Disclosures
- Certified Public Accountant – The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation licenses persons who have received an Illinois CPA certificate and who have had at least one year of full-time experience, or its equivalent, providing any type of service or advice involving use of accounting, attest, management advisory, financial advisory, tax, or consulting skills. Experience may be gained through employment in government, industry, academia, or public practice, and is not required to be acquired under the supervision of a licensed CPA.
- CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER ™ or CFP® certification is granted by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. (“CFP Board”). Candidates must have a bachelor’s degree (or higher) from an accredited college or university and three years of full-time personal financial planning experience. To receive CFP® certification, candidates must complete a CFP Board Registered Program or hold an accepted designation, degree or license; pass the CFP® Certification Examination; and agree to be bound by CFP Board’s Standards of Professional Conduct. In addition, a CFP® professional must complete 30 hours of continuing education every two years. More information about CFP® certification is available at https://www.cfp.net.
- Personal Financial Specialist – The Personal Financial Specialist designation is awarded by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants to CPAs who specialize in helping individuals plan all aspects of their wealth. To become a PFS, candidates must be active members of the AICPA, have at least three years of financial planning experience, meet all the requirements for being a CPA, receive recommendations and pass a written exam. Every three years, PFS professionals must complete 60 hours of continuing professional education.
- Chartered Financial Consultant – The Chartered Financial Consultant® or ChFC® designation currently requires nine college-level courses, and average study time exceeds 450 hours. Required courses cover extensive education and application training in financial planning, income taxation, investments, and estate and retirement planning. ChFC® designees must meet experience requirements and adhere to continuing education and ethical standards. The credential is awarded by The American College, a non-profit educator founded in 1927 and the highest level of academic accreditation.
- Chartered Life Underwriter® – The Chartered Life Underwriter® or CLU® designation is awarded by The American College to insurance and financial services professionals who have met the college’s three-year business experience requirement, passed its eight college-level education courses and agreed to abide by its code of ethics.
- Certified Turnaround Professional – The Certified Turnaround Professional designation is awarded by the Turnaround Management Association and is intended for seasoned practitioners. To become a Certified Turnaround professional, candidates must have a proven track record and years of experience in working with companies or large business units that are in financial crisis, must be or must have held positions such as, but not limited to, Chief Restructuring Officer, Turnaround Team Leader, or Interim Manager; must demonstrate knowledge in the legal, financial, and management aspects of a turnaround. Certification is valid as long as candidates remain active as a professional, abide by the TMA Code of Ethics, and complete at least 30 hours for CTPs and 20 hours for CTAs of continuing professional education during two-year periods, including two hours of ethics credit.
- Certified Hospitality Account Executive – The Certified Hospitality Account Executive (CHAE®) designated is awarded by the Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals. The CHAE certification is the only accounting certification offered by HFTP which is specific to the hospitality industry. Practitioners must pass all four (4) sections of the CHAE exam to receive certification. To maintain the CHAE designation, practitioners must maintain 60 Continuing Education Points over the course of 2 years.
- FINRA exam series 65 – The Uniform Investment Adviser Law examination (Series 65) is designed to qualify candidates as an investment advisory representative in a three-hour long test spanning 130 questions. Candidates must pass with at least 70% in order to pass the Series 65 exam.
