The CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, CFP® and federally registered professional certification marks (collectively, the “CFP® marks”) granted by the United States by Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. (“CFP® Board”).

The CFP® certification is a voluntary certification; no federal or state law or regulation requires financial planners to hold a CFP® certification. To attain the right to use the CFP® designation, an individual must satisfactorily fulfill the following requirements:

• Education – Complete an advanced college-level course of study addressing the financial planning subject areas that CFP Board’s studies have determined as necessary for the competent and professional delivery of financial planning services, and as of January 2007, attain a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited United States college or university (or its equivalent from a foreign university). CFP Board’s financial planning subject areas include insurance planning and risk management, employee benefits planning, investment planning, income tax planning, retirement planning, and estate planning; NWAM, LLC dba Northwest Asset Management is an SEC Registered Investment Adviser.
• Examination – Pass the comprehensive CFP® Certification Examination. The examination includes case studies and Client scenarios designed to test one’s ability to correctly diagnose financial planning issues and apply one’s knowledge of financial planning to real world circumstances;
• Experience – Complete at least three years of full-time financial planning-related experience (or the equivalent, measured as 2,000 hours per year); and
• Ethics – Agree to be bound by CFP Board’s Standards of Professional Conduct, a set of documents outlining the ethical and practice standards for CFP® professionals.

Individuals who become certified must complete ongoing education and ethics requirements to maintain the right to continue to use the CFP® marks. This requires 30 hours of continuing education hours every two years, including two hours on the Code of Ethics and other parts of the Standards of Professional Conduct, to maintain competence and keep up with developments in the financial planning field; and renewal of an agreement to be bound by the Standards of Professional Conduct. The Standards prominently require that CFP® professionals provide financial planning services at a fiduciary standard of care. This means CFP® professionals must provide financial planning services in the best interests of their Clients.

CFP® professionals who fail to comply with the above standards and requirements may be subject to the CFP Board’s enforcement process, which could result in suspension or permanent revocation of their CFP® certification.

The ChFC® designation is issued by The American College of Financial Services. The program offers comprehensive education in the essentials of financial planning, including insurance, taxation, retirement, and estate planning. It also addresses advanced areas such as behavioral finance, non-traditional family structures, and small business planning.

Candidates must have three years of full-time business experience within the five years preceding the awarding designation and a high school diploma or equivalent.

To receive the designation, candidates must complete eight online self-study courses, pass a final course exam, and agree to comply with The American College Code of Ethics and Procedures.

Designees must complete 30 credit hours of Continuing Education every two years to maintain the designation and participate in the annual Professional Recertification Program to maintain the designation. ChFC® designation holders are subject to disciplinary rules and procedures, including a customer complaint process.

The ChSNC® designation is issued by The American College of Financial Services and offers comprehensive education on financial planning for special needs individuals, their families, and caregivers.

Qualification for the ChSNC® program is at least five years of professional experience in financial services or law practice (focusing on income tax or estate planning) or otherwise four years of relevant professional financial services experience and a degree from a regionally accredited institution. The ChSNC® designation program consists of three self-study courses. Client-facing designees must complete 30 credit hours of Continuing Education every two years and participate in the annual Professional Recertification Program to maintain the designation.

ChSNC® designation holders are subject to disciplinary rules and procedures, including a customer complaint process.