Designation Disclosures

The CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® certification is issued by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. (CFP Board). Candidates for the CFP® certification must have a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent from an accredited college or university; have a minimum of three years of full‐time relevant personal financial planning experience; satisfy pre‐examination requirements and pass the CFP® exam; and meet the CFP Board’s fitness standards. After earning the certification, the holder must complete thirty hours of continuing education credits every two years. Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Center for Financial Planning, Inc. owns and licenses the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER®, and CFP® (with plaque design) in the United States to Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc., which authorizes individuals who successfully complete the organization’s initial and ongoing certification requirements to use the certification marks.

The Certified Exit Planner Advisor (CEPA) certification is issued by the Exit Planning Institute, Inc. (EPI). Candidates for the CEPA certification must have a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent from an accredited college or university; have a minimum of five years of relevant work experience; complete the program of study; and pass a 3.5 hour closed-book proctored exam. After earning the certification, every three years the holder must complete forty hours of exit planning related professional development, agree in writing that they will adhere to the EPI Professional Standards and Code of Ethics, and re-attest that they have not been convicted of a felony related to the practice of exit planning.

The Accredited Wealth Management Advisor℠ (AWMA®) designation is issued by the College for Financial Planning. Candidates for the AWMA® certification must complete the program of study; pass an end-of-course examination; agree to adhere to Standards of Professional Conduct; and are subject to a disciplinary process. After earning the designation, the holder must complete sixteen hours of continuing education credits every two years; reaffirm adherence to the Standards of Professional Conduct; and comply with self-disclosure requirements.

The Chartered Financial Consultant® (ChFC®) designation and the Chartered Life Underwriter® (CLU®) designation are both issued by The American College. Candidates for the ChFC® and CLU® designations must successfully complete all courses in the selected program, meet experience requirements and ethics standards, and agree to comply with The American College Code of Ethics and Procedures. After earning the designation, the holder must complete thirty continuing education credits every two years, recommit to The American College of Financial Services standard of ethics and reconfirm client-facing status. If a designation holder obtains Emeritus status with The American College, he or she is no longer subject to the continuing education requirement of its designations. The ChFC® and CLU® marks are the property of The American College, which reserves sole rights to their use, and are used by permission.

The Certified Public Accountant (CPA) designation is issued by individual state boards of accountancy in the United States, with national standards established by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). To become a CPA, candidates must typically complete 150 semester hours of college-level education (including a bachelor’s degree or higher with specified coursework in accounting and business), pass the Uniform CPA Examination, and meet a state’s experience requirements, which usually involve one to two years of relevant accounting work under a licensed CPA. CPAs must also complete ongoing continuing education—typically 40 hours annually—to maintain their license.

The Accredited in Business Valuation (ABV) credential is awarded by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) to CPAs who specialize in business valuation. To earn the ABV designation, candidates must be licensed CPAs in good standing, pass the ABV examination (or meet experience-based alternative pathways), and demonstrate significant experience in the field of business valuation. Candidates must also complete 75 hours of valuation-related continuing professional education and meet the AICPA’s requirements for professional conduct and competence. To maintain the credential, ABV holders must comply with ongoing recertification requirements, including continuing education in valuation and adherence to AICPA standards and ethics.

The Accredited Investment Fiduciary® (AIF®) designation is issued by fi360, Inc. and demonstrates knowledge and competency in fiduciary responsibility. To earn the credential, candidates must complete training, pass an examination, meet minimum experience requirements, and agree to a Code of Ethics. Designees must renew annually by completing six hours of continuing education and affirming adherence to fi360’s ethical standards. The AIF® designation signifies a commitment to fiduciary excellence in investment management. AIF® and Accredited Investment Fiduciary® are registered trademarks of fi360, Inc.