"Winter" <downeaster1000[at]yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:cf8cd3be.0411150321.39c0822b[at]posting.google.com...
- quote -

You can look most of this up on The American College web site:

http://www.amercoll.edu/

ChFC requires 8 courses, CFP requires 5 (same 5 as ChFC)
ChFC has 8 2 hour exams.
CFP has one exam.
Both have similar experience and continuing education requirements.

- quote -

There's a whole pile of designations. The most common among those that work
with individuals are CLU, ChFC, CFP.

Brent D. Gardner, ChFC
Chartered Financial Consultant
http://members.cox.net/brentdgardner1378/

Si vis pacem para bellum!

"Be ever questioning. Ignorance is not bliss. It is oblivion. You don't go
to heaven if you die dumb. Become better informed. Learn from other's
mistakes. You could not live long enough to make them all yourself." - Hyman
George Rickover (1900-86), Admiral, US Navy, advocated development of
nuclear subs & ships

The Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) and Chartered Financial Consultant
(ChFC), designations owned and exclusively offered by The American College,
signify the highest standards of academic study and professional excellence
in the financial services industry.

What are the requirements and practical differences between getting
CFp certification versus ChFC. Regardless of whether anyone recognizes
the designation, how useful are the courses taken to achieve the
designation.

Also, is there a certification that is more specific to retirement
planning. I do understand that "retirement planning" is a general
field that is covered under any financial planning certification
course and related to many other aspects of financial planning. I am
just asking if there are designations out there specific to retirement
planning.

Thank you.

Winter



temp1[at]tomochka.com (CB) wrote in message news:<daa83e6e.0411132050.34f85c2d[at]posting.google.com> ...
- quote -


======================================= MODERATOR'S COMMENT:
Please trim the post to which you are responding.

Brent,

Ah well, that does make sense. I did not plan to quit the day-job for
some time, while trying to build a practice evenings and weekends. The
technical side and the personal aspect of helping clients were the
main attractions for this career, but if salesmanship is what
separates the wheat from the chaff then I should re-think my plan.
Thanks again.

- CB

"Brent D. Gardner, ChFC" <bgardner20[at]cox.net> wrote in message news:<ZqBkd.14996$233.137[at]okepread05> ...
- quote -

"CB" <temp1[at]tomochka.com> wrote in message
news:daa83e6e.0411091837.23e17e23[at]posting.google.com...
- quote -

I've never heard of a fee-only CFP making it if they started out that way.
Any that do are truly exceptions. Most end up as bank brokers, because they
take the low hanging fruit and assorted failed planners.

Successful fee-based advisors are predominantly successful salespeople who
grew their practice as their clients grew, to the point where fees made
sense. Before that point, the typical fee-only planner is a failure in the
making.'

That's a harsh reality that keeps coming back to haunt those that think that
the world will change if they close their eyes and wish hard enough. =)

Brent D. Gardner, ChFC
Chartered Financial Consultant
http://members.cox.net/brentdgardner1378/

Si vis pacem para bellum!

"Be ever questioning. Ignorance is not bliss. It is oblivion. You don't go
to heaven if you die dumb. Become better informed. Learn from other's
mistakes. You could not live long enough to make them all yourself." - Hyman
George Rickover (1900-86), Admiral, US Navy, advocated development of
nuclear subs & ships

The Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) and Chartered Financial Consultant
(ChFC), designations owned and exclusively offered by The American College,
signify the highest standards of academic study and professional excellence
in the financial services industry.

"TB" <borekfm[at]pacbell.net> wrote in message
news:q_rkd.7029$zx1.2387[at]newssvr13.news.prodigy.com...
- quote -

For fun, we ask our clients all the time. About 1% get one of the three
words correct. The person that knows the entire acronym is truly rare, even
among allied professionals like attorneys and accountants.

Brent D. Gardner, ChFC
Chartered Financial Consultant
http://members.cox.net/brentdgardner1378/

Si vis pacem para bellum!

"Be ever questioning. Ignorance is not bliss. It is oblivion. You don't go
to heaven if you die dumb. Become better informed. Learn from other's
mistakes. You could not live long enough to make them all yourself." - Hyman
George Rickover (1900-86), Admiral, US Navy, advocated development of
nuclear subs & ships

The Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) and Chartered Financial Consultant
(ChFC), designations owned and exclusively offered by The American College,
signify the highest standards of academic study and professional excellence
in the financial services industry.

CB wrote:
- quote -

CB-
IMO you don't need to worry about this too much. You're right it's a bit
of a catch-22 but the CFP trademark is just that, a mark - you'll be
able to get a job and get clients without it. The education is the most
useful part of it and definitely has value. Both for learning and
resume-building. That in itself will open some doors. And while you
can't use the mark itself I believe there's some phrase you can use,
like "candidate for..." - correct?

But I think you'll find that not one client in 20 knows what "CFP" means
(or even asks about it).

-Tad
(fee only, not CFP)

I should have mentioned that I plan to be a fee-only CFP, in which
case does that more severely limit my options for obtaining
experience. An alternative seems to be to hang a shingle and do
private practice, but it seems it might be difficult to log the
requisite hours to satisfy the experience requirement within 5 years
(maybe not?). - CB

"Brent D. Gardner, ChFC" <bgardner20[at]cox.net> wrote in message news:<htxjd.14421$233.5920[at]okepread05> ...
- quote -

"CB" <temp1[at]tomochka.com> wrote in message
news:daa83e6e.0411061835.1312828d[at]posting.google.com...
- quote -

They work for insurance companies, broker/dealers, and banks, often selling
insurance and investments. That's how MOST satisfy their work experience
requirement.

Brent D. Gardner, ChFC
Chartered Financial Consultant
http://members.cox.net/brentdgardner1378/

Sis vis pacem para bellum!

"Be ever questioning. Ignorance is not bliss. It is oblivion. You don't go
to heaven if you die dumb. Become better informed. Learn from other's
mistakes. You could not live long enough to make them all yourself." - Hyman
George Rickover (1900-86), Admiral, US Navy, advocated development of
nuclear subs & ships

The Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) and Chartered Financial Consultant
(ChFC), designations owned and exclusively offered by The American College,
signify the highest standards of academic study and professional excellence
in the financial services industry.

My main concern is not the education, but the work experience
requirement. How do CFP candidates typically gain this? Go work for
some existing firm? Is it possible to do it in private practice?
Thanks in advance for any help. - K