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In Practice September 23, 2024
College for Financial Planning Launches Accredited Investment Fiduciary Training Program
Fi360, a Broadridge Company, selected the College as the official education provider.
Reported by Natalie Lin
The College for Financial Planning—a Kaplan Company—has launched an Accredited Investment Fiduciary training program, designed to help financial professionals earn the AIF designation, according to a Monday announcement.
Fi360, a Broadridge Company and the owner of the designation, has named the College an official education provider for the program. This partnership allows candidates pursuing the AIF credential to meet the necessary training requirements to sit for the exam.
“We see the AIF as a great ‘first’ designation due to its high credibility and relative low time commitment to achieve,” John Faustino, head of Broadridge’s Fi360, said in a statement. “The College is well positioned to help address growing AIF training demand from wealth advisors and other financial professionals.”
The AIF designation ensures that professionals advising on investor assets have a solid understanding of fiduciary duties and the standards required to act in their clients’ best interests. Fi360’s accreditation by the ANSI National Accreditation Board under the international standard 17024 places the AIF designation among an elite group of financial certifications, according to the Kaplan company.
“Through premier student-centered education like our AIF training, the College continues to advance the field of financial planning by empowering our students to make a difference in their clients’ lives and thrive in their own careers,” Dirk Pantone, president of the College, said in a statement. “The College is incredibly excited to continue this commitment by helping financial professionals earn their AIF® designation, which lets consumers know that their interests will take top priority.”
In April, OneAmerica Financial Partners Inc. and Broadridge Financial Solutions Inc. had announced a collaboration to provide 30 female financial advisers with free training for the AIF designation.
The OneAmerica Financial Female Retirement Professionals Program is led by Sandy McCarthy, president of Retirement Services at OneAmerica Financial, with the goal of elevating women in the financial services industry. OneAmerica’s retirement division will be acquired by Voya as of 2025, according to an agreement the firms announced earlier this month.