What Is The College for Financial Planning?

The College for Financial Planning is a degree-granting institution offering various financial certification programs. It provides graduate degree, non-degree and continuing professional education programs for students. Founded in 1972, today it is part of Kaplan Financial and has trained over 165,000 professionals.

Find a financial advisor with the right certifications for your needs.

About the College for Financial Planning

The College for Financial Planning (CFFP) is the creator of many certifications, including the Certified Financial Planner™ (CFP®) certification. It offers instructor-led, web-delivered classes with video lectures, allowing students to learn from home or the office.

CFFP graduates consistently rank among the top financial advisors in the nation. Graduates report increases in earnings, client numbers and job satisfaction. The college receives its accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission, and it is a member of the North Central Association.

Certifications Offered

CFFP offers many types of certifications for professionals at all career levels.

Career Entry

Financial Paraplanner Qualified Professional (FPQP)

This designation is useful for individuals in support roles in financial planning and those without prior experience in the field ¹ . It can set someone apart from the average paraplanner, as the average paraplanner rarely holds formal certification.

The training for this certification is an introduction to financial planning, including insurance, investing, retirement planning and estate planning.

Life Underwriter Training Council Fellow (LUTCF)

This designation was designed for new insurance and financial professionals ² . It focuses on the skills that top insurance agencies identified as the most needed by new agents. 

The program focuses on fundamental prospecting, selling and practice management skills, as well as working knowledge of the practice specialties.

Wealth Management Advisor (WMS)

This program provides financial professionals a substantial overview of the most critical concepts in financial planning and wealth management ³ . It is best for new hires not ready for a more rigorous designation program. Additionally, it benefits more experienced professionals transitioning from product sales into a broader range of services and products. The program is also excellent for sales assistants and support staff, as well as high-level platform personnel.

After receiving the WMS certification, designees can test out of the first course in the CFP certification education program.

Early Career

Accredited Asset Management Specialist (AAMS)

The AAMS is designed for newcomers to financial advising ⁴ . It trains new financial advisors to identify investment opportunities while helping clients with their financial goals. However, it can also help more experienced advisors deepen their understanding of asset management and enhance their credentials. AAMS can advise clients on taxes, college savings and retirement savings.

The coursework and exams for this designation help ensure advisors can assist clients with their complete financial needs.

Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC)

This certification distinguishes retirement professionals and financial advisors as experts in helping clients plan for retirement⁵ 5 . Those with the CRPC designation must complete a course of study. This encompasses pre- and post-retirement needs, estate planning and asset management. It also examines the complete retirement planning process using models and techniques from real client situations.

Because of this, CRPC designees are experts in all things retirement. They have proven their skill in many areas within retirement planning. They include investing, Social Security, retirement accounts, estate planning, taxes and even the emotional aspects of the transition into retirement.

Chartered Retirement Plans Specialist (CRPS)

This certification is designed for financial professionals who create, implement and maintain business retirement plans ⁶ . This designation focuses on wholesale and business clients, taking a problem-solving approach that is both case study-based and client-centered.

The course of study covers types and characteristics of company-sponsored retirement plans. It also reviews the complexities of setting up and running such a plan. Candidates for the CRPS course must master a wide variety of retirement plans. These include SEP, SIMPLE, 401(k) and defined benefit plans. 

Mid Career

Accredited Portfolio Management Advisor (APMA)

APMA is a graduate-level designation program for experienced financial professionals. The coursework covers the finer points of portfolio creation, augmentation and maintenance.

It covers topics useful for building appropriate client portfolios. This can include client assessment and suitability, risk/return and investment objectives. Students practice building portfolios, analyzing investment policy statements and making asset allocation decisions within a client’s portfolio.

Accredited Wealth Management Advisor (AWMA) 

This designation is for experienced advisors working with high-net-worth clients. It also serves advisors with broad financial knowledge who wish to specialize in high-net-worth clients ⁷ . Those with the AWMA certification can help clients preserve, grow and transfer their wealth. They also learn how to optimize their clients’ investments and minimize investment volatility.

Having this designation signifies that these advisors are specialists for high-net-worth individuals, demonstrating that they can cater to their concerns.

Chartered SRI Counselor (CSRIC) 

Recognized but no longer offered, the CSRIC designation is for financial professionals specializing in sustainable, responsible and impact investments (SRI) ⁸ . These investments consider the environment, as well as corporate procedures and governance. They are intended to generate returns while making a positive societal impact ⁹ .

This certification is also useful for financial advisors who want to expand their skill set to include socially responsible investing or specialize in SRI. This designation gives financial professionals background knowledge and situational awareness to help clients invest in SRI.

Advanced Career

Certified Financial Planner

This designation is for financial advisors and planners, letting clients know these advisors are among the very best ¹⁰ . In addition, CFPs have a fiduciary duty to work in their client’s best interests. 

To earn the certification, candidates must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university or college. They must also complete additional education, including a CFP Board-registered capstone course and 4,000 to 6,000 hours of professional experience in the field. They must then pass an exam lasting multiple days.

Master of Science Degree in Personal Financial Planning

This 10-course program is fully accredited ¹¹ . It is for those who want to expand their knowledge beyond typical financial licensing and credentials.

The program begins by covering the six core disciplines of financial planning. It then goes on to discuss more advanced topic areas. Course study consists of research projects, weekly assignments, group discussions and hands-on case studies. 

Which Certification Should Advisors Pursue?

The right certification depends largely on where you are in your career.

A professional just entering the financial services industry has different needs than someone with a decade of experience looking to specialize. The College for Financial Planning organizes its offerings along this trajectory. It includes entry-level credentials, such as the FPQP and LUTCF, to mid-career designations, such as the APMA and AWMA. It goes up to the CFP and a master’s degree.

The FPQP or WMS provides a foundation without years of prerequisite experience. It is especially helpful for professionals in support roles or brand-new to the industry. By covering the basics of financial planning, these credentials help paraplanners and sales assistants contribute more effectively to the planning process. They also serve as a stepping stone toward more advanced designations down the road.

Advisors who want to build a practice around a specific niche should consider credentials that match their target clientele. The CRPC and CRPS both focus on retirement, but they serve different audiences. A CRPC is for advisors who help individuals prepare for and navigate retirement. A CRPS is for professionals who build and manage employer-sponsored retirement plans. Choosing between them comes down to whether the advisor wants to work with individuals or businesses.

Mid-career professionals focusing on portfolio management or high-net-worth planning may find the APMA or AWMA more relevant. The APMA focuses on the technical side of building and managing portfolios. Meanwhile, the AWMA is for advisors specializing in wealthy clients with complex needs in wealth preservation, transfer and growth.

Advisors who want the broadest recognition and the strongest signal of competency should ultimately pursue the CFP®. It remains the most widely recognized financial planning credential in the industry. It also carries a fiduciary standard that many clients and employers now expect.

Several of the College for Financial Planning’s other credentials can count toward CFP® education requirements. It makes them useful building blocks rather than dead ends.

For advisors seeking to grow client demand, the CSRIC offers a way to stand out in sustainable and impact investing. As more clients focus on aligning their portfolios with their values, having a formal credential can go beyond generalist designations. The key for any advisor is to choose a credential that aligns with the client base and practice they want to build.

Bottom Line

If you’re seeking a new financial certification to boost your career, consider the College for Financial Planning. It is a well-respected institute that offers many excellent certifications and designations to further your education and training. These certifications may help you with job performance, job satisfaction and bottom line.

Financial Tips

• Examining an advisor’s certifications and accreditations is a good step when looking for an advisor. Finding a financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with vetted financial advisors who serve your area. You can interview your advisor matches at no cost to decide which one is right for you. If you’re ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.
• As you consider earning one or more of the CFFP certifications, consider the costs and the length of time it will take you to finish. That way, you can have a reasonable idea of how long it will take you, given the increased earnings your new certification may provide, to earn back the total expense of gaining a particular certification.

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