Certifications and licensing

The "model rule" for state regulators is meant to help clients distinguish between advisors who earn management fees and brokers who collect transaction-based commissions.

The standard-setting group is mulling increasing continuing education requirements and requiring that CFP aspirants have certain types of financial planning-related experiences, among other changes.

The regulators' organization is also seeking to let state regulators enforce the same Reg BI conduct standard that federal watchdogs now apply to broker-dealers.

While the process of preparing for the 170 multiple-choice-question test can be expensive, time-consuming and nerve-racking, there are ways to make it less unpleasant and more successful.

The giant universities that have their own investment arms are likely out of reach, but they represent only a small portion of the rapidly growing channel.

The program allows candidates to complete the certification program online, asynchronously and in half the time it takes to complete the standard program.

Jeffrey Levine and The American College of Financial Services hope to help more financial advisors branch into the related but historically separate field.

CFAs' knowledge of investments is on another level — which is why the designation is so hard to get. Here's why it can be worth it.

The St. Louis-based brokerage is also encouraging representatives to become Certified Financial Planners as it experiments with fee-based fiduciary business models.

For clients who care about social impact in their portfolios or financial plans, this relatively young designation can help an advisor deliver more value.