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CFP — Certified Financial Planner™
Designates gain specialized knowledge in the areas of risk management, financial, tax, and retirement planning as well as employee benefits, investments, and estate planning.
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CIC — Chartered Investment Counselor
This designation is offered by the ICAA and requires candidates to be current holders of the CFA designation, demonstrate a minimum of five years experience in a position where the majority of the time is spent in investment counseling and portfolio management activities, and provide various references and professional ethical information.
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CLF — Chartered Leadership Fellow
Has completed an educational program offered jointly by The American College, LIMRA International, and GAMA International comprising of seven courses in management, leadership, creative problem solving, strategic planning and other areas. Also has met experience and ethics standards and completes 30 hours of continuing education every two years. This is the first managerial leadership designation specially created for financial services professionals.
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CLTC — Certified in Long-Term Care
Designates receive information and training to offer guidance to families on a range of issues including home care, assisted living, nursing homes, social services, taxes, law and what will pay for these resources.
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CFFM — Certified Fraternal Field Manager
Fraternal society designates gain specialized knowledge in the areas of recruiting, maintaining, and supervising field force agents and agencies.
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CPA — Certified Public Accountant
Has met educational qualifications, such as a bachelors or masters degree in accounting, passed four state-certifying examinations and met experience qualifications in the area of public accounting. CPAs are licensed individually by state and can hold licenses for more than one state at a time.
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CSA — Certified Senior Advisor™
Designees undergo extensive educational training on critical senior issues, such as senior health, financial and estate planning, Social Security programs, and life-style.
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ChFC — Chartered Financial Consultant
A ChFC designation demonstrates an in-depth knowledge of all aspects for performing comprehensive financial planning—analyzing a client’s financial situation, establishing goals, and implementing a plan of action. These specialists can provide expert advice on a broad range of financial planning topics.
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CLU — Chartered Life Underwriter
This professional insurance and financial planning designation is earned by individuals who complete studies focusing on the economic impact, operation, and distribution systems involved in all areas of life insurance. Their expertise helps clients make safe, secure investments.
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FIC/FICF — Fraternal Insurance Counsellor/Fraternal Insurance Counsellor Fellow
Fraternal Insurance Counsellors (FIC) must successfully complete a training program focusing on fraternalism's history, basic life insurance concepts, recruitment techniques, individual and family needs, advanced market concepts, estate planning and ethics. The Fraternal Insurance Counsellor Fellow (FICF) designation is conferred on FIC designates who take advanced coursework beyond that necessary to earn an FIC. For both designations, candidates must represent a fraternal benefit society that is a member of the National Fraternal Congress of America and the Fraternal Field Manager's Association.
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JD — Juris Doctor
An attorney licensed to practice law. Some state Bar Associations have authorized legal specialties, but none have unique designations.
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LUTCF — Life Underwriter Training Council Fellow
Participants in this comprehensive educational program undergo an in-depth study of insurance and financial planning, including all types of insurance, estate and retirement planning.
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MDRT — Million Dollar Round Table
An international, independent association of 32,981 of the world’s best life insurance and financial services professionals from 74 nations and territories. MDRT members demonstrate exceptional professional knowledge, strict ethical conduct and outstanding client service. MDRT membership is recognized internationally as the standard of sales excellence in the life insurance and financial services business.
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MS — Masters of Science
The College of Financial Planning offers an MS degree with an academic emphasis in financial planning. The curriculum focuses on Financial Planning, Wealth Management, Tax, Retirement and Estate Planing. The financial planning concentration fulfills the educational requirement for the CFP designation.
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MSFS — Masters of Science in Financial Service
Offered by the American College, this is an educational degree, similar to an MBA, with concentration on personal financial planning, investments and taxation. The MSFS program requires completion of 36 course credits to graduate.
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RFP — Registered Financial Planner
Awarded by the Registered Financial Planners Institute since 1983. The members must have a degree, license, or a minimum of 75 classroom hours of financial planning education from a college, university or preparatory school, with passing of an exam and a minimum of 2 years experience in their respective field. CEU education is required every three years of 15 hours to keep the RFP designation.
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RHU — Registered Health Underwriter
Applicants have completed three courses on the use and application of disability, health, medical and long-term-care insurance. Individual has also met experience and ethics standards and, unless exempted, completes 30 hours of continuing education every two years. This designation, instituted by National Association of Health Underwriters.