|
The list of licenses and credentials below is offered here to help you better
understand the qualifications of advisors. At Myfinancialadvice, we
certify and activate advisors on our site who have one or more active licenses
or designations in good standing listed below. No other licenses qualify an
advisor for membership in the Myfinancialadvice advisor network.
Depending on which license(s) an advisor has, Myfinancialadvice will allow an
advisor to provide advice only in specific categories or service areas.
Click here to view the Myfinancialadvice Practice Area Matrix.
People or firms that get paid to give advice about investing in securities
generally must register with either the SEC or the state securities agency
where they have their principal place of business. Investment advisers who
manage $25 million or more in client assets generally must register with the
SEC. If they manage less than $25 million, they generally must register with
the state securities agency in the state where they have their principal place
of business. Some investment adviser firms employ investment adviser
representatives, the people who actually work with customers. To understand
more about the Investment Adviser Registration, please go to the Investment
Adviser Registration Depository (IARD) at
www.iard.com.
To be listed on the Myfinancialadvice.com website under the advice categories
of Investing, Financial Planning or Employee Benefits, advisors must be agents
of a registered investment adviser, either state or federal.
To find out about advisors and whether they are properly registered, read
their registration forms, called the "Form ADV" Part II which discloses the
advisor's services, fees, and business relationships. Advisors on this website
that are subject to this registration requirement will provide you with a
Registered Investment Advisor Disclosure Document as an attachment to a project
proposal.
CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (303-830-7500)
The CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification is awarded by Certified
Financial Planner Board of Standards to individuals who fulfill a financial
planning educational requirement, pass the comprehensive, two-day, 10-hour CFP®
Certification Examination, have at least three years of experience in
the financial planning process and agree to abide by CFP Board's Code of Ethics
and Financial Planning Practice Standards. CFP® professionals must also
complete ongoing certification requirements, including continuing education.
CFP Board owns the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL
PLANNER™ and federally registered CFP (with flame logo). These marks are
awarded to individuals who successfully complete CFP Board's initial and
ongoing certification requirements. To learn more see:
http://www.cfp.net/learn.
Chartered Financial Analyst™ (800-247-8132)
This designation is awarded by the Chartered Financial Analyst Institute and
Research (CFA Institute) to experienced financial analysts who successfully pass three
annual examinations covering economics, financial accounting, portfolio
management, securities analysis and ethics, have approved work experience and
meet other requirements. CFA charter holders are annually required to affirm
their commitment to high ethical standards. To learn more see:
http://www.cfainstitute.org/cfaprogram/.
Chartered Financial Consultant (610-526-1450)
The ChFC credential is a financial planning designation awarded by The American
College, an institution that specializes primarily in professional training and
designations for insurance and financial services professionals. To learn more
see:
http://www.amercoll.edu/Current_students/Designations/chfc.asp
Certified Public Accountant (888-777-7077)
The CPA designation is awarded by the American Institute of Certified Public
Accountants (AICPA) to accountants who pass the AICPA's Uniform CPA Examination
and satisfy the work experience and statutory and licensing requirements of the
state(s) in which they practice.
CPA/Personal Financial Specialist (212-596-6200)
The PFS credential is a financial planning designation awarded by the American
Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA).
Back to the Top
Enrolled Agent (202-694-1851)
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) offers this designation to individuals who
wish to represent taxpayers before the IRS at all levels of examination, appeal
and collection. To attain enrolled agent status, an individual must pass the
IRS's comprehensive two-day Special Enrollment Examination on all aspects of
tax law (or have five years of qualifying employment with the IRS) and have his
or her enrolled agent application approved by the IRS.
National Association of Personal Financial Advisors
The National Association of Personal Financial Advisors is the nation's leading
organization of Fee-Only comprehensive financial planning professionals.
Established in 1983, NAPFA registered advisors operate both under a strict
code of ethics and a fiduciary oath. NAPFA members are objective financial
advisors for consumers and institutions alike. To learn more see: www.napfa.org.
NASD Registered Representative
Financial professionals who are involved in transactions that result in buying
or selling securities are regulated through the National Association of
Securities Dealers (NASD) who require member firms to supervise and certify
through passing examination a level of knowledge in the terms and techniques
associated with investing. There are several examinations that registered
representatives of these firms may be asked to pass. The RR is the
examination required of "stock brokers". To learn more see:
http://www.nasdr.com/
Mortgage Professional
The mortgage industry is primarily regulated with respect to those who solicit
or execute the sale of mortgages. At Myfinancialadvice, we require advisors to
attain at least three years of experience through verified work history, which
includes a history of working with the public, answering questions on mortgage
financing. MP is not an actual professional license but is a term used by
Myfinancialadvice used to refer to experienced mortgage professionals who have
agreed to abide by our ethical standards and rules of conduct, which prohibit
solicitation for mortgage sales. When you speak to a mortgage professional on
our site, they are advice providers only who work for an hourly or per project
fee. If they attempt to sell you a mortgage, please report them to us
immediately.
Back to the Top
In addition to these core designations, there are many other credentials which
have been earned or which are used by Myfinancialadvice Advisor Members. Listed
below are some of the other designations that you may find on our pages. Please
note that, in our enrollment process, we verify only the core designations
listed above. Advisors' claims to have one of the following credentials have
not been independently verified by Myfinancialadvice nor have these credentials
been used to assess an advisor's ability to provide advice in any service area.
This list is for educational purposes only.
Accredited Asset Management SpecialistSM (800-237-9990)
This designation is awarded by the College for Financial Planning to investment
professionals who complete its 12-module AAMS® Professional Education Program,
pass an examination, commit to a code of ethics and agree to pursue continuing
education.
http://www.financial-planning.com/wwwboard1/messages/4228.html
Accredited Estate Planner (610-526-1389)
The AEP designation is awarded by the National Association of Estate Planners
& Councils to estate planners who have completed two graduate-level courses
administered by The American College, meet specific professional requirements
and who practice as one of the following: attorney, CPA, trust officer, CLU,
CFP® certificant or ChFC.
http://www.amercoll.edu/prospective_students/graduate/aep.asp
Back to the Top
Accredited Financial Counselor (614-485-9650)
This designation is awarded by the Association for Financial Counseling and
Planning Education (AFCPE) to individuals who pass AFCPE courses, meet
experience and ethics requirements and submit three letters of reference.
http://www.afcpe.org/afc.htm
Accredited Tax Advisor (703-549-2228)
This mark is awarded by the Accreditation Council for Accountancy and Taxation
(ACAT) to individuals who complete six educational courses and pass
corresponding exams, fulfill experience, ethics and continuing education
requirements, and pay an annual registration fee.
http://www.acatcredentials.org/ATA.htm
Certified Employee Benefit Specialist (262-786-6700)
The CEBS designation is cosponsored by the International Foundation of Employee
Benefit Plans (IFEBP) and the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. The
10-course college level curriculum provides a comprehensive understanding of
benefit concepts and principles.
http://www.continuingstudies.udel.edu/business/cebs/index.shtml
Certified Fund Specialist (800-848-2029)
The Institute of Business and Finance (IBF) offers this designation to
financial services professionals who successfully complete its 60-hour course,
pass a comprehensive exam, adhere to the IBF's code of ethics and complete 15
hours of continuing education courses each year.
http://www.icfs.com/CFS.modular.html
Back to the Top
Certified Investment Management Analyst (303-770-3377)
The CIMA credential is awarded by the Investment Management Consultants
Association to professionals who pass a pre-qualifying and a certifying exam,
complete coursework at the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, have a
minimum of three years experience in investment consulting and fulfill
continuing education requirements. http://www.imca.org/certify/
Chartered Life Underwriter (610-526-1450)
The CLU designation is awarded by The American College to insurance and
financial services professionals who have met the College's three-year business
experience requirement, passed its eight college-level education courses and
agreed to abide by its code of ethics.
http://www.amercoll.edu/Current_students/Designations/clu.asp
Certified Management Accountant (800-638-4427)
This professional designation is awarded by the Institute of Certified
Management Accountants (ICMA) to management accountants who pass a four-part
exam, meet certain work requirements, comply with the ICMA's Standards of
Ethical Conduct for Practitioners of Management Accounting and Financial
Management and who are members of the Institute of Management Accountants
(IMA). http://www.imanet.org/ima/index.asp
Back to the Top
Chartered Mutual Fund CounselorSM (800-237-9990)
The College for Financial Planning awards this designation to investment
practitioners who complete its nine-module CMFC® Professional Education Program
jointly sponsored by the College and the Investment Company Institute
(202-326-5800), pass an examination, commit to a code of ethics and agree to
pursue continuing education.
Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (800-644-2101)
The American Institute for Chartered Property Casualty Underwriters (AICPCU)
confers the CPCU insurance designation on those who complete its nine courses
and national essay examinations, meet experience requirements and agree to
abide by the AICPCU's Code of Professional Ethics.
Certified Trust and Financial Adviser (202-663-5092)
The Institute of Certified Bankers (ICB) awards the CTFA designation to
individuals who meet personal trust experience and education requirements, pass
an examination on tax law, investment management, personal finance, insurance
and estate planning, fiduciary and trust activities, and agree to meet ICB's
continuing education requirements.
Back to the Top
Life Underwriter Training Council Fellow - The American College (610-526-1450)
The LUTCF course work is training provided by The American College for
insurance professionals. Coursework may be used to attain the CLU designation.
See CLU above.
Registered Employee Benefits Consultant (610-526-1450)
This designation is awarded by The American College to professionals working in
the employee benefits field who have successfully completed the College's
five-course curriculum and met experience, ethics and continuing education
requirements.
Registered Financial Consultant (800-532-9060)
This designation is awarded by the International Association of Registered
Financial Consultants (IARFC) to members who have met education, experience and
membership requirements, agreed to abide by its code of ethics and previously
earned either a securities/insurance license, or one of the following: CPA,
CFA®, CFP® certification, CLU, ChFC, J.D., EA or RHU.
Registered Health Underwriter (610-526-1450)
The American College awards this designation to individuals involved in
traditional health insurance or managed care who have successfully completed
the College's three-course curriculum and met experience, ethics and continuing
education requirements.
|