The ABCs and CFP®s* of Financial Advisor Credentials

Have you ever looked at the letters after a financial advisor’s name and wondered what they stood for?

Or, more important to your finances, have you ever looked into what it took to get them and what it means to you?? What’s a broker? What’s an insurance agent? What’s a financial planner? Is there a difference to you and does it matter? You’re darn right it does!

The confusing alphabet soup of brokers/insurance agents/financial planner credentials have kept investors confused and many financial planners frustrated for decades. To the average investor, a few letters of a credential may look impressive but they have no idea if it was earned by attending a weekend class sitting in a hotel conference room or by having years of experience working with clients, passing rigorous courses through accredited universities, and extensive case studies and exams.

The Certified Financial Planner®* designation has long been the gold standard recognized in the financial planning community. We think the CFP board says it best on their website:

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“Most people think all financial planners are 'certified,' but this isn’t true. Just about anyone can use the title 'financial planner.' CFP Board benefits the public by independently certifying financial planners. Although CFP Board does not guarantee their work, CFP® professionals have met rigorous qualifications for financial planning. Only those who have fulfilled CFP Board’s rigorous requirements can call themselves a CFP®* professional.

As part of their certification, CFP®* professionals commit to high ethical standards. What’s more, a CFP® professional must acquire several years of experience related to delivering financial planning services to clients and pass the comprehensive CFP® Certification Exam before they can call themselves a CFP® professional.”

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This is your future. Your family’s future. Do your homework. Invest the time to get this one right. We tell our children one of the most important things you will do in life is choosing who you surround yourself with. Choose wisely who you surround yourself with when it comes to your finances and who is walking alongside you as you navigate life and your resources. We believe in the Lockshield Way.

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The Lockshield Way is about 3 things:

1. Providing comprehensive financial planning.

2. Assisting clients in being the best stewards of their resources.

3. To walk with clients along that journey every step of the way.

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Why trust your life savings to a credential that you have no idea what it stands for or what it even took to earn? Lockshield Partners has the only 2 CFP®’s* in the Glasgow/Barren County area. If you don’t work with a CFP®*, we encourage you to click below for a free, no obligation financial review. It won't cost you anything but time. You may find a better way. The Lockshield Way.

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Schedule your complimentary planning session today.