The AIF® Designation certifies that the recipient has specialized knowledge of fiduciary standards of care and their application to the investment management process. To receive the AIF® Designation, the individual must:

1. Meet prerequisite criteria based on a combination of education, relevant industry experience, and/or ongoing professional development
2. Complete a training program
3. Successfully pass a comprehensive, closed-book final examination under the supervision of an approved proctor
4. Agree to abide by the AIF® Designee Code of Ethics.

In order to maintain the AIF® Designation, the individual must annually attest to being in compliance with the AIF® Designee Code of Ethics, and accrue and report a minimum of six hours of continuing education. The AIF® Designation is administered by the Center for Fiduciary Studies, the standards-setting body of fi360.

The CASL® credential provides advisors with in-depth training on issues impacting seniors and those planning for retirement. The designation incorporates five required, college-level courses that represent an average total study time of more than 250 hours. Topics include investments, estate planning, health and long-term care financing, and financial decisions for retirement. CASL® designees must meet experience, continuing education and ethics requirements. The credential is awarded by The American College, a non-profit educator with an 85-year heritage and the top level of academic accreditation.

Individuals certified by CFP® Board have taken the step to demonstrate their professionalism by voluntarily submitting to the CFP® certification process that includes thorough education, examination, experience and ethical requirements. The CFP® is issued by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. Pre-requisites require a designee to hold a Bachelor’s degree (or higher) from an accredited college or university as well as three years of full-time personal financial planning experience. The designee is then required to complete a CFP® board registered program, or hold one of the following designations; CPA, ChFC, CLU, CFA, PH.D. in business or economics, Doctor of Business Administration, or Attorney’s License. The designee is then required to complete the CFP® certification examination. In addition, the designee is required to complete 30 hours of continuing education every two years. Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. (CFP Board) owns the CFP® certification mark, the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification mark, and the CFP® certification mark (with plaque design) logo in the United States, which it authorizes use of by individuals who successfully complete CFP Board’s initial and ongoing certification requirements.

The ChFC® designation has been a mark of excellence for almost thirty years and currently requires nine college-level courses, the most of any financial planning credential. Average study time to earn the ChFC® exceeds 450 hours. Required courses cover extensive education and application training in financial planning, income taxation, investments, and estate and retirement planning. Additional electives are chosen from such topics as macroeconomics, financial decisions for retirement, and executive compensation. ChFC® designees must meet experience requirements and adhere to continuing education and ethical standards. The credential is awarded by The American College, a non-profit educator with an 85-year heritage and the highest level of academic accreditation.

For 85 years the CLU® has been the respected risk management credential for advisors. Designees have completed eight or more college-level courses representing an average study time of 400 hours. Topics for required courses include insurance and financial planning, life insurance law, estate planning, and financial planning for business owners and professionals. Elective courses include such advanced topics as income taxes, group benefits, retirement planning, and health insurance. CLU® designees must meet experience and continuing education requirements and must adhere to a high ethical standard. The mark is awarded by The American College, a non-profit educator with the top level of academic accreditation.

CPA designees are qualified accountants who have passed the Uniform Certified Public Accountant Examination and have met additional state education and experience requirements for certification. The CPA is issued by the American Institute of CPAs. Pre-requisites require the designee to have two years public accounting experience and 150 semester hours of education. The designee is then required to complete the Uniform CPA Examination. In addition, the designee is required to complete 80 hours of continuing education every two years.

The CRPS® program is specifically targeted to provide professionals the knowledge and tools to design, install, and maintain retirement plans for the business community. The CRPS® is issued by the College of Financial Planning. While there are no pre-requisites for the CRPS® the designee must complete an online, instructor led or self-study courses complete with a final online, closed book, proctored exam. In addition, the designee must complete 16 hours of continuing education every two years.

The Master of Business Administration (MBA or M.B.A.) degree originated in the United States in the early 20th century when the country industrialized and companies sought scientific management. The core courses in an MBA program cover various areas of business administration such as accounting, applied statistics, human resources, business communication, business ethics, business law, business strategy, finance, managerial economics, management, entrepreneurship, marketing, supply-chain management, and operations management in a manner most relevant to management analysis and strategy.

PFS designee’s are CPA’s who have demonstrated proficiency in personal financial planning and possess the knowledge and tolls to effectively assist their clients in managing their personal finances. The PFS is issued the The American Institute of Certified Public Accountant (AICPA). Pre-requisites require designations to be a member of the AICPA, hold an unrevoked CPA certificate by a state authority, have at least two years of full-time business/personal financial planning experience or 3000 hours equivalent experience (including 1000 hours of tax compliance) within the five-year period preceding the date of the PFS application. The designee is then required to complete a minimum of 80 hours of personal financial planning education and a final certification exam. In addition, the designee is required to complete 60 hours of continuing education every three years related to the personal financial planning body of knowledge.

The RHU® designee has completed two required and one elective college-level course covering such topics as group benefits, individual health insurance, and managed care. Total average student study time exceeds 150 hours. The credential is offered by The American College, a non-profit educator with an 85-year heritage and the highest level of academic accreditation. RHU® designees must meet experience, ethics and continuing education requirements.