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Certified Financial Planner: Definition, How to Become a CFP

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To earn a CFP certification, financial planners must show proficiency in risk management, investment, tax, retirement, income and estate planning.

Certified financial planners are held to a fiduciary standard, meaning they must act in their client's best interests.

On average, it takes between 18 and 24 months to become a CFP and can cost a minimum of $925.

What is a CFP?

A CFP is a certified financial planner, an advisor who possesses one of the most rigorous certifications for financial planning knowledge. They must have several years of experience related to financial planning, pass the CFP exam and adhere to a strict ethical standard as set by the CFP Board of Standards.

Unlike some other types of financial advisors, certified financial planners are held to a fiduciary standard, meaning they are obligated to act in their client's best interests. [0] Certified Financial Planner Board . The Standard of Excellence . Accessed Jul 14, 2022. View all sources

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What does a certified financial planner do?

Financial planners who earn a CFP certification must demonstrate proficiency in risk management, investment, tax, retirement, income and estate planning [0] Certified Financial Planner Board . What You'll Be Tested On . Accessed May 18, 2023. View all sources . This means that they can work with clients to provide comprehensive services across a broad spectrum of financial planning concerns.

CFPs who provide holistic planning can help you to create and maintain a financial plan by determining your financial goals and discussing your current financial situation and appetite for risk. They can also advise on retirement planning, saving for short- and long-term goals, choosing investments and tackling debt.

Feeling overwhelmed? If thinking about money is stressful, it may help to talk with a financial therapist .

Some CFPs specialize in a certain area, such as divorce or retirement planning, while others tend to work with specific clients, such as small-business owners or retirees. Because of this, it’s helpful to have an idea of the services you need before you choose a CFP.

There are more than 97,000 CFPs in the U.S. The board reports that 23.7% of CFPs are women, 4.1% of CFPs are Asian or Pacific Islander, 3% are Hispanic, and 1.9% are Black [0] Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards . CFP® PROFESSIONAL DEMOGRAPHICS . Accessed Nov 21, 2023. View all sources . The CFP Board is working to serve more people by both recruiting more women and people of color, as well as educating current CFPs on the diverse needs of consumers.

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How to gain CFP certification

On average, it takes between 18 and 24 months to become a CFP and can cost a minimum of $925 if you already have an undergraduate degree and can bypass the coursework requirement.

Candidates who don't hold existing financial designations typically also need to fulfill an experience requirement, which can take from 24 to 36 months to complete. Here’s what else you'll need to do:

1. Complete the education requirement

The CFP Board requires completion of specific coursework on financial planning and a bachelor’s degree or higher. Applicants have up to five years from the date they pass the exam to receive their bachelor’s degree. Those who have completed related courses in the past — or who already hold certain types of professional credentials or designations — may be eligible to skip the CFP Board–mandated coursework. [0] Certified Financial Planner Board . Eligibility . Accessed May 18, 2023. View all sources

2. Pass the exam

The exam consists of 170 multiple-choice questions to be completed in a total of six hours. According to the CFP Board, an average of 67% of first-time exam-takers passed in 2023. [0] Certified Financial Planner Board . Exam Statistics: Historical Stats . Accessed Oct 16, 2023. View all sources

3. Gain professional experience

To meet the experience requirement, prospective CFPs need to complete either 6,000 hours of professional experience related to financial planning or 4,000 hours of apprenticeship that meets additional requirements. These hours can be completed either within 10 years before taking the exam and/or within five years after passing it.

4. Adhere to the ethical standard

The final steps of becoming a CFP are to sign the Ethics Declaration, in which you commit to acting as a fiduciary for your clients, and pass a background check conducted by the CFP Board.

How much does working with a CFP cost?

Not everyone needs help with their finances, but for those who do, having a CFP in your corner can be invaluable. If you aren't sure how to organize your finances, navigate investing or balance your financial priorities, a CFP can help.

The 2023 Kitces Report on financial planning found that CFPs charge, on average, $2,125 to $3,657 for a comprehensive financial plan, and $250 for hourly services [0] The Kitces Report . How Financial Planners Actually Do Financial Planning (2023) . Accessed Oct 16, 2023. View all sources . And while there is no set fee that CFPs charge, it’s usually more than what a non-certified advisor might charge.

Online fiduciary financial advisors, some of which offer access to CFPs, typically charge a small percentage of your assets under management, often between 0.3% and 1%. (Read more about how much a financial advisor costs .)

» Want to work with a local advisor? Find a financial advisor near you

How do I find a certified financial planner near me?

The CFP Board offers a directory of all its certified CFPs, which makes it easy to find an in-person advisor in your area [0] Certified Financial Planner Board . Find a CFP® Professional . Accessed Jul 14, 2022. View all sources . This site also allows you to check a CFP’s certification status and check for any instances of disciplinary action. Some online financial planning services offer virtual access to CFPs for less than what an in-person advisor charges.

What is the difference between a CFP and a CFA?

The various designations financial advisors hold can cause some confusion. More often than not, a financial advisor who is a CFP will be able to help you with your financial planning needs, but other advisors may be able to better assist you in certain areas, such as tax planning. Some advisors even have multiple designations, making them more competitive within their field.

Here are a few common designations an advisor can have.

Chartered financial analyst: CFAs specialize in investment analysis and portfolio management. While CFPs typically help individual clients with their financial planning, CFAs often serve as financial advisors for corporations.

Certified public accountant: CPAs are a bit more distinct from some of the other financial advisory certifications. The CPA certification is common among tax preparers and accountants (even though CPA has the word "accountant" in it, not all accountants have CPA certifications). If your financial advisor has a CPA, they may be able to help you optimize your tax situation.

Chartered financial consultant: While ChFCs are less common than CFPs, the two certifications require similar coursework, and recipients of each are likely headed down the same career path: financial advisory and planning services. ChFCs may have more training in modern financial planning topics, such as behavioral finance, planning for same-sex couples and planning after a divorce, but CFPs have more stringent academic and examination requirements.

What is the difference between a CFP and a financial advisor?

The main difference between a CFP and a financial advisor is that CFPs hold a certification that ensures they have several years of experience and are held to a fiduciary standard. The term financial advisor, on the other hand, does not necessarily denote a specific credential. It's an umbrella term that refers generally to the many different types of financial advisors.

Remember, if you have any doubts about your advisor’s CFP status, you can check their status on the CFP Board website.

It's also important to consider how exactly your advisor is getting paid. This is determined in part by whether they are a fee-only advisor or a fee-based advisor.

Fee-only vs. fee-based financial advisor

Fee-only advisors are solely paid by their clients, creating fewer opportunities for conflicts of interest.

Fee-based advisors can receive a commission on products they sell, which can sometimes create those conflicts, such as suggesting a worse product over a better one because they would receive a commission.

Bound by their fiduciary duty, CFPs have to put their clients’ needs first regardless of their fee structure (though it’s always a good idea to ask any advisor, CFP or not, what their fee structure is).

On a similar note...

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The 15 Top-Ranked Instructor-Led Online Certificate Programs for the CFP Exam

John Kador , Katie Tschida | May 05, 2021

In 2020, the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards accredited 68 online certificate programs that meet its educational requirements. Which CFP programs have the best track records and provide the most value? WealthManagement.com decided to find out .

With the coronavirus raging, many campus-based educational programs have been disrupted. Not so with the distance learning programs. Demand for these offerings has soared.

Related: The Top 15 Online Certificate Programs for the CFP Exam

In response, we present the first qualitative ranking of the nation’s online CFP programs. (This ranking is limited to online, instructor-led programs. In a previous article, we evaluated degree-granting on-campus programs for financial planning .) There are two conventional paths for completing the educational requirements to sit for the CFP examination. One calls for enrolling in a college or university accredited by the CFP Board, passing a minimum of six courses covering the core topics in financial planning and demonstrating proficiency in integrating all the lessons by completing a capstone course. This path appeals to traditional students exploring career-entry points into financial services as they earn their undergraduate or graduate degrees.

The other route, favored by working practitioners with some years of experience, is an instructor-led, online certificate program tightly focused on preparing individuals to pass the CFP exam. (Our ranking did not consider courses of study featuring online, self-paced learning without access to instructors.)

Related: The Top Colleges for Financial Planning

Compared with their on-campus counterparts, online CFP programs take far less time and money and are far more flexible for working professionals who may also have family obligations to juggle.

Curriculum and Delivery

Our research found that most of the certificate programs are, by design, similar in curriculum and delivery. The CFP Board mandates the core curriculum. A number of schools partner with Dalton Education, whose faculty teach the interactive courses that fulfill the CFP requirements.

Some public universities offer their financial planning certification education through The Great Plains Interactive Distance Education Alliance, a consortium that provides flexible and affordable online degree and certificate programs. One advantage of this approach is that students can complete the curriculum through any of the participating universities. Other schools deliver their programs through a mix of full-time faculty and adjuncts. In our ranking, we paid close attention to the percentage of financial planning faculty who had themselves earned the CFP certification.

The industry is dominated by the College for Financial Planning, the creator of the CFP designation. Since 1972, the College for Financial Planning, now affiliated with Kaplan Financial Education, has graduated more CFP professionals than all other programs combined. Out of the 55,000 or so testers who have sat for the CFP national examination since the test’s reformulation in 2012, over 18,000 were trained by the College for Financial Planning. The college must appear at the top of any rational list of certificate programs for financial planning.

Given that everyone has a different budget, timetable or preferred style of learning, the decision on which program to select becomes a very personal choice. The data in these rankings represent the first attempt to tease out the important differences between the programs to help each prospective student make the most-informed decision possible. Through their websites, all the programs offer prospective students information about costs, time to completion, curriculum, faculty and other benefits. For example, a number of schools offer variations on a no-cost repeat of the program if a student fails the CFP, or a money-back guarantee. All of the programs are laserfocused on preparing students to pass the exam.

CFP coursework can be completed as part of a stand-alone certificate program or an accredited degree program. For this study, we considered the 68 online instructor-led preparation programs accredited by the CFP Board. (See Figure 1.)

The CFP Board also accredits 29 self-study programs online, as well as 252 classroom/online blended programs. We did not evaluate the self-study programs, and we previously ranked the classroom programs here. Most programs offer a traditional track that guides students to certification in 9, 12, 18 or 24 months. (See Figure 2.) Many programs offer a fast-track option for those who want to accelerate the process.

Methodology

To rank the online programs, we surveyed the 68 online college courses accredited by the CFP Board. A total of 25 programs (37%) submitted completed responses by the deadline. The lower-than-desired response rate may be due to the pressures educational institutions are facing given the disruptions of the coronavirus. Ideally, a ranking like this would be based on measures starting with verified pass-fail rates on the CFP exam. Unfortunately, the CFP Board declined to provide WealthManagement.com with pass-fail rates by program or to verify self-reported pass-fail rates. Unobtainable, also, are other logical output measures (job placements, investment returns, starting salaries or assets under management after five years). As a result, this survey, like almost all educational rankings, considers inputs that are believed to serve as reasonable proxies for excellence.

WealthManagement.com ranked the certificate programs on a weighted average based on the following indicators: Expected Time to Completion; Minimum Number of Courses Requirement; Fulltime Equivalents (FTEs); Percent of Faculty with Earned CFP; Retention Rate; Graduation Rate; Number of CFP Completions (over two years); Pass Rate for the CFP Exam; and whether the program offered a Dedicated Ethics Course and access to Evaluations by Previous Students. The raw data used to calculate scores were self-reported by the surveyed programs.

The weighted scores were totaled and the corresponding programs ranked highest to lowest. The programs with the 15 highest scores are presented in order.

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Knowledge Hub+

Elevate your expertise with 60+ hours of CFP Board approved CE from 35+ leading experts!

Elevate your expertise with 60+ hours of CFP Board approved CE from 35+ leading experts!   Learn More

Certification Education Program

Financial professionals aiming to pass the CFP® exam the first time.

Study the curriculum at your own pace, engage through virtual office hours, and receive support from the nation’s preeminent financial planning thought leaders. Learn About Personal Pathway . ®

100% Virtual

Starting at   $925/course 

Seven-course package available for $5,195

Have Questions? We Can Help!

Provide us with a few details and an Admissions Advisor will get back to you as soon as possible.

Experience Our Program

Practical Knowledge, Proven Results

Hear from our successful alum H. Adam Holt, CFP ® , ChFC ® , CEO and Founder of Asset-Map Holdings, and get a behind the scenes look at our CFP ® Certification Education Program.

Our Program at a Glance

Admissions Requirements

There are no prerequisite courses required to begin the CFP ® Certification Education Program other than a high school diploma or equivalent.

To receive the CFP ® certification, you must:  1. Successfully complete the seven required courses  2. Pass the CFP ® exam  3. Hold either 6,000 hours of professional experience as a financial advisor or 4,000 hours of apprenticeship experience  4. Receive a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university

Continuing Education (CE) credit is required to maintain the CFP ® mark, as well as agreeing to the CFP Board’s ethics pledge. For more information, see the CFP Board’s website .

Tuition & Scholarships

Program tuition can be paid on a per-course basis, or packaged together at a reduced rate. Tuition covers your course fees, final exam, and course materials, including:

• Downloadable content for easy following
• Video lectures and expert interviews
• Practice exams and assessment questions

Individual course: $925 Case-study course (HS 333): $1,130 Alternative path capstone program - CFP® exam with accelerated path: $1,130 3-Course Package (HS 333 & 347 excluded): $2,495 7-Course Package: $5,195 CFP® Dalton Guarantee to Pass (CP 120): $2,295 CFP® Dalton Review (CP 121): $1,495 7-Course Package + CFP® Dalton Review: $6,195

Scholarship opportunities are available for those who qualify, learn more here .

What You'll Learn

The College’s CFP ® Certification Education Program is uniquely positioned with the academic rigor of an accredited institution, an all-virtual experience with the personal touch of a real live classroom setting, and a level of interactivity and engagement that sets it apart from other e-learning, self-study programs.

Your learning outcomes include knowledge on:

• Financial planning roles and responsibilities
• Income taxation and principles of investments
• Retirement and estate planning strategies
• Planning principles for insurance needs
• Latest concepts in behavioral finance

Course Delivery

Study the seven-course curriculum at your own pace, engage through virtual office hours, and receive support from the nation’s preeminent thought leaders and our academic advising team.

Our best-in-class program features:

• An extensive review of core competencies covered on the CFP ® exam
• A focus on behavioral finance , an area of growing importance
• Expert instruction delivered by preeminent thought leaders and researchers
• Modern e-learning through our Personal Pathway ® learning model to improve interaction and retention
• Higher pass rates above the national average 1

What Your Peers Say

Say The College’s CFP ® Certification Education Program was a worthwhile career investment. 2

Attribute The College’s CFP ® Certification Education Program with improving their ability to meet client needs. 2

Pass the CFP® exam the first time - beating the national benchmark. 3

Our CFP ® Certification Education Program is Right for You If:

You Want to Pass Your Exam the First Time

Learn, Retain, and Become a CFP ® Professional

According to the CFP Board, over 3-in-10 first-time takers fail the exam. And nearly half fall short on another attempt. Pick a program with a proven success rate. 3

You Seek Behavioral Finance Knowledge

Learn from the Industry’s Foremost Leaders

Our program features behavioral finance insights from some of the industry’s most regarded experts. Prepare yourself on this topic of growing importance to support client service and business growth.

You’re Looking for a Flexible Experience

You Shape Your Path as a Busy Professional

Our Personal Pathway ® model lets you learn at your own pace, offers virtual resources whenever and wherever you are and provides live and on-demand access to instructors.

Inside Our Program

Courses to Complete

Typical Completion Time

HS 300 Fundamentals of Financial Planning

Provides an overview of the financial planning process.

Upon completion of this course, you’ll be able to:

• Demonstrate an understanding of and apply the steps of the financial planning process
• Differentiate between various communication techniques used by advisors
• Utilize the various financial planning approaches to provide actionable recommendations
• Review personal financial statements and perform financial statement analysis
• Build a foundation in quantitative techniques and basic economic concepts
• Apply education planning and funding techniques to help clients achieve their goals
• Review and apply the ethics of personal financial planning within various frameworks

HS 311 Fundamentals of Insurance Planning

Focuses on the role of planning for risk management needs.

• Demonstrate an understanding of the basic concepts and principles of risk management
• Compare and contrast the different health insurance options available
• Differentiate among the various types of life insurance
• Discuss principles of disability income insurance, long-term care, and annuities
• Identify the sources and uses of homeowners, property, and liability insurance
• Identify sources of identity theft and utilize debt management techniques
• Demonstrate an understanding of social insurance programs like Social Security

HS 321 Fundamentals of Income Taxation

Examines the federal income tax system with particular emphasis on the taxation of individuals.

• Demonstrate an understanding of federal income taxation
• Compare taxation of income generated from personal and investment activities
• Explain the taxation of income and expenses generated from different activities
• Understand and apply the fundamentals of deductions against adjusted gross income
• Identify different types of tax credits and tax deductions
• Demonstrate an understanding of how basis is determined
• Identify the tax advantages that certain types of business assets receive
• Explain how provisions in the tax code allow for tax avoidance and tax deferral
• Explain the complexities of the passive activity loss rules and alternative minimum tax
• Compare and contrast the tax consequences of distributions from business entities

HS 326 Planning for Retirement Needs

Focuses on helping businesses and individuals plan for retirement.

• Analyze the factors affecting retirement planning
• Understand the fundamental principles of qualified plans
• Compare and contrast the various types of qualified pension plans
• Compare and contrast profit sharing plans, stock bonus plans, and ESOPs
• Understand the tax treatment of distributions from qualified plans
• Describe the steps involved to manage a qualified plan
• Discuss the advantages, limitations, and taxation of IRAs and SEPs
• Compare and contrast SIMPLE, 403(b), and 457 retirement plans
• Discuss the taxation of nonqualified plans and Social Security claiming strategies
• Compare and contrast employee fringe and group benefits

HS 328 Investments

Learn about the principles of investments and their application to financial planning.

• Understand the institutional framework surrounding investments
• Measure investment returns using various methodologies
• Apply the modern portfolio theory framework to the task of managing portfolios
• Evaluate portfolio performance using attribution and ratio analysis
• Understand how fixed income securities function
• Compare and contrast the various types of equity securities 
• Evaluate the factors that can affect the performance expectations of equity securities
• Identify the features of valuing securities using absolute and relative valuation models
• Identify the features of investment companies and evaluate fund selection techniques
• Compare and contrast the features of derivative securities

HS 330 Fundamentals of Estate Planning

Covers various aspects of estate and gift tax planning processes.

• Identify the steps in the estate planning and probate processes
• Identify and describe the basic estate planning documents
• Compare and contrast the most common types of property titling
• Understand and apply the fundamentals of the gift tax system
• Identify and classify different trust arrangements
• Understand and apply the fundamentals of the generation-skipping transfer tax system
• Compare and contrast advanced charitable planning strategies
• Understand and apply the fundamentals of the estate tax
• Demonstrate the advantages of using life insurance in estate planning

HS 333 Personal Financial Planning: Comprehensive Case Analysis

Applies students' knowledge and skill set in personal financial planning techniques to a comprehensive case study.

• Bring together elements from all of the previous foundation courses to synthesize and apply knowledge of the financial planning process, insurance, taxation, investments, retirement, and estate planning through the delivery of a comprehensive financial plan

My educational experience with the CFP ® Certification Education Program was excellent. The coursework was informative, the resources were extremely helpful, and thanks to the in-depth reviews, I was able to pass my exam on the first attempt.

Darren Mullenix, CFP ® , ChFC ®

The knowledge from The American College of Financial Services is incredible, and it has definitely elevated me in the eyes of my clients. The education speaks for itself.

Adam Saubel

CFP ® , ChFC ® , CLU ® , RICP ® , ChSNC ® , CAP ® , CLTC ®

The CFP ® mark and the coursework I completed at The College have been unrivaled in impact, not only for my professional credibility but also my deeper knowledge and awareness of the questions and challenges people face when making financial decisions.

H. Adam Holt

CFP ® Certification Education: See Where We Stand

Save time with a quick view of how our CFP ® Certification Education Program stacks up against comparable programs.

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Learn from the Leaders in Financial Planning Today

Chet R. Bennetts

CFP®, ChFC®, CLU®, RICP®, CLF®

Assistant Professor, Financial Planning, Larry R. Pike Chair for Insurance and Investments, and Program Director, ChFC® and CFP® Certification Education Programs

Michael Finke

Professor of Wealth Management, WMCP® Program Director, Director for the Granum Center for Financial Security, Frank M. Engle Distinguished Chair in Economic Security

Steve Parrish

JD, RICP®, CLU®, ChFC®, AEP®

Professor of Practice and a Scholar in Residence at the Cary M. Maguire Center for Ethics in Financial Services

Thomas M. Brinker, Jr.

JD, LLM, PFS/CPA, AEP®, ChFC®

Adjunct Professor of Taxation and Special Needs Planning ChSNC® Program Director

Sophia Duffy

JD, CPA, AEP®

Associate Professor of Business Planning

Cydney F. Albert

MBA, MS, CPCU

Adjunct Professor of Insurance Planning

Christopher Coles

Adjunct Professor

Zipporah Evania

CFP®, CLU®, ChFC®, CASL®, CAP®, RICP®, CLTC®, WMCP®

Adjunct Professor of Retirement Planning

MBA, CLU®, ChFC®, RICP®, CPCU®

Adjunct Professor of Taxation and Insurance

James Karthaus

CFP®, CLU®, ChFC®, MA

Assistant Professor of Financial Planning, CFP® Certification Education and ChFC® Programs

Mark McLennon

JD, CLU®, ChFC®, CFP®, CPA/PFS

Assistant Professor of Tax and Estate Planning, Clark/Bardes Chair in Retirement Planning and Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation

Kimberly Turner

PhD, MSFS, CFP®, ChFC®, CLU®, CAP®, AEP®, CLTC®

Adjunct Professor of Financial Planning

Audrey Snell

MBA, CFP®, ChFC®, RICP®

Assistant Professor, Academics

Steven H. Steidinger

MBA, FLMI®, CFP®, CLU®, ChFC®, CASL®, RICP®

Adjunct Professor, ChFC® Program

Andrew M. Zumwalt

Adjunct Professor of Taxation

Barry Feigenbaum

MA, MBA, RICP®, CFEI®

Adjunct Faculty

There’s Even More to Explore

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CFP ® Certification Education Program FAQs

What requirements are needed to begin courses?

You only need a high school diploma or the equivalent to begin the program. However,  you must meet all necessary requirements of the CFP Board to be awarded and use the certification.

How much time will I have to complete a course?

You will have 10 weeks to complete all required course requirements. Upon completion of the coursework, a four-week exam window opens for you to schedule, prepare and take the exam.

How do the CFP ® and ChFC ® Programs compare?

Studying in the Chartered Financial Consultant ® (ChFC ® ) and CFP ® Certification Education Programs with The College lets you work toward two prestigious professional achievements simultaneously – saving you time and money to maximize your knowledge ROI. The programs share a common core curriculum with the structure and flexibility of our Personal Pathway ® learning experience to allow you to choose your path to success. You can learn more about the benefits of taking both programs here.

Should I take a CFP ® exam review?

While The College’s CFP ® Certification Education will prepare you in many ways for the CFP ® exam, it is generally recommended that you seek additional exam review courses to be properly prepared. Exam review courses will not only cover the materials, knowledge, and principles to be included in the exam, but will walk you through testing strategies, dynamics, question format, and other information critical to success.

While The College doesn’t offer its own exam review courses, we partner with Dalton Education to offer exam review programs such as The Dalton Review TM through the enrollment above.

For more information on CFP® Dalton Review (CP 121) or CFP® Dalton Guaranteed to Pass™ (CP 120), please call 877-426-2373 or visit www.dalton-education.com . 

For pricing, please visit our Tuition & Fees page .

What is the difference between the CLU ® , ChFC ® , and CFP ® Certification Education Programs?

While The College’s CLU®, ChFC®, and CFP® Certification Education Programs offer different educational outcomes and areas of specialization, shared courses make it easy to grow in expertise and work toward completing multiple programs at once. The three programs share several common core courses, and all electives available in the CLU® Program are also part of the CFP® Certification Education Program and ChFC® Program. By earning the CLU® designation, you are six courses away from earning your ChFC® and five courses away from completing the CFP® Certification Education Program. Use this comparison chart to learn more about how you can expand your opportunities most efficiently.

Take the Next Step

With our CFP ® Certification Education Program, you’ll gain a broader base of knowledge, deepen your client relationships, earn more, and offer unmatched financial planning expertise.

1 CFP Board of Standards. 2022.

2 The American College of Financial Services Designation Outcomes Study. 2017.

3 CFP Board. March 2022 Current Exam Cumulative Results. 11/2023.

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CFP Cost | Full Details: CFP Exam Certification Cost & Annual Fees

Intro: What Is CFP? And What are CFP Costs and Fees?

Certified Financial Planner (CFP) is a designation or certification granted to financial planners by the CFP Board in the U.S. Through this article, we aim to review the various aspects of CFP Costs. 

Depending on your circumstances, you will incur a few or all of the following costs in order to become a Certified Financial Planner:

• CFP course fees
• CFP exam cost
• CFP certification cost
• CFP annual fee

The course fees and exam costs are pretty self-explanatory. But what is the cost to be certified, and what are the requirements? To be certified as a CFP, you must fulfill the following criteria:

As part of the education requirement, the board requires you to finish a course that has been registered with them. The CFP course fees differ depending on the university you attend.

In this article, we will provide a comparison of the costs of CFP programs offered by different universities in the U.S. for your reference. You can search for a suitable program through the CFP Board’s website , too.

You must also hold at least a bachelor’s degree, though you are allowed to finish the degree after you pass the exam. It must be done within five years of passing the exam.

Image Source: CFP Cost

To fulfill the experience requirement, you must either have three years of experience showcasing a good understanding and competent knowledge of financial planning or two years of experience as an apprentice.

The criterion for professional experience is again divided into two parts that need to be met individually. The experience must also be met within five years of passing the exam. The apprenticeship criterion is divided into three parts that need to be fulfilled separately.

More details about experience requirements can be found on the CFP website .

The exam lasts seven hours in total. Yes, seven hours! After the first three hours, you will get a 40-minute break. Then you will do the next three hours of your exam. For more details and updates, you can check the board’s website .

The exam mainly has multiple choice questions with case studies for each section.  The results of the exam are said to be published in about four weeks from the close of the test window.

Once you are certified, you can enjoy an above-average annual salary: this article on Investopedia states that $102,000 is the average CFP salary in the U.S. as of in 2015. However, bear in mind that the pay will vary depending on where you work and how long you have been in the field.

See Also: Top Project Management Keywords You Must Have on Your Resume

CFP Course Fees

The CFP certification cost includes the cost of the CFP Program and the cost of the CFP exam. First, let’s look at how you can choose the right program to achieve your certification. There are many CFP courses you could choose and many universities that offer such programs.

According to the board , you must consider the following questions before you choose your program.

• What is your level of education?
• How long does it take to finish the course?
• Is it online or written?
• Does the program offer internships?
• What are the CFP course fees and what all do they include?

Below we provide details of 10 of the universities that offer courses that are registered with the board. 

This data was obtained from Financial-Planning.com’s 30 Great Schools for Financial Planning .

If you are interested in doing your program online, here is a list of universities you could try (again, these do not include the CFP Exam costs).

We obtained the above data from Compare CFP .

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CFP Exam Cost and Details

Like we have mentioned earlier, the CFP Certification cost includes your CFP course fees and your CFP exam fees. The cost of the CFP exam depends on when you apply for it. The usual CFP exam cost is $695 .

However, you can apply up to six weeks before the date. If you do that, your cost would be $595 . If you apply during the last two weeks before the date, then your CFP exam fees would come up to $795 .

The exam has 170 multiple choice questions in total. You can also change your answers and make corrections within the time frame of the exam. It is a computer-based exam. Paper and pencil exams are no longer provided.

Candidates are required to fix a 7-hour appointment. The seven hours include your exam and the time required to verify your IDs and other required procedures. According to the website, the current exam period is July 26 to July 30, and the final period in 2016 will be from November 15 to November 19.

Again, if you cannot appear for the exam on your fixed date, you will not get a refund of your CFP exam fees. Only under medical emergencies may you get a refund, and even that requires documents as proof. You can check the board’s FAQ page for more details on this.

You are allowed to change your date and venue in advance though. If you do it a month before, you can do it free of charge. From 29 days to five days before the exam, you will need to pay an additional $100 for this. You cannot change venues or dates less than five days before your exam.

You are able to attempt CFP exam up to five times in total. If you fail for one exam, you must wait till the next testing window to appear for it again.

Below are the details of the CFP exam costs.

Related: How to Become a Financial Advisor

Gaining Experience

The CFP cost does not include experience. This is the third requirement that needs to be met along with your exam and education. You must either work or be an apprentice to gain this experience.

According to Financial Samurai , if you fulfill any of the following, you can directly take the exam:

• If you have a CPA License
• If you are an Attorney
• If you have a Ph.D. in Economics or Business
• If you are a Doctor of Business Administration
• If you are a CFA
• If you are a CLU
• If you are a Chartered Financial Consultant

In these situations, you would only need to pay the CFP exam cost. If you do not fall into one of the above categories, your options are work experience or apprenticeship.

If you are working, then you need three years of full-time experience or 6,000 hours of experience. This means that you are allowed to work part-time, provided you gain the said hours of experience.

Experience that you gained more than 10 years before you take the exam is not counted. At the same time, experience gained five years after your exam is not valid either. The board also says that the work you do must involve direct support or actual performance of financial planning work to a client.

It is not necessary that you get paid for this; you just need to be providing the service as a qualified professional financial planner.

As an apprentice, you must have 4,000 hours or two years’ experience. Even here you must have provided the financial planning service directly to a client. The difference is that here it should be under the supervision of a professional financial planner.

Once you submit your experience details for verification, it may take up to 20 working days for it to be processed.

Popular Article: How to Become a Mortgage Broker (Completed Guide: Requirements, Income, Broker Licence…)

CFP Cost Calculation

You may need to opt for a bachelor’s degree if you don’t have one already, though a simple certification would be enough to qualify you to appear for the exam. In this, case you would not incur much expense.

 The CFP certification costs, as we have seen above, range between $2,000 to $6,000. Therefore adding the CFP exam fees, your total expenditure would be less than $10,000 in order to get certified.

In addition, you can get exempted from a few units if you have been to classes that cover topics listed as part of the CFP exam. For this, you will have to provide a course description and syllabus along with a $100 fee to the board.

You will then only have to cover the units that you did not do in your previous course. This will help reduce your CFP course fees to an extent, too.

Other Expenses

After all three requirements are met, you must complete the following steps:

• Complete the CFP Certification Application
• Provide the application fee
• Provide the initial certification fee (after the initial fee, this simply becomes part of the CFP annual fee)

The application fee comes up to $125 and the certification fee is calculated based on the $325 CFP annual fee. All these steps should be complete within six months of completing your experience requirement. More details are available in the CFP board’s website .

To sum up, here is a table showing the breakup of the total CFP cost, including the CFP course fees, the CFP exam cost, and the CFP certification cost. The course fees are estimated based on the details of universities we have provided in this article. These may vary if you choose one that is not mentioned here.

Again, if you have taken your exam before completing the education requirement, you must complete it by the verification deadline. If you do not, then you will be charged an additional $100 as a withdrawal fee, and your seat will be provided to another candidate.

Those are all the details you will need to become a Certified Financial Planner. For more details and to apply for the exam, you must visit the CFP Board website . Good luck in your financial planning career!

Read More: How To Roll Over 401k – Everything You Need to Know! (Should I Rollover My 401K & Advice)

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CFP Exam: How to Become a Certified Financial Planner

If you’re considering a career in finance, financial planning may be an ideal career path as it offers a great work life balance, decent salary with interesting, client-focused analytical work. It’s a big growth area too, with global demand for financial planning expected to grow faster than average in the next 5 years.

In essence, financial planners are advisors who will look at the ‘big picture’ of your finances, understand your life goals, then use their expertise (in budgeting, taxes, pensions and investments) to create a financial roadmap to achieve those goals.

One way to start a financial planning career is via the globally recognized Certified Financial Planner (CFP) certification, which is currently available in 26 countries worldwide.

Although this article focuses mainly on the CFP certification in United States, global data are included whenever possible, with a summary at the end for countries outside US.

Let’s take a look!

What is CFP certification?

Certified Financial Planner (CFP) is a global professional certification specializing in financial planning. It is offered by the CFP Board in the US, and Financial Planning Standards Board (FPSB) covers outside the US (currently 27 countries).

The first CFP exam was held in 1973. Since then, hundreds of thousands of candidates worldwide have registered for the program. There are currently more than 223,000+ CFP professionals globally, mainly in the Americas and Asia Pacific regions.

Overall, there is strong global demand for the CFP certification – CFP professionals have grown by an average of 4.3% per year since 2018.

However, the growth is quite fragmented and concentrated in a few countries. Here are the top 14 countries with the more than 2,000 CFP professionals in 2022:

And here are the top 6 countries with the highest growth in number of CFP professionals vs last year:

While CFP is targeted at those interested in the financial planning industry, the range of jobs within that industry is quite broad. CFP professionals work in a broad range of jobs, such as personal financial planners, client service advisor, wealth management advisor, financial analyst, investment manager or portfolio manager.

For those who prefer a less client-facing role, there are plenty of options to work in investments, operations, research and analysis to support their client’s financial needs too.

CFP exam details, summarized

The CFP certification consists of a one-part computer-based examination with 170 multiple choice questions over 6 hours:

• The exam itself is split into 2 sections, each containing 85 questions lasting 3 hours long. There is a 40 minutes scheduled break between 2 sections.
• The exam includes stand-alone and scenario-based questions, as well as questions associated with case studies. You can check out 10 CFP sample questions here .

In the US, the CFP exam is offered three times per year: March, July and November. Test topics include the financial planning process and principles, tax planning, income and retirement planning, estate planning, risk management and insurance.

The exams are computer-based, administered either in-person at test centres or remotely proctored.

Only the following CFP-approved calculators can be used in the exam:

• Hewlett Packard 10b, 10bII, 10bII+, 17bII+, HP12C, HP12C Platinum ;
• Texas Instruments BA II Plus, BA II Plus Professional , BA II Plus (Business Analyst);
• Sharp EL-733, EL-733a

In terms of study hours, candidates typically spend 200-250 hours preparing for the CFP exam. This is in addition to the coursework requirement, which typically takes 12-18 months to complete.

Unlike other professional designations such as CFA , FRM or CAIA , CFP candidates do receive their preliminary results immediately after completing the exam. Official results are sent via email approximately 4 weeks following the close of the testing window. The result is simply a pass or fail, but only candidates who fail are provided with a diagnostic report to better understand their topic strengths and weaknesses relative to a peer group.

Since 2012, there are limits placed on the number of attempts of CFP exam:

• 5 attempts maximum in a lifetime;
• 3 maximum attempts within a 2 year period. If a person fails 3 times within 2 years, the next attempt can only be occur after 3 exam administration has passed.

CFP pass rates since 2016 vs candidate volume (US only)

In the US, the latest March 2024 CFP exam pass rates is 68%.

The CFP exam began using a new exam blueprint in March 2016, and therefore pre-2016 exam performances are no longer comparable as they were based upon a different exam blueprint and minimum passing score.

Thus, since 2016, CFP pass rates are relatively stable between the ranges of 56%-66%, averaging 63% in the last 8 years.

We can also see that candidate numbers are gaining traction again since end of 2021, probably reflecting a combination of candidate growth and postponed candidates due to the pandemic.

CFP exam topics and weights

In the US, 2022’s CFP exams are based on 8 principal knowledge topics, which also serves as a framework for CFP Board’s coursework requirement and continuing education (CE) credits.

It contains a broad range of topics from ethics, regulation, finance concepts, risk management, insurance and financial planning strategies to full equip CFP candidates with practical, application-focused financial planning knowledge. The CFP exam focuses more on problem-solving and application, rather than recalling facts.

Here’s a quick summary of the latest CFP exam topic weights:

What are the CFP requirements?

In order to obtain the CFP qualification, here are the following requirements for the US market (aptly named “4 E’s”):

To maintain your CFP certification, you’ll need to do these (in order):

• complete 30 hours of continuing education (CE) every 2 years, which includes 2 hours of an approved Ethics CE course;
• submit an annual renewal application to confirm adherence to CFP Board’s Code of Ethics and Standards of Conduct;
• pay an annual certification fee.

CFP exemptions

You can get your CFP certification faster via an Accelerated Pathway through bypassing the coursework requirement, if you have one of the following advance degrees or professional designations:

• Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA)
• Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
• Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC)
• Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU)
• US Licensed Attorney
• Doctor of Business Administration
• PhD in Financial Planning, Finance, Business Administration or Economics
• CFP certification from outside the US (from the Financial Planning Standards Board, FPSB)

If you have one of the above additional qualifications, you’ll still need to do the following to qualify for your CFP mark:

• Submit your credential documentation to the CFP Board for the Accelerated Pathway;
• Instead of the regular coursework requirement, you’ll need to complete the Capstone course (a financial plan development course) if you currently don’t meet the CFP experience requirements, otherwise do the Capstone Alternative course.
• The other CFP requirements such as passing the CFP exam itself, meeting the education and experience requirements, plus ethics background check still apply.

CFP certification cost

The total cost for becoming a Certified Financial Planner varies widely depending on:

• your education background (whether you have a Bachelor’s degree, or have CFP coursework exemptions),
• choice of review course and study materials, if using third party prep provider such as Kaplan

Other than that, the CFP exam costs itself are quite straightforward, as there is just one exam, unlike the CFA Program . CFP exam registration fee varies between $825-$1,025 depending how early you register:

CFP exam retake fees are the same as the registration fees. There is a maximum lifetime attempt of 5 times for the CFP exam. There’s also a maximum of 3 attempts within a 2 year period, which if occurred, candidates are required to take 1 year break before reattempting again (if still within the 5 times lifetime limit).

Upon meeting all the CFP requirements, applying for the Certified Financial Planner title requires:

• An application fee of $200
• A certification fee for your initial certification period (prorated amount of the standard $355 annual certification fee)

Once certified, there are also 30 hours continuing education (CE) requirements every 2 years.

CFP exam dates & registration deadlines

The CFP exam is offered 3 times a year in March, July and November over an 8-day window. The computer-based exams are offered in-person at Prometric centers or remotely via ProProctor .

Although it is possible to register for CFP exam prior to completing the education coursework requirement, this must be completed by the Education Verification Deadline (see table below) to be eligible to sit for the exam. Otherwise, a $500 postponement fee applies.

Here are the key CFP exam dates and deadlines for the upcoming exam windows:

Benefits of CFP certification

The CFP qualification is increasingly recognized globally as a global benchmark in personal financial planning and advisory.

Earning the Certified Financial Planner mark can be a key differentiator, signally your competency and ethics, giving your clients a peace of mind that you’ll act in their best interest on their financial planning journey.

Once you are a Certified Financial Planner professional, you can expect to:

• Boost your financial planning credentials to potential employers or clients.
• Have a competitive edge over other non-CFP financial advisors, due to increased trust from clients (89% higher on average in the US).
• Achieve higher compensation compared to other non-CFP financial advisors (26% on average in the US).
• Broaden your career options in financial planning and wealth management sectors, whether it is becoming a financial planner, client service advisor, wealth management advisor, financial analyst, investment manager or portfolio manager.
• Broaden your employer options: whether it is working for a large bank, credit union, a nationwide wire house, a small independent firm, or even starting your own practice.

CFP vs CFA – Which is right for you?

In essence, evaluating whether CFA or CFP is better for you depends on your career objectives. CFP is more geared towards personal financial and investment planning, whereas the CFA charter specializes more into financial analysis, investment valuation and portfolio management.

That said, there are some nuances here, hence this popular question of CFP vs CFA has a separate article in itself. We compare these 2 qualifications in detail, looking at syllabus, difficulty, career objectives and more. Find out more here .

Summary of CFP organizations outside the US

As mentioned earlier, Financial Planning Standards Board (FPSB) manages the CFP certification outside of US via its affiliate organizations in 26 countries.

Outside the US, CFP requirements are very similar to United States’, although there are minor differences tailored to local laws and requirements. Hence it is best to check out the exact CFP requirements and whether exemptions are available in your country directly below:

Hope the above helps in your evaluation of the CFP qualification, and how to become a Certified Financial Planner. Got questions? Let us know below.

Meanwhile, you may find these related articles of interest:

• Chartered SRI Counselor: Our Useful Guide to Sustainable, Responsible and Impact Investing for Financial Planners
• 2024 Asset Management Outlook: 4 Important Trends That Affect Future Jobs
• CFA vs CFP: Which is Better For Me?

4 thoughts on “CFP Exam: How to Become a Certified Financial Planner”

Can we apply for CFP in US with a 3 year bachelor’s degree from India.

I would have liked to see more information on compensation for cfps. The only thing you mention is decent salary.

Hi, if my country is not listed above (Mexico), which process should I follow?

Hi Jimena, it depends which country you want to have your CFP license in. Mexico currently is not on the list but FPSB is expanding all the time. For example, you could be based in Mexico but choose to hold your CFP license covering US or Columbia. Best to email [email protected] directly to explore your options as they have the latest info.

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CFP Certificate Program | Northwestern SPS - Northwestern School of Professional Studies

• Post-baccalaureate
• Undergraduate
• Professional Development
• Pre-College
• Center for Public Safety
• Get Information

Program Overview

Certified financial planner™ certification education program.

The Northwestern University CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Certification Education Program   offers  CFP-Board-approved courses to prepare students to pass the   CFP® Exam .   We have designed each of our classes to meet your needs, whether you are a career changer or longtime planning professional .   Students who pass all required courses and satisfy the CFP Board’s   education requirement   will have their successful program completion reported to the CFP Board.   They will also receive a certificate of completion from Northwestern University, one of the world’s top universities, which they can proudly display on their wall and share with their clients.  

Register here    

About CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Certification Education

Is financial planning the right career for you, on-campus program: weeknight, online programs: instructor led and self-paced, cfp® exam review, cfp® certification education program courses, cfp® certification education program faculty, cfp® certification education program tuition and financial aid, cfp® professional career options, find out more about northwestern's cfp® certification education program, contact sps enrollment advisers, cfp® certification education program core courses.

Hear from CFP ® professionals about their career paths and the rewards of being a Certified Financial Planner ™ practitioner.

Faculty Insights

The CFP certification will bring students recognition as a credible expert, but the most important lesson they need to learn is how to develop trust with their clients. Once trust has been established, a judgment-free, mutually beneficial long-term relationship can exist.”

The weeknight program offers a skills-based approach, with assessments designed to simulate the daily life of a successful planner. Our instructors worked closely with the CFP Board to design this new curriculum.

Frequency and Location

Once a week on our Chicago campus (Wieboldt Hall, 339 E Chicago Avenue), plus some online assignments.

Time to Completion

As little as 14 months when students take concurrent classes. (Due to the course workload of this program, taking more than two courses per term is not recommended.)

Required Courses

• Introduction to Financial Planning
• Insurance Planning
• Investment Planning
• Income Tax Planning
• Retirement Planning and Employee Benefits
• Estate Planning
• Financial Plan Development and Presentation

Program Schedule

Courses are held according to the posted schedule, but may be subject to change.

* NOTE: The Financial Plan Development and Presentation (Capstone) course is only offered during the spring and fall terms. Please plan your schedule with this in mind.

Best option for:

• Career changers
• Students who like meeting their instructor and peers in person
• Professionals of all levels who want a more traditional learning experience

"Live" courses meet twice weekly; self-paced are on your own time.  All courses are  online .

Approximately nine months 

• Introduction to Financial Planning and Insurance Planning
• Professionals who have worked as a financial advisor or planner
• Students who want the option to take classes from anywhere "on the go"
• People comfortable with technology and those that are highly self-motivated

Northwestern University School of Professional Studies has selected The Dalton Review ® as the exclusive review for our CFP ® certification education programs. The Dalton Review provides students with a high quality curriculum and is led by outstanding faculty. To learn more, visit our CFP® Exam Review page.

Courses range from introductory to specific areas of focus. Explore all of them on the  CFP® Certification Education Program Courses page for detail on the program's offerings.

Instructors for this program have a range of expertise, specializations and work experience. Read about their qualifications on our  CFP® Certification Education Program Faculty  page.

Complete details about tuition can be found on the CFP® Certification Education Program Tuition and Financial Aid  page.

Read more on the CFP® Professional Career Options page.

SPS Enrollment Advisers  at Northwestern University School of Professional Studies can be a resource to you for inquiries regarding our certificate programs. 

--> Core Courses: Course Detail This course will introduce you to the profession of Financial Planning and the personal Financial Planning Process. This is the first course in the series of classes which will qualify you to sit for the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ exam. Through assigned readings, lectures, class discussions, problem sets, and an experiential learning project, you will gain an overview of the financial planning profession and obtain the knowledge necessary to define the scope of the financial planner/client relationship, identify and gather client financial data and goals, and begin to analyze and evaluate the client’s financial needs. You will expand your understanding of the role of the financial planner, including the fiduciary nature of the advisor/client relationship. Emphasis will be placed on the regulatory agencies that govern our profession, ethical standards, budgeting, case study, various special situations, financial statement creation, importance of client relationships, and the time value of money. Registered students can access their online course site . An activated NetID and password is required for login. *Please note: It may take up to 24-hours for registered students to be added to the online course platform. This course will help students to identify the types of risk client’s face, and to evaluate various methods of mitigating that risk. Contingency planning is an important element of the financial planning process. We will discuss how to make recommendations to manage ongoing risk when planning for the future. Students will also learn to analyze clients’ insurance needs and determine the type and amount of insurance best suited to each client's situation. Students will understand what is necessary for clients regarding life, property, liability, homeowner's and personal-auto insurance. Students will also learn the relevant issues related to different types of insurance, including, life, property and casualty, medical, disability, and long-term care insurance. Registered students can access their online course site . An activated NetID and password is required for login. *Please note: It may take up to 24-hours for registered students to be added to the online course platform. This course surveys the wide variety of investment vehicles that can be included in a client's investment portfolio, introducing risk-return criteria as a means of evaluating alternatives. The broad spectrum of investments is explored, ranging from guaranteed- and fixed-income products to derivatives and private placements. An emphasis on the client is the overriding theme for the course, beginning with the client needs assessment as it relates to risk tolerance, return requirements and liquidity needs. Techniques for selection, timing, measurement and diversification of investments are studied in detail. Different strategies and valuation models are used to understand fundamental investment principles. Modern portfolio theory, risk management, market strategies, efficient market theory, and asset allocation and diversification are introduced. Retirement planning and employee benefits will be discussed, as will relevant ethical considerations. Students analyze expected return characteristics individually and in combination within a hypothetical portfolio. Specific investment types discussed include stocks and bonds, mutual funds, insurance-based investments, options and futures contracts, foreign investments, real estate, tangible assets, and other debt and equity securities. Other topics include tax considerations, economic factors, the portfolio construction and management process, portfolio performance evaluation methods, market analysis, hedging and option strategies, and formula investing. The course also discusses government regulation of securities and markets. Registered students can access their online course site . An activated NetID and password is required for login. *Please note: It may take up to 24-hours for registered students to be added to the online course platform. This course provides an overview of the federal income tax system, examining the income taxation of individuals, sole proprietorships, partnerships, LLCs and corporations. Students will begin with taxation terminology and then learn about the concepts of gross income and deductions for profit-making activities, personal deductions and tax planning for the family, tax benefits of home ownership, planning for the acquisition and deposition of other real estate, and how the choice of business entity affects the taxes of owners and employees. The course will focus on how financial planners advise clients about the most effective methods of maximizing wealth by reducing their tax burden through an examination of a variety of tax issues-including tax law, accounting methods, tax planning related to employee compensation, research and practitioner concerns, cost-recovery methods, consequences of like-kind exchanges and tax-advantage investments. Alternative minimum tax (AMT), self-employment tax, ethical considerations, potential traps and pitfalls, and the consequences and effects of IRS audits and enforcement activities also will be discussed. Registered students can access their online course site . An activated NetID and password is required for login. *Please note: It may take up to 24-hours for registered students to be added to the online course platform. This course covers all aspects of retirement planning and employee benefits, beginning with the presentation of tax-deferred retirement program options and the framework used to conduct a needs analysis for achieving retirement income goals. Key features of qualified retirement plan design are discussed, emphasizing the advantages and disadvantages of specific types of plans for the owners of small- to medium-sized businesses. Assumptions and projections of lifestyle, inflation, returns and life expectancy are critical when considering retirement needs. An understanding of cash flow, income sources, medical expenses and benefits must go into the calculations. Employee compensation has changed significantly in recent years, so it is essential that financial planners grasp how to coordinate employer-sponsored benefits within a plan. All of these issues are addressed in detail, as are how to avoid inappropriate investments and how to present recommended courses of action to clients. Additional relevant topics highlighted in this course include commonly provided non-pension employee benefits, such as disability, healthcare and group life insurance. Students will discuss the uses of life and disability insurance in planning for closely held businesses, as well as for the family. Childcare, Medicare and other dependent-care benefits are considered. Federal social security, cafeteria plans, stock options and stock purchase plans, transportation issues, and forms of non-qualified deferred compensation are included, as well. Registered students can access their online course site . An activated NetID and password is required for login. *Please note: It may take up to 24-hours for registered students to be added to the online course platform. Planning and managing federal estate and gift taxation is one of the most overlooked yet critical elements of a financial plan. Part of this process involves understanding the perspectives of the many parties involved and their related concerns; that is, the perspectives of descendants, fiduciaries, estates, trust beneficiaries, donors and recipients. This course examines the important estate-planning issues from all of these perspectives. Beginning with the fundamentals of federal estate and gift taxation, the process of developing an estate plan is presented through a discussion of a variety of mechanisms - such as incapacity planning, qualified interest trusts, generation skipping, estate planning weaknesses, property ownership forms, intestacy and will substitutes, how to satisfy liquidity needs, and specific exclusion and valuation techniques that reduce the size of the gross estate. There are many facets to proper estate planning, and this course will touch on all of the essential elements necessary for consideration by the financial planner. Charitable, intrafamilial, postmortem and business-transfer planning techniques that play an important part in estate planning are addressed, and additional focus is placed on the implications of gifts and bequests, including lifetime gifting and coordination of the unified credit with marital deduction. Other issues include tax consequences of estate planning techniques, revocable and irrevocable trusts (including bypass and marital deduction trusts), life insurance, federal estate tax, probate and more. Registered students can access their online course site . An activated NetID and password is required for login. *Please note: It may take up to 24-hours for registered students to be added to the online course platform. FN_EXTND 320-0 This course will lead you through the steps in developing a complete financial plan. You will learn what goes into a financial plan, participate in mock client interviews to learn proper interview techniques, read and analyze case studies of other plans, and develop and present your own financial plan to the class and a panel of experts. This course may only be completed as the final course in the program. Registered students can access their online course site . An activated NetID and password is required for login. *Please note: It may take up to 24-hours for registered students to be added to the online course platform. Certified Financial Planner (CFP) Written by True Tamplin, BSc, CEPF® Reviewed by subject matter experts. Updated on March 15, 2024 Get Any Financial Question Answered Table of contents, what is a certified financial planner (cfp). A Certified Financial Planner (CFP) is a professional with an official designation issued by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards (CFP Board). It is often considered one of the most highly regarded certifications that financial professionals can attain. The qualifications to achieve this designation are stringent. Applicants must meet the minimum education requirements, possess the necessary experience, pass the required examination and undergo a background check. Once the certification has been issued, it has to be maintained through a series of continuing education sessions. Holders of this designation must also uphold ethical practices to remain in good standing with the CFPB. CFPs often collaborate with clients to define their financial objectives and develop a strategy to achieve them. They may assist in making financial decisions and provide advice on investments , retirement accounts, and other financial matters. An essential quality of a CFP is their fiduciary obligation, which morally requires them to provide advice that is always in their customers' best interests. Duties of a Certified Financial Planner Certified Financial Planners assist clients in understanding their financial situations, defining their objectives, and developing realistic strategies to achieve them. This process requires CFPs to talk to customers about their situations, such as dealing with debt, saving money, and budgeting for themselves and their families. CFPs may also examine investment options, advice on estate planning concerns and make suggestions regarding insurance and retirement savings plans. Some CFPs also offer tax planning strategies and information, but they typically do not handle tax return obligations. On the other hand, Certified Financial Planners working with corporations may analyze and give advice on cash flow, predicted revenue, debt management, and employee benefits, among other matters. Aside from the technical aspect of their work, acquiring new customers is also an important activity for CFPs. This frequently requires marketing their services and networking with other seasoned experts. How Much Does a Certified Financial Planner Cost? Below are some of the fee structures that CFPs usually implement: Assets Under Management (AUM) Some CFPs charge based on a percentage of the assets they are managing for their clients. Usually, this ranges from below 1% and can reach up to 2%. To illustrate, if a CFP charges a 1% assets under management fee annually and a client has $1,000,000 worth of assets being managed for them, they will have to pay $10,000 a year. Some CFPs have a tiered pay structure which means they will charge a lesser percentage for clients with higher asset values. Under a fee-only payment structure, some Certified Financial Planners may charge an hourly rate. This can be between $100 to $400 for casual consultations. Other CFPs will charge a monthly or project-based fee. In these cases, clients may have to pay $1,000 to $3000 for projects, regardless of the duration. Commissions CFPs may also receive commissions from selling financial products like insurance or investments. These commissions might be incorporated into the product's price. A fee-based structure allows CFPs to earn both commissions and fees. They may charge an hourly rate, a project fee, or an annual retainer fee and receive commissions from selling financial products. How to Find a Certified Financial Planner Before you search for a Certified Financial Planner, you must clearly understand the services you are looking for to select someone who specializes in the areas you need support with. Once you have clarified your needs, you can start searching internet databases to find a CFP. The Financial Planning Association (FPA) is one reliable database that you may use to locate a nearby financial planner that can assist you. Another common way to discover a Certified Financial Planner is to ask friends, family, and coworkers for recommendations. This pre-filters your candidates since they have a proven track record with people you trust. Whether you found your prospects online or through personal recommendations, it is always good to verify if your potential CFP is still in good standing with the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards by visiting their website . When you are ready to make your selection, be sure to choose someone you feel comfortable discussing your finances with and whom you can trust to put your best interests first. How to Become a Certified Financial Planner If you are interested in becoming a Certified Financial Planner, there are several requirements you must meet. Minimum Education Two separate educational qualifications are required to become a Certified Financial Planner. The first is having a bachelor's degree in any discipline from a recognized institution or university. The second requirement is the completion of a financial planning curriculum offered by a CFP Board-registered program. Accelerated Path Some individuals may be able to bypass the financial planning curriculum requirement, accelerating their path to certification. Usually, these are professionals who already possess credentials in related disciplines. These professionals include Certified Public Accountants (CPAs), Chartered Financial Consultants (ChFCs), Chartered Life Underwriters (CLUs), and Chartered Financial Analysts (CFAs). This option is also extended to individuals with doctoral degrees in business or economics or an attorney's license. Experience can be earned either before or after taking the CFP examination. To fulfill this requirement, a candidate must complete 6,000 hours of relevant professional experience or 4,000 hours of apprenticeship work. Certified Financial Planners must adhere to the highest ethical standards. Thus, candidates must disclose sensitive information about bankruptcies, criminal activity, or conflicts with past employers during the application process. Candidates declare the information on the ethics declaration form, which will be the basis for the background check conducted by the CFP Board. Candidates must pass the CFP exam, which measures their ability to use financial planning knowledge in real-world scenarios. This comprehensive examination guarantees that passers can create a complete financial strategy for their customers. The exam is conducted over two 3-hour sessions over one day. It is composed of 170 multiple-choice questions covering eight principal financial knowledge topics. Continuing Education CFPs must complete 30 hours of continuing education (CE) every two years to maintain their certification. This requirement is composed of 2 hours on a CFP Board-approved Ethics discussion and 28 hours focused on a CFP Board principal topic. The CE requirement takes effect immediately upon first certification or 12 months after passing the CFP test if the experience or degree criteria are not yet satisfied. CFP vs Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Certified Financial Planners and Chartered Financial Analysts are some of the most well-known designations finance professionals can earn. Below are some of their fundamental differences. Professional Roles A CFP helps individuals and families save for retirement, manage financial goals, and plan for significant life events. They provide guidance on various financial topics, including insurance and estate planning. In contrast, a CFA is a professional who works with institutions by conducting investment analysis and making recommendations to grow their portfolios. They also work with institutions during mergers and acquisitions . Qualifications Candidates for the CFA designation must have at least a bachelor's degree, undergo four years of eligible work experience, and pass three exams covering four major topics. CFP candidates must also have at least a bachelor's degree. However, they also need to complete an accredited financial planning program. Furthermore, they must pass the CFP certification exam covering eight principal financial knowledge topics. Finally, CFPs should achieve the required hours of qualified experience and adhere to the CFP code of ethics . Salary and Fees Financial professionals with the title of CFA earn an average annual salary of around $126,000 to $177,000. In terms of AUM fees, they can charge from below 1% to 2% annually. They may also charge about $100 to $400 in hourly fees or a fixed fee of around $1,000 to $3,000. In contrast, the average annual salaries of CFPs can range from $43,000 to $120,000. As for AUM , hourly and fixed fees, CFPs often charge clients along the same range as CFAs. Final Thoughts A Certified Financial Planner is a finance professional with an official designation issued by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. They work with clients to set their financial objectives and develop a strategy to achieve them. They also help make financial decisions and provide advice on investments and other financial matters. CFPs have a fiduciary obligation, which morally requires them to always act in their customers' best interests. They also possess a very in-depth understanding of financial planning. Educational qualifications, rigorous exams, thousands of hours of financial experience, and adherence to ethical standards must be satisfied before an individual can earn a CFP title. Additionally, they need to have continuing education to maintain their designation. If you are interested in hiring a Certified Financial Planner, you must begin by clearly understanding the services you are looking for. This will help you select someone who specializes in the areas you need support with. Once you have clarified your needs, you can start searching internet databases to find a CFP or ask for recommendations from friends, family, or colleagues. Whether you found your prospect online or through personal recommendations, it is always good to verify if your potential CFP is in good standing with the CFP Board. You can also interview some of your candidates to ask for further details about their services and fees. When you are ready to make your selection, be sure to choose someone you feel comfortable discussing your finances with and whom you can trust to put your best interests first. Certified Financial Planner (CFP) FAQs What is a certified financial planner. A Certified Financial Planner is a professional with an official designation issued by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. They work with clients to set their financial objectives and develop a strategy to achieve them. When do you need a Certified Financial Planner? Working with a Certified Financial Planner is a good idea before any significant life changes, like buying a house, as they can help you avoid potential pitfalls down the road. You can also consider hiring a CFP if you have significant assets that need to be managed. Are all financial planners also financial advisors? Certified Financial Planners are financial advisors who have been granted the CFP designation by the CFP Board. Therefore, all Certified Financial Planners are also financial advisors. However, not all financial advisors possess the Certified Financial Planner designation. What fees do Certified Financial Planners charge? Certified Financial Planners typically charge AUM-based fees at an average of below 1% up to 2% annually, fixed hourly fees of $100 to $400, or fixed project fees of $1,000 to $3,000. They also earn from commissions and fee-based structures. What is the difference between Certified Financial Planner and Chartered Financial Analyst? Certified Financial Planners help individuals and families save for retirement, manage financial goals, and plan for significant life events. In contrast, Chartered Financial Analysts work with institutions on investment analysis and portfolio management. About the Author True Tamplin, BSc, CEPF® True Tamplin is a published author, public speaker, CEO of UpDigital, and founder of Finance Strategists. True is a Certified Educator in Personal Finance (CEPF®), author of The Handy Financial Ratios Guide , a member of the Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing, contributes to his financial education site, Finance Strategists, and has spoken to various financial communities such as the CFA Institute, as well as university students like his Alma mater, Biola University , where he received a bachelor of science in business and data analytics. To learn more about True, visit his personal website or view his author profiles on Amazon , Nasdaq and Forbes . Related Topics Accredited Estate Planner (AEP) Accredited Financial Counselor Accredited Investment Fiduciary Accredited Wealth Management Advisor (AWMA) CIMA vs CFA Certification for Long-Term Care (CLTC) Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA) Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) Certified Kingdom Advisor (CKA) Certified Management Accountant (CMA) Certified Personal Risk Manager (CPRM) Certified Private Wealth Advisor (CPWA) Certified Risk Manager (CRM) Chartered Accountant vs Certified Public Accountant Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC) Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA) Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC) Chartered Retirement Plans Specialist (CRPS) Enrolled Agent (EA) Financial Paraplanner Qualified Professional (FPQP) Financial Planning Designations Investment Management Designations National Social Security Advisor (NSSA) Personal Financial Specialist (PFS) Qualified Retirement Plan Consultant (QRPC) Registered Financial Consultant (RFC) Retirement Management Analyst (RMA) Retirement Plan Investment Advisor (RPIA) Ask a Financial Professional Any Question Meet top certified financial advisors near you, our recommended advisors. Taylor Kovar, CFP® WHY WE RECOMMEND: Fee-Only Financial Advisor Show explanation Certified financial planner™, 3x investopedia top 100 advisor, author of the 5 money personalities & keynote speaker. IDEAL CLIENTS: Business Owners, Executives & Medical Professionals Strategic Planning, Alternative Investments, Stock Options & Wealth Preservation Claudia Valladares Bilingual in english / spanish, founder of wisedollarmom.com, quoted in gobanking rates, yahoo finance & forbes. Retirees, Immigrants & Sudden Wealth / Inheritance Retirement Planning, Personal finance, Goals-based Planning & Community Impact We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Fact Checked At Finance Strategists, we partner with financial experts to ensure the accuracy of our financial content. 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Our goal is to deliver the most understandable and comprehensive explanations of financial topics using simple writing complemented by helpful graphics and animation videos. Our writing and editorial staff are a team of experts holding advanced financial designations and have written for most major financial media publications. Our work has been directly cited by organizations including Entrepreneur, Business Insider, Investopedia, Forbes, CNBC, and many others. Our mission is to empower readers with the most factual and reliable financial information possible to help them make informed decisions for their individual needs. How It Works Step 1 of 3, ask any financial question. Ask a question about your financial situation providing as much detail as possible. Your information is kept secure and not shared unless you specify. Step 2 of 3 Our team will connect you with a vetted, trusted professional. Someone on our team will connect you with a financial professional in our network holding the correct designation and expertise. Step 3 of 3 Get your questions answered and book a free call if necessary. A financial professional will offer guidance based on the information provided and offer a no-obligation call to better understand your situation. Where Should We Send Your Answer? Just a Few More Details We need just a bit more info from you to direct your question to the right person. Tell Us More About Yourself Is there any other context you can provide. Pro tip: Professionals are more likely to answer questions when background and context is given. The more details you provide, the faster and more thorough reply you'll receive. What is your age? Are you married, do you own your home. Owned outright Owned with a mortgage Do you have any children under 18? 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Submit to get your retirement-readiness report., get in touch with, great the financial professional will get back to you soon., where should we send the downloadable file, great hit “submit” and an advisor will send you the guide shortly., create a free account and ask any financial question, learn at your own pace with our free courses. Take self-paced courses to master the fundamentals of finance and connect with like-minded individuals. Get Started Hey, did we answer your financial question. We want to make sure that all of our readers get their questions answered. Great, Want to Test Your Knowledge of This Lesson? Create an Account to Test Your Knowledge of This Topic and Thousands of Others. Get Your Question Answered by a Financial Professional Create a free account and submit your question. We'll make sure a financial professional gets back to you shortly. To Ensure One Vote Per Person, Please Include the Following Info Great thank you for voting.. Election 2024 Entertainment Newsletters Photography Personal Finance AP Investigations AP Buyline Personal Finance AP Buyline Shopping Press Releases Israel-Hamas War Russia-Ukraine War Global elections Asia Pacific Latin America Middle East Election Results Delegate Tracker AP & Elections Auto Racing 2024 Paris Olympic Games Movie reviews Book reviews Personal finance Financial Markets Business Highlights Financial wellness Artificial Intelligence Social Media In the rough: Felony convictions could cost Trump liquor licenses at 3 New Jersey golf courses FILE - Former President Donald Trump greets supporters and sign autographs during the final round of the Bedminster Invitational LIV Golf tournament at his golf course in Bedminster, N.J., Aug. 13, 2023. On Monday, June 10, 2024, the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office said it is looking into whether the former president’s 34 felony convictions in a New York case might affect his continued ability to hold liquor licenses for this three New Jersey golf courses. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File) Copy Link copied ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) — New Jersey’s attorney general’s office is looking into whether Donald Trump’s recent felony convictions in New York make him ineligible to hold liquor licenses at his three New Jersey golf courses. A spokeswoman for the office said Monday that it is reviewing whether Trump’s conviction on 34 felony counts involving payment of hush money to a porn star and falsifying business records in an attempt to hide it should impact the former president’s continued ability to hold liquor licenses. State law prohibits anyone from holding a liquor licenses who has been convicted of a crime “involving moral turpitude.” The New Jersey Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control, which is part of the attorney general’s office, “is reviewing the impact of President Trump’s conviction on the above referenced licenses, and declines further comment at this time,” a spokeswoman for the office said in an email Monday. Part of what goes into that calculation is a requirement that “a person must have a reputable character and would be expected to operate the licensed business in a reputable manner,’' according to the division. Its handbook goes into further detail, saying, “the term `moral turpitude’ denotes a serious crime from the viewpoint of society in general and usually contains elements of dishonesty, fraud or depravity.” Trump owns golf courses in Bedminster, Colts Neck and Pine Hill in New Jersey, each of which has an active liquor license. He no longer owns any casinos in Atlantic City, where his former company, Trump Entertainment Resorts, once operated three. Messages left Monday with Trump’s presidential campaign, as well as with The Trump Organization, the former president’s company, were not immediately returned. Trump is scheduled to be sentenced in the New York case on July 11, shortly before he is to receive the Republican nomination for president in the November general election. How to Become a CFP ® Professional With personal financial advising projected to be one of the top fastest growing occupations, getting your CFP ® mark can help set you apart in the industry. Let’s take a look at what a CFP ® professional is and what it takes to earn the financial planning certification. Key Highlights To become a CFP ® professional you will need to posses relevant professional experience including a bachelors degree. You will also need to complete a CFP® Board Registered Education Program and pass the CFP ®  exam. After passing the exam, you'll need to agree to adhere to the CFP Board's Ethical Standards and pass a background check. TABLE OF CONTENTS About CFP ® Professionals Requirements How to Study Tips for Passing Certification Renewal Process What is a CFP ® Professional? A CFP ® professional works with clients to create comprehensive plans for meeting their long-term financial goals, such as retirement, college tuition, business start-up, a home, and so on. The U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Outlook Handbook  predicts 15 percent job growth in the financial advising field through 2031, making it an excellent career option for young financial professionals. Many CFP ®  professionals work in large financial or insurance firms, although some choose to have their own businesses. To become one, you have to meet certain requirements.  According to a recent College for Financial Planning report , 82% of CFP ® professionals are more satisfied with their financial planning career after earning their CFP ® mark.* What Does a Certified Financial Planner Do? A Certified Financial Planner spends a lot of time meeting with clients to discuss their financial goals. Some of their roles and responsibilities including analyzing their clients financial situations, and crafting personalized plans for them.  One key responsibility CFP ® professionals have is to act as a fiduciary, meaning they are legally obligated to prioritize the client's best interests over all else. CFP ® Requirements - How To Become a CFP ® To become a CFP ®  professional, you must complete these five general steps: Step 1: Complete a CFP Board Registered Education Program You can choose from several options for your education. CFP Board must be notified when you’ve completed it. Many of the coursework providers can do that for you. CFP Board Registered Education Program >> Step 2: Sit For the CFP ® Exam You can do this once CFP Board has been notified of your education completion. The CFP ® exam is offered three times a year in March, July, and November. You must take the exam within the 8-day window at one of the approved locations provided by CFP Board. You are permitted to register for the exam before you complete your program, but CFP Board must receive verification of your education completion by the education verification deadline. Step 3: Hold or Earn a Bachelor’s Degree From an Accredited University or College Within Five Years of Passing the CFP ® Exam You can sit for the exam beforehand, but you need to make sure you complete your degree in that 5-year window. Step 4: Demonstrate Financial Planning Experience This can be professional experience (6,000 hours) in relevant personal financial planning activities, or apprenticeship experience (4,000 hours) that meets additional requirements. Step 5: Pass CFP Board’s Candidate Fitness Standards To do this, you must agree to adhere to their ethical standards. You also must disclose any criminal or employment termination history and pass a background check. For more information about the ethics requirement, visit the CFP Board website . Is CFP ® certification right for you? Get a preview of our required education materials in this free download. Does earning a cfp ® certification require a degree. Yes, you need a degree to earn the CFP ® Certification. Part of the CFP ® Certification requirements including obtaining a bachelor’s degree (or higher) from an accredited university. Additionally, practical financial planning experience is also required, equaling 6000 hours. CFP ® Exam Cost There is a standard registration fee for the CFP ® exam and even an early bird rate, which is available for a few months before the standard registration deadline. There’s a late registration fee for several weeks after the standard registration deadline. You can register for the CFP ® exam with CFP Board online or by phone before or after you complete the education program coursework and become eligible for the exam. If you register before you finish the coursework, you must send CFP Board proof of your completed coursework. CFP Board will notify you when your eligibility is confirmed. How to Prepare for the CFP ® Exam The exam is given in a computer-based format and consists of 170 multiple-choice questions that test your financial planning knowledge in client situations. You are given the exam in two 3-hour sessions with a 40-minute scheduled break between the two sessions. Each session includes two subsections and you may take an optional, unscheduled break between the exam subsections. Preparing for the CFP ® exam requires a significant time commitment. While that sounds overwhelming, the time goes pretty quickly between pre-study, required education courses, question bank time, a review class, practice exams, and your own review preparations. A great way to approach preparing for the CFP ® exam is to think of it like training for a marathon. It’s not a situation where you can sprint (or cram). There’s just too much to learn, and you’ll need to be able to apply it to case studies. So, make sure you have the space in your life to dedicate the necessary hours to study. Then, create a strategic study plan . A great way to structure your plan is to mirror the exam weighting, which CFP Board updates based on regular job task analysis. At the same time, you shouldn’t start off by studying the most heavily weighted topics in depth. Instead, learn the basics of each category first. Then, work deeper into the categories based on weight and your familiarity with them, so you can absorb more detail. How Long Should You Study For the CFP® Exam? The recommended study time for the CFP ® exam is typically between 150-250 hours, which translates to roughly 4-6 months of dedicated studying. How to Pass the CFP ® Exam Here are few tips that can help you pass the CFP ® exam. Focus on Learning When You Study The CFP ® exam is all about applying knowledge to real situations you could encounter on the job. The exam content requires the use of critical thinking and problem-solving ability. Therefore, rather than spending all your time on memorizing, you need to work on mastering the material and applying it. Practice Exam Questions The more you practice, the more familiar you will become with how to apply your knowledge. Work with questions that have the same difficulty level as the actual exam to determine if you have truly mastered a particular domain and where you might be making mistakes. You can find practice questions at the end of prep provider chapters, in prep provider bank quizzes, and in practice exams from CFP Board and prep providers. Don’t Cram the Day and Night Before Feverishly going over lists or taking full practice exams can be mentally draining, so avoid them on the day before the exam. Instead, reread some of the wordier areas of the curriculum like ethics. Think about what it could be like to be advising clients in the future and practice answers to the questions they might ask. Then, stop about dinner time, just as if you were already in the office, relax, and have a good meal. Picture Yourself Passing Before a big exam like this, it’s natural to panic and worry about failing. Instead try to visualize yourself answering questions competently and getting a great score. Positive affirmation can go a long way to calm your nerves and put you in the right mindset. CFP ® Certification Renewal Process Once you have your CFP ® certification, as a CFP ® professional each year you will be required to pay an annual certification fee. In addition, every two years, you will be required renewal requirements including submitting a certification application (which includes an ethics declaration) and completing continuing education (CE).   If you do your continuing education credits through Collete for Financial Planning—a Kaplan Company, we’ll submit your completions for you! To view our continuing education offerings for CFP ® certification, please visit our CFP ® certification CE page . You can also learn more about all our CFP ® certification offerings on our CFP ® Education page. Ready to Get Started With Your CFP ® Certification Education? Enroll with College for Financial Planning ® —a Kaplan Company by visiting our website browsing our CFP ® certification offerings or calling a designation specialist at 800.237.9990, Option 2. *This is one of the findings of a quantitative survey conducted by the College for Financial Planning ® —a Kaplan Company between June 27 and August 7, 2023. For this survey, a sample of 951 2022 and 2023 graduates of the College for Financial Planning was interviewed online in English. The sample includes 182 graduates whose most recent professional designation earned was the CFP ® mark and who answered this question. Free eBook: Is CFP® Certification Right for You? Are you considering CFP® certification, but are unsure if you can handle it? Get a sneak peak at the beginning of the College for Financial Planning ® — a Kaplan Company education program to get a feel for whether CFP® certification is the right fit for you. This free eBook will provide you with information about the financial planning process learned in FP 511: General Financial Planning Principles, Professional Conduct, and Regulation. It also includes several analytical problems that will allow you to apply your knowledge to real-life scenarios. Industry Insights SUGGESTED TOPICS The Magazine Newsletters Managing Yourself Managing Teams Work-life Balance The Big Idea Data & Visuals Reading Lists Case Selections HBR Learning Topic Feeds Account Settings Email Preferences Build a Corporate Culture That Works There’s a widespread understanding that managing corporate culture is key to business success. Yet few companies articulate their culture in such a way that the words become an organizational reality that molds employee behavior as intended. All too often a culture is described as a set of anodyne norms, principles, or values, which do not offer decision-makers guidance on how to make difficult choices when faced with conflicting but equally defensible courses of action. The trick to making a desired culture come alive is to debate and articulate it using dilemmas. If you identify the tough dilemmas your employees routinely face and clearly state how they should be resolved—“In this company, when we come across this dilemma, we turn left”—then your desired culture will take root and influence the behavior of the team. To develop a culture that works, follow six rules: Ground your culture in the dilemmas you are likely to confront, dilemma-test your values, communicate your values in colorful terms, hire people who fit, let culture drive strategy, and know when to pull back from a value statement. Start by thinking about the dilemmas your people will face. Idea in Brief The problem. There’s a widespread understanding that managing corporate culture is key to business success. Yet few companies articulate their corporate culture in such a way that the words become an organizational reality that molds employee behavior as intended. What Usually Happens How to fix it. Follow six rules: Ground your culture in the dilemmas you are likely to confront, dilemma-test your values, communicate your values in colorful terms, hire people who fit, let culture drive strategy, and know when to pull back from a value. At the beginning of my career, I worked for the health-care-software specialist HBOC. One day, a woman from human resources came into the cafeteria with a roll of tape and began sticking posters on the walls. They proclaimed in royal blue the company’s values: “Transparency, Respect, Integrity, Honesty.” The next day we received wallet-sized plastic cards with the same words and were asked to memorize them so that we could incorporate them into our actions. The following year, when management was indicted on 17 counts of conspiracy and fraud, we learned what the company’s values really were. EM Erin Meyer is a professor at INSEAD, where she directs the executive education program Leading Across Borders and Cultures. She is the author of The Culture Map: Breaking Through the Invisible Boundaries of Global Business (PublicAffairs, 2014) and coauthor (with Reed Hastings) of No Rules Rules: Netflix and the Culture of Reinvention (Penguin, 2020). ErinMeyerINSEAD Partner Center Amazon.com Conditions of Use Amazon Privacy Policy © 1996- 2024 Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates International sites June 11, 2024 Written by Amazon Staff AWS debuts 2 AI certifications to give you an edge in pursuing in-demand cloud jobs New to Amazon Q? These free training courses can help you get started with AWS’s generative AI assistant. With or without coding skills, it’s easy to get up and running with Amazon's assistant for software development and analytics. We are seeing a lack of expertise to help deploy, maintain, monitor models. An AWS certification that covers these skills would carry value to me as a hiring manager, and I would make this a requirement for my team. AWS Partner AWS Certified AI Practitioner Showcase your understanding of ai/ml concepts and ai technologies.. AWS Certified Machine Learning Engineer – Associate Demonstrate your skills with scaling, deploying, and maintaining ai models.. Free and low-cost training programs to prepare for certifications AWS offers 5 game-based training experiences to power up your cloud skills Research shows that highly interactive, game-based learning leads to better knowledge outcomes. Current Students U.S. Locations UMGC Europe Learn Online Find Answers 855-655-8682 Prepare for Indeed’s Top Jobs of 2024 This year, Indeed.com® 1 released projections for the “ Best Jobs of 2024 ”, specifically including jobs with a salary minimum of $75,000 and ones that offered the flexibility of hybrid or remote work. At University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) , students can earn degrees that help prepare them for some of this year’s in-demand jobs. There are multiple UMGC programs that may help prepare you for these valued positions, so you can select a degree that best matches your interests and goals. 1. Loan Officer (Commercial) A bachelor’s degree in finance could help prepare you for the position of loan officer , who helps people and businesses acquire the proper loan from banks or other lenders. Loan officers incorporate key elements needed in banking, like researching and analyzing clients' financial situation and goals, to make decisions on lending. This program is also designed for students to prepare for industry certifications including the Certified Management Accountant (CMA) and Certified Financial Planner (CFP) exams. Some skills students learn that apply to the job position of loan officer include underwriting, preparing pro-forma financial statements, and assessing risk of an enterprise. “Our courses address assessing risk, utilizing tools for analysis and making strong financial decisions,” says Jim Falter, department chair for accounting, finance, and economics at UMGC. “For instance, our classes thoroughly cover capital budgeting techniques.  This, along with an understanding of financial statements are important elements to the profession.” For students who wish to enhance their expertise and pursue positions such as Chief Financial Officer (CFO), portfolio manager, or investments officer, they could advance their education with a master’s in accounting and financial managemen t or a master’s in management with a finance concentration .  2. Mental Health Therapist This year's list of the 25 best jobs included six jobs related to mental health, which is three times as many as were listed two years ago. A mental health therapist treats patients dealing with behavioral disorders and mental health issues and therapists can specialize in areas like couples and family therapy, grief and trauma, multicultural issues, and more. With a high demand for mental health professionals, the master’s in clinical professional counseling can help students meet the needs of this growing job market. The master’s in clinical professional counseling intentionally prepares learners for careers as mental health therapists. It equips learners with the knowledge, skills, and practical training necessary to provide therapeutic interventions and support for individuals dealing with various mental health issues and life challenges. In this program, students gain the skills needed for this position through a combination of comprehensive coursework, practical experience, and preparation for licensure. “The program equips learners with the skills and knowledge necessary to become ethical, multiculturally competent, and evidence-informed practitioners in the field of professional counseling,” says Phyllis Medina, portfolio director of psychology at UMGC. “Learners hone skills directly applicable to work as mental health therapists, including ethical decision-making, professional communications, assessment and diagnosis, intervention and prevention, crisis counseling, and self-care and advocacy.” Upon completing a master's in clinical professional counseling and fulfilling any additional state-specific licensing requirements, students can pursue licensure such as a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC). With this licensure, graduates are qualified to work as therapists in various settings, including private practice, mental health clinics, hospitals, community agencies, and other healthcare organizations. “Licensing requirements vary by state or country, so those interested in becoming therapists should familiarize themselves with the specific regulations and licensure processes in the location where they plan to practice,” says Medina. For fall 2024, this program is only available to Maryland residents. Additional program admission requirements also apply. 3. Human Resources Manager A human resources (HR) manager is responsible for the administrative and organizational functions of a company. They often perform a wide range of tasks, including recruiting, employee relations, communication, professional development and more. To prepare for the job position of a human resources (HR) manager, students could choose from multiple degrees: bachelor’s in HR management , master’s in management with an HR concentration , and an MBA with a specialization in HR . Each of these degrees provides students with the expertise to assist organizations in human resources and employee relations. The bachelor’s in HR management gives students the opportunity to participate in a program that looks for innovative ways of applying project-based curriculum to the degree. The program is aligned with SHRM’s industry-proven and verified SHRM Body of Applied Skills and Knowledge (SHRM BASK). Skills that students can learn include Human Resource Information System (HRIS) proficiency, employee law and labor relations, talent acquisition, training and development, and organizational change management. “In this program, we look for ways to use case study analysis, and technology that synthesize real-world scenarios, to provide students with creative ways of learning HR management theories while building networks and collaborating with their peers,” says Freda Powell-Bell, portfolio director of human resources at UMGC. “Students will be well prepared to meet the ever-evolving challenges of a diverse workforce and assist their business partners in making workforce decisions that meet the mission and goals of their organizations.” The master’s in management with an HR concentration takes a holistic approach to HR management and provides students with the practical management skills needed not only to advance in the HR field, but to also be successful in their chosen disciplines. In addition to HR-related skills, students can also develop soft skills such as problem-solving, critical thinking, strategic decision-making, communication, interpersonal and organizational skills. “Managing employees has become more complex, and due to external factors more people are leaving the workforce. In addition, employers are faced with new challenges of managing a multigenerational and multiculturally diverse workforce,” says Powell-Bell. “With these dynamics in play, businesses and companies in several industries are looking for HR business partners who are equipped with the skills, knowledge, and abilities to help them navigate these challenging times.” An MBA with an HR specialization may be an ideal degree for HR professionals who wish to broaden their knowledge of business administration beyond their core expertise in HR and position themselves for a senior leadership role. Also, in UMGC’s MBA program, these HR professionals will enhance their knowledge by completing nine credits of coursework in HR topics such as employee and labor relations and managing a global team. “An individual being promoted to the position of Human Resource Manager is likely to be someone who also has a broad understanding of business functions such as finance, marketing and analytics,” says Powell-Bell. “These professionals and their skills within these various fields help enable the HR functions in an organization.” 4. Data Engineer A data engineer builds systems to collect, manage, and convert raw data into usable information so that organizations can use it to evaluate and optimize their performance. Students interested in becoming data engineers could pursue a bachelor’s in data science from UMGC. In this program, students learn how to build and maintain robust data infrastructure, enabling organizations to derive valuable insights from their data. Students have opportunity to gain hands-on experience with data manipulation, data lakes and warehousing technologies, SQL skills and experience with relational and NoSQL databases, big data technologies like Hadoop, Spark, Python programming, managing data infrastructure and services in AWS, and Google cloud. “Data Engineers often encounter challenges related to data quality, performance, and scalability,” says Elena Gortcheva, portfolio director of data analytics at UMGC. “Strong problem-solving skills are crucial for troubleshooting and resolving issues efficiently and are key elements in this program.” Students who wish to advance in their education and career as a data engineer can also earn a master’s in data analytics , which is designed with input from leading employers and prepares professionals with hands-on experience, skills, and knowledge today’s employers need.  “Many of our faculty members are active or former professionals in industry, government, and non-profit organizations and bring their knowledge, experience, and expertise to the classroom,” says Gortcheva. “Students in this program will have the ability to integrate data from disparate sources, including APIs, databases, and file systems, ensuring data consistency and quality.” In both programs, students learn many skills that can directly apply to the job position of data engineer, including coding, data analysis, problem solving, communication, and the development and use of databases and data warehouses, machine learning models, and artificial intelligence applications. 5. Supply Chain Specialist A supply chain specialist manages the day-to-day supply chain operations of an organization, including the transportation and storage of goods between the manufacturer and the consumer, to ensure they are efficiently and effectively achieving the company’s goals. With a master’s in acquisition and contract management , students learn to navigate ongoing demands for the implementation of performance-based contracts and competitive sourcing, skills that can help them succeed as a supply chain specialist. The program is designed for students interested in careers in government and commercial organizations across different industries. “Use of models and tools in this program, such as SCM Globe , provides students with an opportunity to apply their supply chain knowledge in simulated real-world scenarios,” says Rudy Watson, department chair of business management programs at UMGC. “This includes a comprehensive view of supply chain, from planning and material sourcing to unit production and product distribution.” Important skills for this position that students learn in the program include communications, critical thinking, leadership, logistics, reverse logistics, sustainability, and resilience. “The focus of the master’s in acquisition and contract management is to help students gain the skills required for multiple current career opportunities as well as ensuring students are positioned for changes in future job titles and responsibilities,” says Watson. To further prepare students as they enter the job market, UMGC offers current students and alumni easy access to career-related support and resources . Through lifetime career services, students can attend online job fairs, gain career planning tips from advisors, search job and internship listings, and learn how they can make their resume and cover letters stand out to employers. 1 “Indeed” is a registered trademark of Indeed, Inc. Indeed does not endorse UMGC or its programs mentioned in the article. Reference on this webpage to any third-party entity or product does not constitute or imply endorsement by UMGC nor does it constitute or imply endorsement of UMGC by the third party.  Learn More About a Bachelor’s or Master’s at UMGC A UMGC admissions advisor can help you get started. Related Articles By using our website you agree to our use of cookies. Learn more about how we use cookies by reading our  Privacy Policy . 1H 2024 Offshore Wind Market Outlook: Course Correct By Chelsea Jean-Michel, Wind, BloombergNEF Offshore wind additions are set to hit a new high in 2024, as several newer markets including the US, France and Taiwan ramp up build. Recent cost inflation and supply chain constraints have led many developers to refocus portfolios and slow their entry into new markets. This has led to mixed results in recent auctions, despite some governments sweetening contract terms. Offshore wind auctions are set to boom, supporting a strong growth trajectory, and capacity is on track to rise 10-fold by 2040, reaching 742 gigawatts (GW). BNEF expects 18.3GW of offshore wind to achieve commercial operation in 2024, much of it in mainland China, Taiwan, the Netherlands and France. This is a rise from 10.7GW in 2023. Build is on track for 10-fold cumulative growth to 2040, the first time BNEF has extended its offshore wind forecast to this horizon. Mainland China, the UK and the US lead installations. While markets like France, Japan and South Korea awarded offshore wind contracts at record-low prices in the last six months, auctions in the US yielded more expensive projects. As much as 125GW of offshore wind seabed leases and contracts are set to be awarded through the end of 3Q 2025, driving build through the 2030s. After record financing activity last year, new-build deals have stalled so far in 2024. Acquisitions are on track to reach a new record this year, however, as the exchange of projects in earlier development stages boosts purchased capacity. Winning developers in France’s floating tender plan to use 24.5-megawatt machines, despite US and European manufacturers scaling back plans for larger turbines. GE’s abandonment of an 18GW model was a key factor in 4GW of US contract cancellations. Chinese players have continued to push outside their home market, securing orders in South Korea. BNEF clients can access the full report here . About BloombergNEF BloombergNEF (BNEF) is a strategic research provider covering global commodity markets and the disruptive technologies driving the transition to a low-carbon economy. Our expert coverage assesses pathways for the power, transport, industry, buildings and agriculture sectors to adapt to the energy transition. We help commodity trading, corporate strategy, finance and policy professionals navigate change and generate opportunities.   Sign up for our free monthly newsletter → 1H 2024 US Clean Energy Market Outlook: Moving Past 2030 China’s goldwind retains turbine supplier lead, as global wind additions hit new high, according to bloombergnef, offshore wind investment hit all-time high in 2023, tripling global renewables by 2030 is hard, achievable and necessary to achieve net zero, soaring costs stress us offshore wind companies, ruin margins, cost of clean energy technologies drop as expensive debt offset by cooling commodity prices, hydro-québec’s $6 billion new york line on track for 2026 start, aluminum, copper use to shrink in future wind and solar farms. Want to learn how we help our clients put it all together? Contact us 290 IMAGES CFP Course Details The 15 Top-Ranked Online Certificate Programs for the CFP Exam Certified Financial Planner (CFP) CFP Course Details Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) CFP: Certified Financial Planner Course, Exam and more VIDEO Uprising Battlfield 3 4k 60 fps class 12th //विलयन (solutions)//Lecture-6 by- amleshsir Best Maternity Photo Shoot Ever!! TRex costume.wmv "DIRECTORS CHAIR" on SALE in Costco (Exp. 06/09/24) #costco find the profit on cost price if total sales are given COMMENTS CFP Premium Packages CFP ® Certification Education & Exam Prep - Structured Pace Premium. Premium package to sit for July 2025 CFP ® exam (Pay course by course) Important note about course by course packages: While y our subtotal will reflect the total price for the package during checkout, your credit card will only be charged for the first course. 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