Certifications and licensing

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.

Amid industry crackdown, some say they are beginning to see a way forward for digital asset firms that want to stay on the right side of the law.

The CDFA can help financial planners as more older Americans divorce — putting retirement savings, estate plans and big assets on the line.

Some argue the standard-setting organization could be doing more to expel 'bad apples' from the industry.

Demand is growing for the certified private wealth advisor credential, which has been around for 15 years and helps advisors cater to high net worth clients.

The CRPC is a popular sister certification of the CFP. FP spoke with the program's head and with advisors who say it's a must-have credential for retirement planning.

From AAI to WMS, there are 242 designations for financial professionals. Here's a quick primer on the most important ones — and how to get them.