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 Inc. owns the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® and federally registered CFP (with flame design) in the U.S., which it awards to individuals who successfully complete CFP Board’s initial and ongoing certification requirements.

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.