Making Sense of “Alphabet Soup”

If your doctor tells you that you have a serious illness, you will most likely be referred to a specialist to better meet your specific needs. With the challenges in the market over the last few years, the need for qualified financial advisors has become even more important. There are over fifty financial designations in use, yet only a handful of them are considered to meet adequate standards.

Here at Ambassador Advisors, all of our financial professionals meet, if not exceed, at least the minimum testing qualifications (Series 7, 66, and Life and Health Licenses).

The designations that you will find for our financial professionals at Ambassador Advisors, all require recognized accreditation processes. These include the following:

Certified Financial Planner (CFP): CFPs operate with high standards and respect for their clients’ financial planning wishes. Their financial advice is based on a comprehensive financial planning process. CFPs adhere to stringent standards to serve clients.

Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC): This designation requires extensive, comprehensive financial training. The ChFC is usually obtained by professionals working in the insurance industry.

Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA): CFAs generally work for institutions, providing investment and portfolio management. CFAs must meet extensive educational, and rigorous professional, standards.

Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy (CAP): The CAP program advances the understanding of charitable giving in the U.S. by offering graduate-level education to professionals in the nonprofit and financial services fields who work with individuals and families in developing and implementing philanthropic programs. The curriculum addresses issues of advanced design, implementation and management of charitable gift techniques and strategies, and philanthropic tools including charitable trusts, private foundations, supporting organizations, donor-advised funds, pooled income funds, and charitable gift annuities.

To learn more about any financial designation, please visit the FINRA Searchable Database for detailed descriptions of all the financial designations.

Ambassador Advisors is a Registered Investment Advisor. Securities offered through American Portfolios Financial Services, Inc. of Holbrook, NY, 631-439-4600 (APFS), member FINRA, SIPC. Investment Advisory Services offered through Ambassador Advisors, LLC. Ambassador Advisors is not owned or operated by APFS.

Any opinions expressed in this forum are not the opinion or view of Ambassador Advisors or American Portfolios Financial Services, Inc. (APFS). They have not been reviewed by either firm for completeness or accuracy. These opinions are subject to change at any time without notice. Any comments or postings are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute an offer or a recommendation to buy or sell securities or other financial instruments. Readers should conduct their own review and exercise judgment prior to investing. Investments are not guaranteed, involve risk and may result in a loss of principal. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Investments are not suitable for all types of investors.