Certified Financial Advisors

A certified financial advisor is a person who has aprofessional.Financial advisers have to register with
certification from a professional association oreither the SEC or the state securities agency where
government registry. He must have a thoroughthey have their principal place of business, depending
knowledge of financial affairs, from personal finance toon their size. Investment advisers who manage $25
market behavior.Most of them have credentials like themillion or more in client assets must register with the
CFP certification or CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst).SEC. If they manage less than $25 million, they must
Verify with the organization that issued the credentialregister with the state securities agency in the state
that your CFA is in good standing with the organization.where they have their principal place of business. This
NSAD's Understanding Investment Professionalis one form of certification or registration that makes
Designations can be very helpful in this regard.Thethe professional accountable.The investment advisers
other professional body that certifies these financialhave to fill out a form called ""Form ADV" and file it
professionals is the CFP, or Certified Financial Plannerwith either the SEC or the state securities agency,
Board of Standards. The Board is an independentdepending on the amount of assets they manage.The
regulatory organization that gives licenses to financialADV includes two parts. Part I contains vital
planners. It's better that you check whether theinformation about the professional's education, business,
professional is certified as a CFP professional, andand whether they've had problems with regulators or
whether there are incidences in his professional careerclients. Part II outlines the services, fees, and strategies.
that has lead his or her suspension of the certificate byBefore you choose someone to be your investment
the Board. You can also call the Board at (888)adviser you should examine both parts of the ADV,
237-6275 to obtain additional information about thewhich is also one form of certification.