Check a Credential

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Check a Credential

A high percentage of financial advisors display letters after their names.

These letters are supposed to represent credentials they have earned through extensive study, examinations, and continuing education.

What if that is not true?

The Best Advisors

The best financial advisors earned their credentials with significant study, proctored examinations, and completing continuing education requirements.

In this case, their credentials mean they really are experts in their fields.

Some of the best credentials include: CFA, CIMA, CFP, and CPA.

The Unethical Advisors

Unfortunately, not all advisors earn their credentials. Some buy them the same way they buy degrees from diploma mills. 

They buy credentials to look more knowledgeable than they really are.

This is a deceptive sales practice. You would never knowingly select this advisor, but that is their big advantage. You may not know.  

Seniors Beware

Many advisors target seniors with this deceptive sales tactic. The Consumer Protection Bureau says there are more 50 fake credentials that target seniors.

If you are a senior, don't sign any documents until you have validated the quality of the advisor's credentials.  

Lack of Regulations

You might be wondering how unethical advisors get away with it?

First, there are no meaningful regulations that prevent these deceptive sales practices.

Second, this advisors know most investors will not take the time to check the validity of their credentials.

Third, the advisors know there is no easy to way to check credentials. 

Check a Credential

We make it easy to check the quality of credentials.

We have researched more than 250 certifications and designations that are used by financial advisors. Then we produced a report and a quality rating for each credential.

All you enter are the letters of the name of the credential to view the report and ratings.

The service is FREE and there are no registration requirements!

Quick Search:

CRPS® Chartered Retirement Plans Specialist

CRPC® Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor

CRP™ Certified Retirement Planner

CRMA Certified Reverse Mortgage Advisor

CRFA® Certified Retirement Financial Advisor

CRC® Certified Retirement Counselor

CRA™ Certified Risk Analyst

CPWA® Certified Private Wealth Advisor

CPSR Certified Professional Service Representative

CPM™ Certified Chartered Portfolio Manager

CPFC® Certified Personal Finance Counselor

CPEP Certified Private Equity Professional

CPA Certified Public Accountant

CMFC® Chartered Mutual Fund Counselor

CMA Chartered Market Analyst

CMA® Certified Management Accountant

CM&AA® Certified Merger and Acquisition Advisor

CLF® Chartered Leadership Fellow

CITA™ Certified International Tax Analyst

CISP Certified IRA Services Professional

CIS™ Certified Income Specialist

CIMC Certified Investment Management Consultant

CIMA® Certified Investment Management Analyst

CIC Chartered Investment Counselor

CHP Certified Hedge Fund Professional

CHFP Certified Healthcare Financial Professional

ChFEBC Chartered Federal Employee Benefits Consultant

ChFE Chartered Financial Engineer

ChFC® Chartered Financial Consultant

ChE™ Chartered Economist

CFS® Certified Fund Specialist

CFPN Christian Financial Professionals Network Certification

CFP® Certified Financial Planner

CFMA Chartered and Certified Financial Management Analyst

CFM Certified in Financial Management

CFG Certified Financial Gerontologist

CFFA™ Certified Forensic Financial Analyst™

CFEd® Certified Financial Educator"

CFDS Certified Financial Divorce Specialist

CFCA® Christian Financial Consultant & Advisor

CFC® Certified Financial Consultant

CFA® Chartered Financial Analyst

CEPS Certified Elder Planning Specialist

CEPF® Certified Educator in Personal Finance

CCTS Certified Corporate Trust Specialist

BFA™ Behavioral Financial Advisor

CASL® Chartered Advisor for Senior Living®

CAS® Certified Annuity Specialist

CAPP™ Certified Asset Protection Planner

CAMC™ Certified Anti-Money Laundering Consultant

CAM™ Chartered Asset Manager

AWMA® Accredited Wealth Management Advisor

AVA Accredited Valuation Analyst

ARPS Accredited Retirement Plan Specialist

ARPC Accredited Retirement Plan Consultant

ARM-P Associate in Risk Management for Public Entities

ARM-E Associate in Risk Management-ERM

ARA Accredited Retirement Advisor®

APP Asset Protection Planner

APMA® Accredited Portfolio Management Advisor

ALMI® Associate, Life Management Institute™"

ALHC Associate, Life and Health Claims

AIFA® Accredited Investment Fiduciary Analyst

AIF® Accredited Investment Fiduciary

AFSI® Associate, Financial Services Institute™

AFC Accredited Financial Counselor

AEP® Accredited Estate Planner®

ADPA® Accredited Domestic Partnership Advisor

AAMS® Accredited Asset Management Specialist

AALU Associate Academy of Life Underwriting

MSBA Master of Science in Business Analytics

MSF Master of Science in Finance

MSFS Masters in Financial Services

CFF® Certified Financial Fiduciary

MRFC Master Registered Financial Consultant

CPRC™ Certified Professional Retirement Coach

WMCP™ Wealth Management Certified Professional

TGPC Tax Exempt & Governmental Plan Consultant

CPFA Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor

CMFS Certified Mutual Fund Specialist

CFEI Certified Financial Education Instructor

ChSNC™ Chartered Special Needs Consultant

CFT™ Certified Financial Transitionist

NSSA National Social Security Advisor

DCCC Digital Currency Council Certification

CMP™ Certified Medicaid Planner

RFA™ Registered Financial Analyst

CWMS Certified Wealth Management Specialist

CPIW Certified Professional Insurance Woman

CIPM Certificate in Investment Performance Measurement

CIIP Certified Insurance Industry Professional

CFMP Certified Financial Marketing Professional

CEP Certified Equity Professional

FSCP Financial Services Certified Professional

QFOP Qualified Family Office Professional

MBA Master of Business Administration

CRA™ Certified Retirement Administrator

AFE Accredited Financial Examiner

AFA® Accredited Financial Analyst

MPAS℠ Master Planner Advanced Studies

ChHC Chartered Healthcare Consultant

CFSA® Certified Financial Services Auditor

CFE Certified Financial Examiner

CRM Certified Risk Manager

QFP® Qualified Financial Planner

LIFA Licensed International Financial Analyst

CES™ Certified Estate and Trust Specialist™

ABA Accredited Business Accountant®

QKA® Qualified 401(k) Administrator

RICP™ Retirement Income Certified Professional

FIC Fraternal Insurance Counselor

WMS Wealth Management Specialist

RFP Registered Financial Planner

RP® Registered Paraplanner

RMA℠ Retirement Management Advisor

RLP® Registered Life Planner

RHU® Registered Health Underwriter

RFS™ Registered Financial Specialist

RFC® Registered Financial Consultant

RFA® Registered Financial Associate

RF™ Registered Fiduciary

REBC® Registered Employee Benefits Consultant

QPFC Qualified Plan Financial Consultant

QFA Qualified Financial Advisor

PRPS Personal Retirement Planning Specialist

PPC® Professional Plan Consultant

PFS Personal Financial Specialist

MFP® Master Financial Professional

MFM™ Master Financial Manager

MFA Master Financial Planner

MCEP® Master Certified Estate Planner

LTCP Long-term Care Professional

INS Program in General Insurance

FRM® Financial Risk Manager

FLMI® Fellow, Life Management Institute

FFSI® Fellow, Financial Services Institute

FALU Fellow, Academy of Life Underwriting

ERPA Enrolled Retirement Plan Agent

CWSS Certified Wealth Smart Strategist

CWS® Certified Wealth Strategist

CWPP Certified Wealth Preservation Planner

CWM® Chartered Wealth Manager

CWC Certified Wealth Consultant

CVA® Certified Valuation Analyst

CTS™ Certified Tax Specialist

CTFA Certified Trust and Financial Advisor

CTEP® Chartered Trust and Estate Planner

CSRP Certified Specialist in Retirement Planning

CSFP Chartered Senior Financial Planner

CSEP Certified Specialist in Estate Planning

CSC Certified Senior Consultant

CSA Certified Senior Advisor

CRSP Certified Retirement Services Professional

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