Before you hire a financial professional, it’s important to consider their qualifications to ensure they have the right education and experience for your individual circumstances.
Financial professionals have varying degrees of formal education and experience which means it’s even more important to do your homework when researching who you’ll hire.
Financial professionals will generally display the certifications they’ve earned in abbreviated form following their name on business cards and in online directories like LinkedIn and Wealthtender.
Financial Certifications List
We prepared the list of financial certifications below with a brief description of each, plus links to in-depth articles if you want to learn more about a particular designation.
Accredited Asset Management Specialist (AAMS)
An Accredited Asset Management Specialist (AAMS) is a designation for financial professionals who specialize in asset management and investments.
Accredited Financial Counselor (AFC)
An Accredited Financial Counselor (AFC) is a financial professional who teaches their clients sound financial principles so they can achieve their short and long-term financial goals.
Accredited Investment Fiduciary (AIF)
An Accredited Investment Fiduciary (AIF) is legally obligated to always act in the best interests of their clients.
Certified Credit Counselor (CCC)
heir primary objective is to provide clients with the knowledge and resources they need to resolve financial issues and take control of their finances.
Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA)
Certified Divorce Financial Analysts (CDFA) help people going through a divorce (and their lawyers) understand how their financial decisions will impact their future finances.