CFE PDF obtain - Certified Financial Examiner (CFE) Updated: 2023

When you’re looking for a financial advisor, you’ll see any number of certifications and credentials listed on the business cards and websites of prospective candidates. From CPAs to CFAs, ChFCs to IARs, the long and growing list can be overwhelming.

Understanding what all of these acronyms stand for allows you to choose the best financial advisor for your needs. Let’s take a closer look at the 10 most common financial professional certifications.

CPA: Certified Public Accountant

Of all the financial advisor certifications, you’re probably most familiar with certified public accountant. Although most people associate CPAs with taxes, their expertise goes far beyond your annual tax filing.

CPAs handle jobs from financial reporting to audit work and forensic research. Even if your needs are slightly less complicated, employing a CPA can still save you a bundle of money and keep you out of a tax court, too. In short, if your finances progress beyond entering W-2 info into tax software, you’ll need a CPA.

The CPA certification has been around since the late 19th century. It’s a tough qualification to earn. Requirements vary by state, but candidates generally need a specialized degree, one year of work experience, and they must pass the challenging Uniform Certified Public Accountant Examination.

CFA: Chartered Financial Analyst

A chartered financial analyst has in-depth knowledge of asset management and securities analysis, as well as a professional commitment to the highest ethical standards. The common habitat for CFAs is handling high-level research and analysis for large financial companies and investment firms, but they may also work with high-net-worth private clients, providing investment advice, portfolio management and risk management services.

The CFA Institute says it takes 1,000 hours of study, four years of professional experience and a three-part test to become a CFA charterholder. The pass rate for all three levels of the CFA test is just 20%. Once upon a time, the CFA qualification was considered a good plan B if you weren’t cut out for an MBA. That’s not the case anymore, and today, CFAs rank among the financial advisory elite.

CFP: Certified Financial Planner

A certified financial planner takes a holistic, all-encompassing approach to financial planning, meeting their clients’ needs for budgeting, retirement planning, life insurance, taxes and estate planning. CFPs commit to a professional requirement to act as fiduciaries, meaning their financial advice must always put their customers’ best interests first.

The CFP is a good candidate for people who want a comprehensive financial plan. If you need help in choosing investments, planning for retirement, setting aside money for a child’s education, and many other goals, a CFP is a wonderful choice. Certified financial planners have many specialities, from the types of clients they work with to the types of work they take on, so check your candidate’s specializations before making a choice.

CFPs must take six or seven classes, depending on their program, covering the ins and outs of financial planning as well as pass a notoriously difficult test and accrue years of financial planning experience before they can add CFP behind their name.

Related: Find A Financial Advisor In 3 minutes

ChFC: Chartered Financial Consultant

CFPs and a chartered financial consultants offer very similar services: personal financial management, retirement planning, tax issues, estate planning, life insurance and special needs planning for parents and guardians.

The chartered financial consultant certification may offer slightly more depth than the CFP, as it requires additional coursework: eight courses to the CFP’s six or seven. However, unlike CFPs, ChFCs are not required to pass one comprehensive test and instead must pass exams following each course they take. ChFC certification requires candidates to have three years of full-time experience in the financial services industry, and ChFCs must bind themselves to a fiduciary standard.

ChFCs’ broad knowledge base makes them superior candidates for managing complex individual or family estates and providing investment strategies to small businesses.

RIA: Registered Investment Advisor

Unlike the other certifications on this list, registered investment advisor refers to a type of company, not a type of financial advisor. The registered part of the name comes from the fact that RIAs must register with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) or a state regulatory agency.

RIAs are fully regulated fiduciaries that may provide financial planning or investment services. Practically speaking, though, their work with clients extends beyond simple investment advice, offering services such as retirement planning, insurance, estate planning and even concierge services like marriage and divorce consultations.

IAR: Investment Adviser Representative

An investment adviser representative (IAR) is a financial professionals who work for a RIA. Typically, IARs are certified via the Series 65 or Series 7 exams, and the Series 66, administered by FINRA, which the federal government authorizes to oversee US broker-dealers. In addition, they generally have one (or more) of the certifications listed above, like CFP or CFA.

The draw of IARs is their strong commitment to fiduciary responsibility. IARs must disclose conflicts of interest and tell clients about more efficient products, even if it means a smaller commission. This contrasts with advisors working under the “suitability standard,” who sometimes offer high-commission products that meet customer needs, without suggesting lower-commission alternatives that might better suit them.

If you’re working with a financial advisor through a company or financial institution, make sure to determine whether they are an IAR or a registered representative held only to suitability standards.

CFF: Certified Financial Fiduciary

Certified financial fiduciary (CFF) is an additional qualification that financial advisors undertake to supplement their existing professional certifications. In essence, it’s meant to signal that the advisor adheres to the highest possible standard of fiduciary duty (yes, there’s more than one kind of fiduciary).

CFFs are trained to uphold the highest moral, ethical and fiduciary standards of service when providing investment advice to potential and existing clients. The National Association of Certified Financial Fiduciaries (NACFF) administers CFF training and awards the certification.

The CFF is a relatively new professional designation, first created in 2018, during the rise and fall of the Department of Labor’s ill-fated fiduciary rule. As such, the CFF is less common than the others profiled here. Before it was struck down in federal court, the fiduciary rule would have held all financial advisors to a strict fiduciary rule, and the CFF was created, in part, to prove an advisor’s commitment to this rule.

CFF candidates must pass stringent requirements: They must hold a professional financial certification or license or have enough education and experience to pass NACFF’s bar. A background check is conducted to examine their moral, ethical and fiduciary record. Candidates must complete comprehensive training and pass the CFF exam. Crucially, they agree to uphold the CFF Code of Conduct for fiduciary responsibility.

RICP: Retirement Income Certified Professional

Administered by the American College of Financial Services, the retirement income certified professional (RICP) program trains financial advisors to help clients claim Social Security, define risk factors and manage distributions from retirement plans like a 401(k). But above and beyond retirement income issues, the program also helps advisors understand Medicare, aid in managing and selecting life insurance, plan long-term healthcare and handle retirement tax issues, which frequently trip up clients.

RICP certification is sought by experienced financial advisors, lawyers, accountants and bankers―anyone who works in advisory fields that wants a heightened understanding of all the factors that impact retirement planning. RICP training aims to foster a deep understanding of retirement income issues, allowing advisors to create plans for clients that cover income, housing, healthcare, taxation, life quality and more.

CPWA: Certified Private Wealth Advisor

Certified private wealth advisor (CPWA) is aimed at wealth managers who serve affluent clients. Wealth management advisors select portfolios of investment securities for their clients and manage the portfolios.

Generally they do not offer a broad selection of advice for a client’s entire financial life, confining themselves only to managing investments. This isn’t a flaw in their service offering as high-net-worth individuals generally employ planning teams of several experts to meet their needs.

Preparation courses for the CPWA teach candidates to create strategies that maximize growth, minimize taxes and help clients pass their wealth on to the next generation.

CLU: Chartered Life Underwriter

A chartered life underwriter (CLU) is a financial advisor that specializes in life insurance planning. This isn’t a standalone service: CLUs operate as part of an estate planning team, usually for high-net-worth clients with complex holdings, including family businesses and complicated asset structures.

The American College of Financial Services administers the CLU qualification. Candidates must have three years of relevant experience, pass eight training classes and sit for an exam. There’s a continuing education requirement for CLUs of 30 hours every two years. The CLU certification is highly respected among professionals and is nearly 100 years old―second only in age to the CPA.

Are you seeking assistance with your financial management? If so, you’re not alone. Many Americans could benefit from financial guidance. In fact, according to the National Financial Education Council, the average American incurs a cost of $1,200 per year due to a lack of personal finance knowledge.

Choosing a good financial advisor can help you avoid these costs and focus on your goals. Financial advisors aren’t just for rich people—working with a financial advisor is a great choice for anyone who wants to get their personal finances on track and set long-term objectives. To find the ideal financial advisor for your requirements, consider following our 5 key steps.

Related: Find A Financial Advisor In 3 minutes

Step 1: Decide What Part of Your Financial Life You Need An Advisor For

Before you speak to a financial advisor, decide which aspects of your financial life you need help with. When you first sit down with an advisor, you’ll want to be ready to explain your particular money management needs.

Keep in mind that financial advisors provide more than just investment advice. The best financial planner is the one who can help you chart a course for all your financial needs. This can cover investment advice for retirement plans, debt repayment, insurance product suggestions to protect yourself and your family and estate planning.

Depending on where you are in life, you may not need comprehensive financial planning. People whose financial lives are relatively straightforward, like young people without families of their own or significant debt, might only need help with retirement planning.

People with complex financial needs, however, may need extra assistance. They could be looking to establish college funds or trusts for their children, navigate aggressive debt payment situations or solve tricky tax problems. Not all types of financial advisors offer the same menu of services, so decide which services you need and let this guide your search.

Step 2: Learn About the Different Types of Financial Advisors

There’s no federal law that regulates who can call themselves a financial advisor or provide financial advice. While many people call themselves financial advisors, not all have your best interest at heart. That’s why you have to carefully evaluate potential financial advisors and make sure they are good for you and your money.

Part of learning about the different types of advisors is understanding fiduciary duty. Some, but not all, financial advisors are bound by fiduciary duty, meaning that they are legally required to work in your financial best interest. Other people who call themselves advisors are only held to a suitability standard, meaning they only must suggest products that are suitable for you—even if they’re more expensive and earn them a higher commission. (The SEC is trying to regulate this, though, by limiting the use of “advisor” to those who hold themselves to a fiduciary standard.)

Regardless of which kind of advisor you choose, you should make sure you know how they earn money. This helps you determine if their recommendations are actually better for you—or for their wallets.

Here’s how to think about these four types of financial advisors:

Fee-Only Financial Advisors

Fee-only financial advisors earn money from the fees you pay for their services. These fees may be charged as a percentage of the assets they manage for you, as an hourly rate, or as a flat rate.

Almost all fee-only advisors are fiduciaries. Generally speaking, they have chosen to work under a fee-only model to reduce any potential conflicts of interest. Because their income is from clients, it’s in their best interest to make sure you end up with financial plans and financial products that work best for you.

Financial Advisors Who Earn Commissions

Some financial advisors make money by earning sales commissions from third parties. Among financial advisors that earn sales commissions, some may advertise themselves as “free” financial advisors that do not charge you fees for advice. Others may charge fees, meaning they derive only part of their income from third-party commissions.

Either way, financial advisors who earn third-party sales commissions derive some or all of their income from selling you certain financial products. If you choose to work with a financial advisor who earns sales commissions, you need to take extra care.

Commission-only advisors are not fiduciaries. They work as salespeople for investment and insurance brokerages and are only held to suitability standards. In contrast, some fee-based financial advisors are fiduciaries, though it’s important to determine if they’re always acting as fiduciaries or if they “pause” fiduciary duty when discussing certain types of products, like insurance.

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Keep in mind, commissions aren’t bad in and of themselves. They’re not even necessarily red flags.

Some financial products are predominantly sold under a commission model. Take life insurance: A fee-based planner who receives compensation for helping you purchase a life insurance policy may still have your best interests at heart when advising on other financial products.

“To be clear, there’s nothing wrong with paying the commission for life insurance,” says Karen Van Voorhis, a fee-based certified financial planner (CFP) and Director of Financial Planning at Daniel J. Galli & Associates in Norwell, Mass. “That’s how the structure of that industry works.”

Purchasing financial products via financial advisors that earn commissions may be a matter of convenience, especially if someone will receive a commission regardless of where you buy the product. What’s important is understanding the difference. And if you work with a fee-based financial advisor, understand when they are acting as a fiduciary, especially when they help you purchase financial products.

Registered Investment Advisors

Registered Investment Advisors (RIAs) are companies that provide fiduciary financial advice. RIAs employ Investment Advisor Representatives (IARs), who are bound by fiduciary duty. An RIA may have one or hundreds of IARs working for it.

IARs may call themselves financial advisors and may be fee-only or fee-based. Some may have additional credentials, including the certified financial planner (CFP) designation.

“The certified financial planner designation is really the gold standard in the financial planning industry,” says Van Voorhis. A CFP designation indicates a financial advisor has passed rigorous industry exams covering real estate, investment, and insurance planning as well as has years of experience in their fields.

Because of their wide range of expertise, CFPs are well-suited to help you plan out every aspect of your financial life. They may be particularly helpful for those with complex financial situations, including managing large outstanding debts and will, trust and estate planning.

Robo Advisors

Robo advisors offer low-cost, automated investment advice. Most specialize in helping people invest for mid- and long-term goals, like retirement, through preconstructed diversified portfolios of exchange-traded funds (ETFs).

“For younger people who are really tech-savvy, a robo advisor just to manage retirement funds could be a perfect solution,” says Brian Behl, a CFP at Behl Wealth Management in Waukesha, Wisc. “I don’t think they’re going to get as in-depth advice on insurance and retirement and taxes.”

People with complex financial needs should probably choose a conventional financial advisor, although many robo advisors provide financial planning services a la carte or for higher net-worth clients.

“While the robo advisors have really disrupted the industry…I do think there’s still a place for human advisors right now,” says Corbin Blackwell, a CFP at robo advisor Betterment.

Betterment, for example, allows clients to purchase individual financial advising sessions, and Personal Capital, Wealthsimple, and Betterment provide regular financial planning for clients with higher account balances for a management fee.

Step 3: Choose What Kind of Financial Advice You Need

Services offered by financial advisors vary from advisor to advisor, but they may provide financial advice on any of the following topics:

• Investment advice: Financial advisors research different investment options and make sure your investment portfolio stays within your desired level of risk.
• Debt management: If you have outstanding debts, like credit card debt, student loans, car loans, or mortgages, financial advisors will work with you to chart a plan for repayment.
• Budgeting help: Financial advisors are experts in analyzing where your money goes once it leaves your paycheck. Advisors can help you craft budgets so you’re prepared to reach your financial goals.
• Insurance coverage: Financial advisors may examine your current policies to identify any gaps in coverage or recommend new types of policies, like disability insurance or long-term care coverage, depending on your financial situation.
• Tax planning: Tax planning involves strategizing ways to decrease the amount of taxes you may pay, like by large charitable donations or tax-loss harvesting. Keep in mind that not all financial planners are tax experts and that tax planning is different from tax preparation. You will probably still need a CPA or tax software to file your taxes.
• Retirement planning: Financial advisors can help you build funds for the ultimate long-term goal, retirement. And then, once you’re retired or nearing retirement, they can help ensure you’re able to keep your money safe.
• Estate planning: For those who wish to leave a legacy, financial advisors can help you transfer your wealth to the next generation, whether that’s family, friends, or charitable causes.
• College planning: If you hope to fund loved ones’ educations, financial advisors can craft a plan to help you save for their higher education.

In addition to investment management and financial planning, financial advisors also offer emotional support and perspective during volatile economic times. During the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic in March of 2020, for instance, client demand for financial advisor contact increased by almost 50%.

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“I think that during these times, we can be a source of reason,” says Blackwell. “We can weather the storm. We’ve built this portfolio for a reason.”

When choosing a financial advisor, make sure they offer the services you’re looking for in your financial and non-financial lives.

Step 4: Decide How Much You Can Pay Your Financial Advisor

It used to be that financial advisors charged fees that were a percentage of the assets they managed for you. Today advisors offer a wide variety of fee structures, which helps make their services accessible to clients of all levels of financial means.

• Commission-only financial advisors may seem free on paper, but they may receive a portion of what you invest or purchase as a payment. These “free” financial advisors typically are available through investment or insurance brokerages. Remember, these advisors may only be held to suitability standards, so they may end up costing what you would pay for a similar financial product suggested by a fiduciary financial advisor—or more.

• Fee-only and fee-based financial advisors may charge fees based on the total amount of assets they manage for you (assets under management) or they may charge by the hour, by the plan, through a retainer agreement, or via a subscription model. Common average financial advisor fee rates are listed in the table below:

Step 5: Research Financial Advisors

Financial advice comes in many forms, and there are a variety of different kinds of financial professionals, so you need to do your homework. Make sure the advisor guiding your financial decisions is trustworthy and capable.

There are a few good ways to find a financial advisor. Ask friends, family and peers for recommendations when trying to find a financial advisor near you. Alternatively, look for financial advisors online. Many professional financial planning associations provide free databases of financial advisors:

When evaluating advisors, be sure to consider their credentials as well as research their backgrounds and fee structures. You can view disciplinary actions and complaints filed against financial advisors using FINRA’s BrokerCheck. And remember, just because someone is part of a financial planning association, that doesn’t mean they’re a fiduciary financial advisor.

Economic Insights

A Financial advisor can help you make decisions based on current economic conditions you may not be aware of. In August of 2023, we’re in a high interest rate environment with inflation cooling down but still a significant factor. A financial advisor may urge you to pay off high interest debt, take advantage of high yield savings accounts, and continue to invest in tax efficient accounts so you aren’t actively losing money to inflation.

Key Questions to Ask When Choosing a Financial Advisor

When meeting a financial advisor for the first time, it’s important to obtain the answers to these questions and ensure you’re satisfied with their responses:

• Fiduciary Status: Are you a fiduciary, committed to acting in my best interest?
• Compensation Structure: How do you make money? Understand their fee structure and any potential conflicts of interest.
• Consistency of Fiduciary Duty: Do you always act as fiduciaries, even when selling commission-based products?
• Financial Planning Approach: What is your approach to financial planning? Learn about their strategies and methodologies.
• Available Services: What financial planning services do you offer? Ensure their offerings align with your specific needs.
• Client Profile: What kind of clients do you typically work with? Confirm if they have experience catering to clients similar to you.
• Account Minimums: Do you have any account minimums? Determine if their requirements match your financial situation.
• Conflicts of Interest: Do you have any conflicts of interest in managing your money? Ensure transparency and alignment of interests.
• Required Information: What information do you need me to provide to develop my financial plan? Gather relevant documents.
• Meeting Frequency: How many times and how often will we meet? Establish expectations for ongoing communication.
• Collaboration with Advisors: Will you collaborate with your other advisors, such as CPAs or attorneys? Coordinate efforts for comprehensive financial management.

Related: Find A Financial Advisor In 3 minutes

The Bottom Line

Because of the ambiguity in the industry, you have to exercise caution to make sure you get the right financial advisor who meets your fiduciary and financial needs. That said, when you choose the right financial advisor for you, they can help you achieve your financial goals and financially protect your loved ones and their futures.

“So much of what I do in a life-centered approach to financial planning and wealth management is walk out life with people,” says Wes Brown, a CFP at CogentBlue Wealth Advisors in Knoxville, Tenn. “I think there’s value in an ongoing relationship where somebody can help you walk through the various waypoints you’re going to come to.