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The Master of Science Degree Program in Personal Financial Planning is tailored for financial planners who are interested in expanding their knowledge beyond typical financial licensing and credentials. The curriculum is based on client-centered, problem-solving methods using case studies to give a hands-on approach to the material. The focus is on analyzing, synthesizing, and evaluating the always evolving financial planning process with insurance, investment planning, income tax planning, retirement planning, employee benefits, estate planning, portfolio management and pre-retirement planning. Students who earn the MPAS® will satisfy the education requirements to sit for the CFP® Certificate Exam.

The Accredited Asset Management Specialist℠, or AAMS®, is a certification program for financial professionals. Created in conjunction with many of the country’s top investment firms, AAMS® is uniquely suited to the needs of today’s investment professionals. This course offers a logical progression of topics, enabling you to think in terms of clients’ total financial situations, not just their investments. At the conclusion an advisor will be able to identify opportunities and employ strategies that are enhanced not only with regard to investments but also related to planning for insurance, tax, retirement, and estate issues. The program provides advisors with strong fundamental financial knowledge with an additional focus on asset management.

The AWMA® program is a certification program designed for experienced advisors who want to better address the unique needs of high-net-worth clients. The program’s one-of-a-kind curriculum contains sections dedicated to behavioral finance, working with all business owners, succession/exit planning, fiduciary responsibilities, regulatory issues and minimizing investment volatility.

A professional with a CLTC designation has acquired the critical tools necessary to discuss the subject of longevity and its acute consequences on a client's family – financially, physically and emotionally – years down the road. The best way to protect families from the potential devastation of long-term care is not to sell a product, but rather, offer advice that leads to a plan to mitigate those consequences and when appropriate, recommend long-term care insurance as a funding source for that plan. The designation has been recognized and supported by The American College, CFP Board, NAIFA, NAHU and major insurance carriers.

The Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA®) credential offered by the National Association of Plan Advisors was developed by some of the nation’s leading advisors and retirement plan experts. This credential demonstrates an advisor’s knowledge, expertise and commitment to working with retirement plans. Plan advisors who earn their CPFA® demonstrate the expertise required to act as a plan fiduciary or help plan fiduciaries manage their roles and responsibilities.

Individuals who hold the CRPC® designation have completed a course of study encompassing pre-and post-retirement needs, asset management, estate planning and the entire retirement planning process using models and techniques from real client situations.

ESG Investing for 401(k) Advisors Certificate Program was created by some of the nation’s leading retirement education resources. This program helps Financial Advisors gain fluency in ESG principles, strategies, and investment screening. Certificate holders gain insight into common questions and concerns, what questions to ask in assessing ESG investments, and the benefits and risks of ESG investments for retirement plans.

National Association of Plan Advisors (NAPA) launched a new certificate program designed for retirement advisors to evaluate, explain, and implement retirement income solutions for clients. This certification demonstrates that an advisor can define the importance of retirement income solutions and show how they are critical to holistic participant outcomes. Advisors will gain insight into effectively communicating these solutions to key stakeholders, selecting optimal plans based on differing factors, and choosing strategies for continuous learning as solutions evolve in the marketplace.

Over 50 years ago, the College for Financial Planning®—a Kaplan Company introduced the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification, which is now the world’s most recognized and respected financial planning credential.* Years later, as an early adopter of online education, the College combines cutting-edge, flexible learning with a rich history in financial education to meet the needs of today’s financial services professionals. From graduate programs to professional designations to exam prep, our dedication to excellence, innovation, and student-centric learning underscores everything we do.

In July 2018, Kaplan acquired the College for Financial Planning®, bringing together two respected leaders in financial services education. Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, the College for Financial Planning®—a Kaplan Company remains an independent institution owned by Kaplan.

The National Association of Plan Advisors, an affiliate organization of the American Retirement Association, was created by and for retirement plan advisors. Membership is also open to other retirement industry professionals who support the interests of plan advisors.

While the financial services industry is well represented in Washington by a number of trade associations that weigh in on issues affecting advisors, NAPA is the only advocacy group exclusively focused on the issues that matter to retirement plan advisors. This exclusive focus is what sets NAPA apart.

As a professional society, NAPA is uniquely committed to seven core principles of advisors serving employer-sponsored retirement plans:

1. The retirement industry is in transition and NAPA is a leader for positive change.
2. NAPA’s core purpose is to enhance retirement security in America.
3. NAPA members focus on providing high quality, professional advice to retirement plans and/or their participants.
4. NAPA members are committed to leading the transition to a more transparent, effective, professionally governed retirement system.
5. NAPA members may serve as either fiduciaries or non-fiduciaries, but are committed to clearly disclosing their fiduciary or non-fiduciary status to their ERISA retirement plan clients.
6. NAPA members pledge to comply with all requirements relating to retirement plans that are or will be required by the SEC, DOL, or any other governing agencies.
7. NAPA members pledge to maintain ethical standards in their representation of plan sponsor and participant clients and will strive to service them under a process that puts their clients’ interests first.

Membership offers three valuable benefits: advocacy, business intelligence, and networking – all designed to keep plan advisors in the forefront of the industry and help them succeed.