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Designation Glossary
What do all those letters after their names mean?

AEP® - The Accredited Estate Planner^®. The Accredited Estate Planner^® designation is a graduate level specialization in estate planning, obtained in addition to already recognized professional credentials within the various disciplines of estate planning.  The AEP® designation is available to attorneys (JD), Chartered Life Underwriters® (CLU®), Certified Public Accountants (CPA), Certified Financial Planners™ (CFP®), Chartered Financial Consultants® (ChFC®), and Certified Trust and Financial Advisors (CTFA). It is awarded by the National Association of Estate Planners & Councils (NAEPC) to recognize estate planning professionals who meet stringent requirements of experience, knowledge, education, professional reputation, and character.  An AEP® designation holder must embrace the team concept of estate planning and adhere to the NAEPC Code of Ethics.

CFP^®– Certified Financial Planner^®.  The Certified Financial Planner^® (CFP^®) designation is a certification mark for financial planners conferred by the Certified Financial Planner^® Board of Standards. As a first step to the present CFP^® certification criteria, students must master a list of 89 topics on integrated financial planning, including General principles of finance and financial planning; Insurance planning; Employee Benefits planning; Investment and Securities planning; State and Federal Income Tax planning; Estate Tax, Gift Tax, and Transfer Tax planning; Asset Protection planning; Retirement planning; Estate planning.

ChFC^® – Chartered Financial Consultant^®.  The ChFC^® designation can be earned by completing 6 required courses from The American College: Financial Planning: Process and Environment; Fundamentals of Insurance Planning; Income Taxation; Planning for Retirement Needs; Investments; and Fundamentals of Estate Planning.  Plus two of these elective courses: The Financial System in the Economy; Estate Planning Applications; and Financial Decisions for Retirement.

CLU^® – Chartered Life Underwriter^®.  The CLU^® designation can be earned by completing 5 required courses from The American College: Fundamentals of Insurance Planning; Individual Life Insurance; Life Insurance Law; Fundamentals of Estate Planning; Planning for Business Owners and Professionals.  Plus, 3 of these elective courses: Financial Planning: Process and Environment; Individual Health Insurance; Income Taxation; Group Benefits; Planning for Retirement Needs; Investments; and Estate Planning Applications.

CPA – Certified Public Accountant.  CPA is the statutory title of qualified accountants in the United States who have passed the Uniform Certified Public Accountant Examination and have met additional state education and experience requirements for certification as a CPA.  It is the premier designation for accountants.

CPS – Charitable Planning Specialist.  CPS designation is offered by Philanthropy International.  To qualify, candidates must have a minimum of three to five years of experience engaged in estate planning and estate planning and/or must have a minimum of fifteen years of experience engaged in charitable planning and estate planning.  Applicants must also be working toward the “Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy” (CAP) program offered by The American College.

PFS – Personal Financial Specialist.  This designation can only be acquired by CPAs who are AICPA members (binding them to the Code of Professional Conduct), have a minimum of 1,400 hours of financial planning business experience, in addition to continuing education within the last five years and a comprehensive and rigorous personal financial planning exam.

RFC – Registered Financial Consultant.  Registered Financial Consultant (RFC) is a professional designation awarded by the International Association of Registered Financial Consultants.  A Registered Financial Consultant must have a minimum of four years experience as a full-time practitioner in the field of financial planning.  The applicant must have earned a baccalaureate or graduate degree in financial planning or have earned a well-renowned designations.

RHU^® – Registered Health Underwriter^®.  Nearly 8,000 individuals have earned the respected Registered Health Underwriter^® designation, the premier credential in the health insurance market. This program helps professionals stay current with the major benefit protection laws, including COBRA, ERISA and HIPAA.  RHU^® designation can be earned through The American College.

Designations are registered trademarks of their respective admittance and governing boards.