It's Important You Understand Whom You're Working With!
What Is A
CFP®
A Certified Financial Planner (CFP) is a formal recognition of expertise in the areas of financial planning, taxes, insurance, estate planning, and retirement (such as with 401ks).
Owned and awarded by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc., the designation is awarded to individuals who successfully complete the CFP Board's initial exams, then continue ongoing annual education programs to sustain their skills and certification.
CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER®
A financial planner is a professional who helps you organize your finances and projects the results of your savings and investments so you can see how well prepared you are for retirement. They also help you make decisions with your money that will help you reach your financial goals as efficiently as possible.
What Does A CFP®
Do For Me
What Is A
Financial
Advisors
A financial advisor provides financial advice or guidance to customers for compensation.
Financial advisors, or advisers, can provide many different services, such as investment management, tax planning, and estate planning. Increasingly, financial advisors are providing a range of services from portfolio management to insurance products as a one-stop-shop.
Licensed
Professionals
A fee-only financial planner is paid directly by clients for their services, be it a flat fee, hourly rate or a percentage of assets under management. The latter is typically around 1% of a client’s portfolio’s value each year. Their fee-only pay structure means they do not receive commissions or other payments from the providers of financial products they recommend to clients.
What Is A Fee - Only
Financial
Advisor
Fee-only financial advisors act as a “fiduciary,” a term you may hear thrown around; it means they are obligated to put their clients’ interests first. Ask if your financial planner is a registered investment advisor or a certified financial planner — both types are fiduciaries.
Understanding Fee - Only
Financial
Advisor
Financial Professionals Only Work With "Wealthy" Individuals
NO
There are many financial many financial professionals that are more than willing to work with you no matter what stage you're starting from and you'll find them here.
MYTH
BUSTER
What Is A
ChFC®
A Chartered Financial Consultant is a professional designation representing the completion of a comprehensive course consisting of financial education, examinations, and practical experience
Chartered Financial Consultant®
What Is A
CFA®
A chartered financial analyst (CFA) is a globally-recognized professional designation given by the CFA Institute, (formerly the AIMR (Association for Investment Management and Research)), that measures and certifies the competence and integrity of financial analysts. Candidates are required to pass three levels of exams covering areas, such as accounting, economics, ethics, money management, and security analysis.
A Chartered
Financial Analyst®
What Is A
CDFA®
A CDFA is a financial professional who has the requisite test results and experience level to be certified to help people navigate the specific money issues that come up during a divorce.
The Certified Divorce Financial Analyst
Financial Professionals Charge For To Have First Meeting?
NOT Likely
The majority of financial professionals DO NOT charge a fee for their first meeting with clients, but always ask.
MYTH
BUSTER
What Is A
A certified public accountant (CPA) is a designation given by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) to individuals that pass the Uniform CPA Examination and meet the education and experience requirements. The CPA designation helps enforce professional standards in the accounting industry
Licensed
Professionals
CPA
They act as consultants on many issues, including taxes and accounting. A CPA, or Certified Public Accountant, is a trusted financial advisor who helps individuals, businesses, and other organizations plan and reach their financial goals.
What Does A CPA®
Do For Me
What Is A
AWMA®
Individuals who hold the AWMA® designation have completed a course of study encompassing wealth strategies, equity-based compensation plans, tax reduction alternatives, and asset protection alternatives.
Accredited Wealth Management Advisor®
What Is A
CLU®
A CLU is for insurance agents. There is no comprehensive exam, but candidates have to take eight courses administered by the American College of Financial Planning. Chartered life underwriters are experts in life insurance, estate planning and risk management.
Chartered Life Underwriter
An insurance license allows a person to solicit and sell insurance products. The license is issued by the state insurance commissioner in the state where you intend to solicit and sell insurance and is separated into different insurance types, including life and disability, health, auto or worker's compensation.
Insurance
Professionals
Licensed
Professionals
What Is An
What Is An
An estate planning attorney is a type of lawyer who understands how to advise clients on getting their affairs in order to prepare for the possibility of mental disability and eventual death. They have years of mentoring, continuing legal education, and experience.
Estate Planning
Attorney
Licensed
Professionals
What Is A
A tax preparer is a professional that is qualified to calculate, file and sign income tax returns on behalf of individuals and businesses. They can also represent the taxpayer during IRS examinations of tax returns. ... More than half of taxpayers hire a professional tax preparer when it's time to file a tax return.
Tax Professional
Licensed
Professionals
I need to have a lot of wealth and/or money to work with a financial professional?
NO
There are many financial many financial professionals that are more than willing to work with you no matter what stage you're starting from and you'll find them here.
MYTH
BUSTER
What Is A
A financial coach helps their clients with the basics of money management. ... Their goal is to help their clients develop healthy money habits that will last. Financial coaches educate their clients on the basics of personal finance and work with them to create a financial plan that reflects their goals.
Financial
Coach?
Non Investment Licensed Professionals
Do I have the ability to change my financial situation?
YES
Wherever you are in your financial journey, you sit in the drivers seat.
It's important you have the knowledge and support to make the best decisions for your family and we're here to help you do it.
MYTH
BUSTER
Financial coaches do not necessarily need any formal education or training to become coaches, nor do they need to be certified or licensed.
In fact, anyone can become a financial coach if they so choose.
Understanding
Financial Coaches
What Is A
AFC®
Accredited Financial Counselor (AFC) is one of many certifications and designations that financial professionals can earn. The AFC indicates that a professional values sound financial principles and is trained to teach people their worth
Accredited Financial Counselor
What Is A
CPWA®
CPWA® is an advanced professional certification for advisors who serve high-net-worth clients. It's designed for seasoned professionals who seek the latest, most advanced knowledge and techniques to address the sophisticated needs of clients with a minimum net worth of $5 million
Certified Private Wealth Advisor®
What Is A
A tax preparer is a professional that is qualified to calculate, file and sign income tax returns on behalf of individuals and businesses. They can also represent the taxpayer during IRS examinations of tax returns. ... More than half of taxpayers hire a professional tax preparer when it's time to file a tax return.