American College of Financial Services Redesigns Designation

The relaunched ChFC designation builds on a foundation of core financial planning education by adding applied lessons on topical issues such as client divorces, retirement income planning and behavioral finance. A module on how to provide quality guidance for families with special needs children has been added to the designation program, the firm explains, along with a module on societal issues impacting the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community.

“Families and financial situations are more diverse and complex than ever, and there is clearly no one formula for financial advisers to follow when providing guidance,” explains Craig Lemoine, chartered financial consultant program director at The American College. 

The ChFC designation requires nine college-level courses, with seven of the courses focused on fundamental financial planning curriculum and two new required courses titled “Applications in Financial Planning I” and “Applications in Financial Planning II.”

The first applications course looks at the challenges that are involved with business planning, which include divorce, special needs and issues that impact the LGBT community. The second applications course looks at issues impacting retirement income portfolios, behavioral finance, ethics, and estate planning.

Advisers can learn more about the ChFC program by visiting www.ChFCDesignation.com, while consumers can learn about this credential and others at www.DesignationCheck.com.