CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER®
*The CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, CFP® and federally registered CFP (with flame design) marks (collectively, the “CFP® marks”) are professional certification marks granted in the United States by Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. (“CFP Board”).
The CFP® certification is a voluntary certification; no federal or state law or regulation requires financial planners to hold CFP® certification. It is recognized in the United States and a number of other countries for its (1) high standard of professional education; (2) stringent code of conduct and standards of practice; and (3) ethical requirements that govern professional engagements with clients. Currently, more than 62,000 individuals have obtained CFP® certification in the United States.
To attain the right to use the CFP® marks, an individual must satisfactorily fulfill the following requirements:
- Education – Complete an advanced college-level course of study addressing the financial planning subject areas that CFP Board’s studies have determined as necessary for the competent and professional delivery of financial planning services and attain a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited United States college or university (or its equivalent from a foreign university). CFP Board’s financial planning subject areas include insurance planning and risk management, employee benefits planning, investment planning, income tax planning, retirement planning, and estate planning.
- Examination – Pass the comprehensive CFP® Certification Examination. The examination, administered in 10 hours over a two-day period, includes case studies and client scenarios designed to test one’s ability to correctly diagnose financial planning issues and apply one’s knowledge of financial planning to real world circumstances.
- Experience – Complete at least three years of full-time financial planning-related experience (or the equivalent, measured as 2,000 hours per year); and
- Ethics – Agree to be bound by CFP Board’s Standards of Professional Conduct, a set of documents outlining the ethical and practice standards for CFP® professionals.
- Continuing Education – Complete 30 hours of continuing education hours every two years, including two hours on the Code of Ethics and other parts of the Standards of Professional Conduct, to maintain competence and keep up with developments in the financial planning field; and
- Ethics – Renew an agreement to be bound by the Standards of Professional Conduct. The Standards prominently require that CFP® professionals provide financial planning services at a fiduciary standard of care. This means CFP® professionals must provide financial planning services in the best interests of their clients.
CFP® professionals who fail to comply with the above standards and requirements may be subject to CFP Board’s enforcement process, which could result in suspension or permanent revocation of their CFP® certification.
Certified Kingdom Advisor®
Certified Kingdom Advisor® is a designation granted by Kingdom Advisors®, Inc., a non-profit organization, to individuals who have demonstrated themselves to be:
- Believers in Jesus Christ by pledging agreement with the Kingdom Advisors® statement of faith and providing a personal testimony of accepting Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
- Able to Apply Biblical Wisdom in Counsel by participating in the Certified Kingdom Advisor® Educational Program, as well as 10 hours of annual continuing education, and committing to incorporate biblical principles in their financial advice for clients with a Christian worldview.
- Technically Competent by providing evidence of an approved professional designation (CFP®, ChFC®, CPA, CPA/PFS, EA, CFA, CIMA®, AAMS, CLU®, JD) or having at least 10 years full-time experience in their discipline.
- Ethical and of Integrity by agreeing to espouse and practice the Kingdom Advisors® Code of Ethics and maintain active local church involvement, as well as providing pastoral and client letters of reference. In addition, designees must disclose any compliance or licensing issues since the prior year which are subject to the Kingdom Advisors disciplinary process and procedures.
- Biblical Stewards by pledging that they practice biblical stewardship in their personal and professional life and give regularly in proportion to their income.
Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA®)
The Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA®) credential is for professional advisors who want to effectively engage more business owners. Through the process of Exit Planning (the Value Acceleration Methodology™), owners can build more valuable companies, have stronger personal financial plans, and align their personal goals.
Individuals who hold the CEPA® designation must meet the following requirements: have five years of full-time or equivalent experience working directly with business owners as a financial advisor, attorney, CPA, business broker, investment banker, commercial lender, estate planner, insurance professional, business consultant or in a related capacity; have an undergraduate degree from a qualifying institution or additional professional work experience (two years of relevant professional experience may be substituted for each year of required undergraduate studies); and be an Exit Planning Institute member in good standing. Individuals who hold the CEPA® designation complete a five-day educational program; successfully pass an online, proctored, and closed book final exam; and complete 40 hours of continuing education every three years.