Real World Advice Serving America's Diverse Financial Planning Needs: The American College Introduces Redesigned Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC®) Designation

BRYN MAWR, Pa., July 14, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Americans' financial planning needs are more complex and dynamic than ever before, creating new demand for financial advisors who can serve clients with practical, real world insights and strategies.  To meet the challenges that clients face every day, The American College of Financial Services has announced a redesigned Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC®) designation featuring new courses and content to reflect today's needs.  It will host a webcast discussing the new ChFC® on July 16th at 1:00 PM ET; register at chfcdesignation.com. 

The re-launched ChFC® designation builds on a foundation of core financial planning education by adding new coursework with applied lessons on topical issues including:

• Divorce
• Blended families
• Providing for special needs children and family members
• Issues impacting the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) community
• Retirement income planning
• Behavioral finance

"Families and financial situations are more diverse and complex than ever, and there is clearly no one formula for financial advisors to follow when providing guidance," said Craig Lemoine, Chartered Financial Consultant program director at The American College.  "The new ChFC® designation offers applied knowledge to address real world family and business planning issues, from helping a small business owner plan for the future to providing strategic financial advice to an LGBT couple.  Consumers can turn to a ChFC® for practical, real world advice tailored to each individual's situation."

The ChFC® requires nine college-level courses.  Seven of the courses focus on fundamental financial planning curriculum, and two new required courses concentrate on practical planning applications to help advisors transition from simply creating a financial plan to actually executing it against the complexities of the real world.  The new required courses are:

Applications in Financial Planning I

• Examines the unique challenges associated with business planning; divorce; blended families; special needs; and diverse family issues including those that impact the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) community.

Applications in Financial Planning II

• Examines the unique challenges associated with retirement income portfolios; behavioral finance; ethics; and estate planning.

The new courses include up-to-date content and compelling case studies which provide students with a comprehensive understanding of financial planning in these important areas.

The ChFC® was launched over 30 years ago and there are more than 42,500 licensed ChFC® designees in good standing.  The ChFC® designation explores issues such as:

• The financial planning process
• Meeting client needs through financial planning
• Business expenses and expenses for income production
• Tailoring plans to client objectives
• Plan funding and investing
• Trusts, trustees, and other fiduciaries

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

About The American College

The American College is the nation's largest non-profit educational institution devoted to financial services.  Holding the highest level of academic accreditation, The College has served as a valued business partner to banks, brokerage firms, insurance companies and others for over 87 years. The American College's faculty represents some of the financial services industry's foremost thought leaders.  For more information on The American College, visit TheAmericanCollege.edu.

SOURCE The American College

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