performance and strategies for retirees and small business owners, estate planning, income tax and benefits planning, and risk management and investment issues for high net worth clients.
Individuals who hold the APMA™ designation have completed a course of study encompassing client assessment and suitability, risk/return, investment objectives, bond and equity portfolios, modern portfolio theory and investor psychology.
Mutual Funds
The Chartered Mutual Fund Counselor™ program was developed in conjunction with the Investment Company Institute and is the only mutual fund designation recognized in the financial services industry. The program provides a thorough knowledge of mutual funds and their various uses as investment vehicles.
A Behavioral Financial Advisor certification trains, develops and improves competencies necessary to help financial professionals and clients make better decisions throughout the financial planning process. The course work includes topics such as self awareness, effective decision-making, effective self-management, and relationship effectiveness.
Retirement Planning
Individuals who hold the ADPA™ designation have completed a course of study encompassing wealth transfers, federal taxation, retirement planning, and planning for financial and medical end-of-life needs for domestic partners. Additionally, individuals must pass an end-of-course examination that tests their ability to synthesize complex concepts and apply theoretical concepts to real-life situations.
Annuities
The Life Underwriting Training Council Fellow℠ certification coursework provides advisors with a better understanding of a variety of insurance products and addresses the protection planning needs of individuals. Candidates are required to meet ethics standards and pass a certification examination covering the following areas: retirement planning, investing, estate planning, annuities, business insurance, employee benefits, life insurance and disability income insurance.
Long Term Care
The Certified in Long-Term Care program is the long-term care insurance industry’s only independent professional designation. The Certified in Long-Term Care course is focused on the field of long-term care planning and provides legal, accounting, insurance and financial service professionals the critical tools necessary to address the subject matter with their middle-age clients.
Asset Management
The AAMS™ certification requires abiding by a code of ethics and successfully completing coursework that addresses the needs of individuals by applying investment concepts to real-world situations of asset management. Candidates must pass a certification examination covering the following topics: asset allocation, investment strategies, estate planning, investment opportunities for retirees and small business owners, and insurance products.
College Funding
The PFS designation program addresses many areas of the financial planning process including estate planning, retirement strategy, investment selection, education planning, and risk management.