Foundational Designations: Your Pathway to Achieving Better Outcomes

The CFP® certification has become the most adopted credential in financial services, with over 100,000 CFP® professionals in the United States and a record-breaking CFP® exam turnout of 10,000 individuals in 2024. The College’s CFP® Certification Education Program meets the ever-growing need for CFP® education by enabling students to earn their mark through flexible, on-demand learning instructed by industry experts. The program’s Net Promoter Score of 85, awarded by CFP® professionals, indicates a world-class level of satisfaction.

The College’s program provides financial professionals with the knowledge and skills to pass their exam the first time and begin meeting their clients’ complex needs; however, earning the CFP® mark is just one avenue for professionals looking to build a strong foundation for their careers. Designations like the Financial Services Certified Professional® (FSCP®), Wealth Management Certified Professional® (WMCP®), and Chartered Financial Consultant® (ChFC®) can also further an individual's knowledge and strengthen their ability to serve their clients.

Manage Your Practice Like a Pro

The FSCP® Program is designed to provide new professionals with the financial planning knowledge they need to kick-start their careers. The curriculum is infused with powerful strategies to accelerate growth, including courses focused on running a functional and successful practice, understanding business ethics, and identifying and meeting client needs. Powered by insights from top thought leaders in financial services and backed by The College’s proven history of excellence in education, the FSCP® enables new professionals or career-changers to launch their careers in financial services.

The 2024 Designation Outcomes Study showcases the benefits College designations offer to financial professionals, and the results are telling. According to the study’s findings, FSCP® designees saw:

• 129% higher growth in client retention
• 44% higher growth in number of clients
• 17% higher growth in earnings
• 19% higher growth in production when compared to professionals with no designations¹

These numbers illustrate significant impact in key growth areas, indicating the expertise gained in business planning, product knowledge, and maintaining client relationships — an invaluable achievement for those early in their financial services career. The foundational knowledge found in the FSCP® curriculum can enhance a financial professional’s toolkit and power the organic growth of their practice.

Go Beyond Building Portfolios

The College’s WMCP® Program is tailored to professionals seeking foundational skills in wealth management. The program provides financial professionals with the practical, hands-on skills to build broadly diversified, tax-efficient portfolios that align with clients’ unique goals. With its focus on behavioral finance and informative courses on goal-based planning, efficient investment portfolios, and strategic wealth management, the WMCP® empowers professionals to become more valuable partners to clients.

With the valuable knowledge offered by the WMCP®, professionals can meet this in-demand need head-on.

According to Designation Outcomes Study findings, WMCP® designees reported:

• 144% higher growth in client retention
• 32% higher growth in earnings
• 28% higher growth in number of clients when compared to professionals with no designations¹

Additionally, of WMCP® designation holders, 74% reported improved client conversations, and 68% reported an improved ability to help clients with a greater number of goals.1 With the WMCP® under their belt, designees can expertly navigate complex client issues, and clients can trust them to build efficient portfolios, create wealth management strategies, and craft solutions to potential issues.

Gain Practical Knowledge and Prestige

For financial professionals who have not yet earned a bachelor’s degree, the ChFC® Program serves as a worthwhile alternative to the CFP® Certification Education Program, which does require a degree. The program offers foundational knowledge that can be applied on day one through a flexible, on-demand learning path.

The ChFC® curriculum covers the essential areas of financial planning including insurance, taxation, retirement, and estate planning, but it also tackles more in-depth subjects such as behavioral finance, non-traditional family structures, and small business planning and features elaborate case studies to apply their knowledge. ChFC® students can gain the expertise and hands-on skills needed to start delivering efficient financial planning services no matter where they are in their career journey.

Based on real-life situations, the practical ChFC® curriculum prepares financial professionals to handle complex and unique client issues with ease. Of ChFC® designees:

• 72% reported improvement in client conversations
• 74% reported an improved ability to help clients with a greater number of goals
• 67% reported improvement in client satisfaction¹

Additionally, designees saw a 75% higher growth in client retention, 49% higher growth in number of clients, and 32% higher growth in earnings when compared to professionals with no designations.

The ChFC® is also ideal for those looking to work toward two prestigious professional achievements at once, as completion of the eight-course program qualifies designees to sit for the CFP® exam as well. Students can save time and money on their education, all while building their base of knowledge.

More From The College

• Browse Our Designations
• See the Full Designation Outcomes Study Results