Financial Education for Securities, Banking, & Insurance Professionals.
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ChFC®Chartered Financial Consultant®9 Courses: 7 Required / 2 Elective |
The Most Complete Financial Planning Program
Reach Your Career Goals with this Program
The Chartered Financial Consultant® (ChFC®) program prepares you to meet the advanced financial planning needs of individuals, professionals and small business owners. You'll gain a sustainable advantage in this competitive field with in-depth coverage of the key financial planning disciplines, including insurance, income taxation, retirement planning, investments and estate planning.
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Live Webinar Classes: Enhanced Online Learning
For select courses, a webinar study option is available for those who want a more familiar classroom feel during their student experience. Attend scheduled classes online, and ask questions in real-time. And now, many of these webinar classes come complete with iPad® and iPhone®-ready material!
Intensive Live Review: Onsite Classroom Environment
Accelerate your ChFC® with Live 2½ day courses in a live classroom environment. Highly qualified American College faculty members provide you with 16 hours of intensive review of all the major course concepts. You will also have the ability to ask questions and interact with fellow students. On the last day of the session you will take a pencil and paper final exam, so there's no need to make a separate appointment at a testing center. These classes are a great way to move through your coursework quickly and conveniently.
View Intensive Live Review Classes »
Self-Paced Program: Earn the ChFC® On Your Time
You can study at your own pace, wherever and whenever it is most convenient for you. Complete your program as fast as you like; the self-paced program gives you the opportunity to truly tailor your education to your lifestyle. Our online study aids provide you with the guidance and practice you need to feel confident on test day. With every registration, students are granted access to:
- Downloadable e-books for your iPad® or iPhone®
- Online discussion with course professor
- Supplemental readings
- Streaming video lectures
- Audio reviews
Earn Your CFP® Certification Too
After successfully completing six required courses* in the ChFC® curriculum, you may qualify to sit for the CFP® Certification Examination after completing HS 333 Personal Financial Planning.
*HS 300, HS 311, HS 321, HS 326, HS 328, HS 330.
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Intensive Review Classes
HS 321 — Income Taxation
Comfort Suites — Schaumburg, IL- 1100 East Higgins Road, Schaumburg, IL 60173
- Reservations — 847-330-0133
Hotel Reservation Cutoff Date: 7/4/2013 - www.comfortschaumburg.com
Click here to registerHS 332 — Financial Planning Applications
The Doubletree by Hilton — Valley Forge, PA- 301 West DeKalb Pike, King of Prussia, PA 19406
- Reservations — 610-337-1200
Hotel Reservation Cutoff Date: 7/18/2013 - www.doubletree.com
Click here to registerHS 328 — Investments
The Doubletree by Hilton — Valley Forge, PA- 301 West DeKalb Pike, King of Prussia, PA 19406
- Reservations — 610-337-1200
Hotel Reservation Cutoff Date: 8/1/2013 - www.doubletree.com
Click here to registerHS 334 — Estate Planning Applications
The Doubletree by Hilton — Valley Forge, PA- 301 West DeKalb Pike, King of Prussia, PA 19406
- Reservations — 610-337-1200
Hotel Reservation Cutoff Date: 8/8/2013 - www.doubletree.com
Click here to registerHS 311 — Fundamentals of Insurance Planning
Comfort Suites — Schaumburg, IL- 1100 East Higgins Road, Schaumburg, IL 60173
- Reservations — 847-330-0133
Hotel Reservation Cutoff Date: 8/29/2013 - www.comfortschaumburg.com
Click here to register
Live Online Courses
HS 330 - Fundamentals of Estate Planning
Date: 06/18/13–07/16/13
Professor(s): Constance FontaineThis class meets every Tuesday and Thursday from 6:00pm to 8:30pm ET
HS 311 - Fund of Insurance Planning
Date: 07/09/13–08/01/13
Professor(s): Kevin LynchThis class meets every Tuesday and Thursday from 6:00pm to 8:30pm ET
HS 300 - Financial Planning: Process/Environment
Date: 07/16/13–08/08/13
Professor(s): Craig LemoineThis class meets every Tuesday and Thursday from 6:00pm to 8:30pm ET
HS 326 - Planning for Retirement Needs
Date: 08/06/13–08/29/13
Professor(s): David LittellThis class meets every Tuesday and Thursday from 6:00pm to 8:30pm ET
HS 330 - Fundamentals of Estate Planning
Date: 08/20/13–09/12/13
Professor(s): Constance FontaineThis class meets every Tuesday and Thursday from 6:00pm to 8:30pm ET
HS 311 - Fund of Insurance Planning
Date: 09/17/13–10/10/13
Professor(s): Kevin LynchThis class meets every Tuesday and Thursday from 6:00pm to 8:30pm ET
HS 300 - Financial Planning: Process/Environment
Date: 09/17/13–10/10/13
Professor(s): Craig LemoineThis class meets every Tuesday and Thursday from 6:00pm to 8:30pm ET
HS 326 - Planning for Retirement Needs
Date: 09/24/13–10/17/13
Professor(s): David LittellThis class meets every Tuesday and Thursday from 6:00pm to 8:30pm ET
HS 321 - Income Taxation
Date: 10/22/13–11/14/13
Professor(s): Christopher WoehrleThis class meets every Tuesday and Thursday from 6:00pm to 8:30pm ET
HS 311 - Fund of Insurance Planning
Date: 07/09/13–08/01/13
Professor(s): Kevin LynchThis class meets every Tuesday and Thursday from 6:00pm to 8:30pm ET
HS 300 - Financial Planning: Process/Environment
Date: 07/16/13–08/08/13
Professor(s): Craig LemoineThis class meets every Tuesday and Thursday from 6:00pm to 8:30pm ET
HS 326 - Planning for Retirement Needs
Date: 08/06/13–08/29/13
Professor(s): David LittellThis class meets every Tuesday and Thursday from 6:00pm to 8:30pm ET
HS 330 - Fundamentals of Estate Planning
Date: 08/20/13–09/12/13
Professor(s): Constance FontaineThis class meets every Tuesday and Thursday from 6:00pm to 8:30pm ET
HS 311 - Fund of Insurance Planning
Date: 09/17/13–10/10/13
Professor(s): Kevin LynchThis class meets every Tuesday and Thursday from 6:00pm to 8:30pm ET
HS 300 - Financial Planning: Process/Environment
Date: 09/17/13–10/10/13
Professor(s): Craig LemoineThis class meets every Tuesday and Thursday from 6:00pm to 8:30pm ET
HS 326 - Planning for Retirement Needs
Date: 09/24/13–10/17/13
Professor(s): David LittellThis class meets every Tuesday and Thursday from 6:00pm to 8:30pm ET
HS 321 - Income Taxation
Date: 10/22/13–11/14/13
Professor(s): Christopher WoehrleThis class meets every Tuesday and Thursday from 6:00pm to 8:30pm ET
HS 326 - Planning for Retirement Needs
Date: 08/06/13–08/29/13
Professor(s): David LittellThis class meets every Tuesday and Thursday from 6:00pm to 8:30pm ET
HS 330 - Fundamentals of Estate Planning
Date: 08/20/13–09/12/13
Professor(s): Constance FontaineThis class meets every Tuesday and Thursday from 6:00pm to 8:30pm ET
HS 311 - Fund of Insurance Planning
Date: 09/17/13–10/10/13
Professor(s): Kevin LynchThis class meets every Tuesday and Thursday from 6:00pm to 8:30pm ET
HS 300 - Financial Planning: Process/Environment
Date: 09/17/13–10/10/13
Professor(s): Craig LemoineThis class meets every Tuesday and Thursday from 6:00pm to 8:30pm ET
HS 326 - Planning for Retirement Needs
Date: 09/24/13–10/17/13
Professor(s): David LittellThis class meets every Tuesday and Thursday from 6:00pm to 8:30pm ET
HS 321 - Income Taxation
Date: 10/22/13–11/14/13
Professor(s): Christopher WoehrleThis class meets every Tuesday and Thursday from 6:00pm to 8:30pm ET
HS 311 - Fund of Insurance Planning
Date: 09/17/13–10/10/13
Professor(s): Kevin LynchThis class meets every Tuesday and Thursday from 6:00pm to 8:30pm ET
HS 300 - Financial Planning: Process/Environment
Date: 09/17/13–10/10/13
Professor(s): Craig LemoineThis class meets every Tuesday and Thursday from 6:00pm to 8:30pm ET
HS 326 - Planning for Retirement Needs
Date: 09/24/13–10/17/13
Professor(s): David LittellThis class meets every Tuesday and Thursday from 6:00pm to 8:30pm ET
HS 321 - Income Taxation
Date: 10/22/13–11/14/13
Professor(s): Christopher WoehrleThis class meets every Tuesday and Thursday from 6:00pm to 8:30pm ET
HS 321 - Income Taxation
Date: 10/22/13–11/14/13
Professor(s): Christopher WoehrleThis class meets every Tuesday and Thursday from 6:00pm to 8:30pm ET
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ChFC® Curriculum
Course NameCourse #RequiredProvides an overview of the financial planning process, including communication techniques, ethics, risk tolerance, time-value-of-money concepts, financial planning applications, regulatory issues and the legal and economic environment for financial planning. Offers an understanding of the role and responsibilities of a financial planner, along with some analytical skills to aid in financial decision making.
Focuses on the role of planning for insurance needs. Covers basic concepts in risk management and insurance, insurance industry operations, legal principles pertaining to this industry, and regulation of insurers. Examines social insurance, life insurance and annuities, medical and disability income insurance, long-term care insurance and personal property and liability insurance. Concludes with an overview of commercial property and liability insurance and a case study.
Examines the federal income tax system with particular reference to the taxation of individuals. Covers such concepts as gross income, exclusions from gross income, deductions, tax credits, capital gains and losses, taxation of life insurance and annuities and income taxation of partners, partnerships, corporations and shareholders.
Focuses on selecting the right retirement plan for the business and on individual retirement planning. Covers qualified plans, SEPs, SIMPLEs and 403(b) plans and nonqualified deferred compensation plans. Emphasizes the practical knowledge needed for choosing the best retirement plan, especially for the small business, and designing a plan that will meet a client’s needs. Also covers individual retirement planning including IRAs and Roth IRAs, Social Security benefits, saving for retirement and planning for retirement plan distributions.
Covers various aspects of the principles of investments and their application to financial planning. Discusses risk analysis and risk and return computations. Looks at stocks, bonds, investment companies, options and futures contracts. Includes an extended discussion of tax issues in investing and issues in the practice of portfolio management, including strategic and tactical asset allocation. Provides many examples of ethical and practical issues in managing a client’s portfolio.
Covers various aspects of estate and gift tax planning, including the nature, valuation, transfer, administration and taxation of property. Provides a basic understanding of the estate and gift tax system, including strategies of estate planning. Discusses gratuitous transfers of property outright or with trusts, wills and powers of appointment; use of the marital deduction; valuation of assets; and buy-sell agreements. Covers the client interview, fact finding, ethical standards and development of personal estate plans.
Uses case analysis to integrate planning techniques, tools and products covered in prior courses. Provides practical experience in analyzing and solving realistic financial problems of individuals and businesses. Includes cases that range from simple fact patterns and basic documents to complex situations involving not only personal financial problems, but also financial problems associated with businesses, business ownership and estate planning.
Presents an overview of the global financial system and its influence on the financial services industry. Examines financial markets, their principal institutions and their economic functions, products and services. Examines the rapidly changing regulatory and competitive environment and major trends that shape the industry.
Covers estate and gift tax principles with an emphasis on life insurance planning applications. Discusses forecasting the gross estate, life insurance trusts, valuation principles, the use of charitable contributions as an estate planning technique, planning opportunities stemming from the marital relationship, the taxation of trusts, implications of employee benefits and estate freezes. Includes a case study reflecting procedural aspects of estate planning.
Analyzes the many types of programs used to provide benefits for executives of business firms. Discusses plan design and installation and reviews ERISA, tax and other compliance issues that apply to each type of program. The course includes cash-compensation planning, nonqualified deferred-compensation plans, funded deferred compensation and restricted property plans, stock options, split-dollar life insurance plans, disability income benefits, executive fringe benefits, health reimbursement arrangements and limits on golden parachute payments.
Focuses on financial decisions clients face as they approach, reach and pass retirement age and on the tools and techniques financial advisors may employ to assist their clients with these decisions. The course covers source of income, retirement calculations, investment considerations both during the accumulation and distribution phases, annuities, housing decisions and estate planning concerns. Especially valuable for practitioners helping clients move retirement assets from employer sponsored to individual retirement plans. Provides perspectives on dealing with aging and retired clients and their families.
*Students who have already taken HS318 may not take HS300 or HS311 for credit toward the ChFC® designation, and must take three electives. If you have passed the CFP® certification exam you may be eligible to apply for transfer of credit if needed. Students who have taken HS 318, HS 321, HS 326, HS 328, and HS 330 with The American College as well as having passed the CFP® certification examination and does not currently hold a CLU® designation, may take two electives and apply for one transfer of credit by paying the transfer of credit fee.
Recommended Course Sequence
Several courses in this program assume prior knowledge. You are encouraged to take HS 300 first, as it provides an introduction to this program. You are encouraged to take HS 332 as the last of the core courses.
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Program Completion Requirements
To receive the ChFC® designation, you must successfully complete all courses in your selected program, meet experience requirements, ethics standards, and agree to comply with The American College Code of Ethics and Procedures.
Full Completion Requirements »
Code of Ethics
To underscore the importance of ethics standards for Huebner School designations, the Board of Trustees adopted a Code of Ethics in 1984. Embodied in the Code are the Professional Pledge and eight Canons.
Continuing Education
Many of the programs at The American College qualify for Continuing Education. Understand that this information changes frequently, and while we will do our best to provide current data, it is your responsibility to verify CE credits with your state.
PACE Recertification
A recertification fee is applied to first-time PACE-required designees after February 1, 2007. A fee of $250, recurring every two years, covers multiple designations and is not retroactive for prior PACE-required designees.
*Approximately 90% of PACE recertification fees will be used for public awareness of the designations.
The 5-Year Rule
The American College pledges to offer the most up-to-date material and course offerings. In doing so, all courses are subject to the Five-Year Rule, in the interest of the most valid study material and timely designation completion.
Policy FAQs
Answers for common questions concerning core designations (exam retake and reschedule policies, tuition and fees, etc.) can be found on the Core Designations FAQ page.
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Transfer of Credit
You may be eligible for transfer of credit for prior coursework or other approved designations. Please note: Some states waive the Series 65 if the ChFC® has been earned.
Moving Your Career Forward
Plan your next designation. After successfully completing six required courses* in the ChFC® curriculum, you may qualify to sit for the CFP® Certification Examination after completing HS 333 Personal Financial Planning.
*HS 300, HS 311, HS 321, HS 326, HS 328, HS 330.
Highest Standard of Knowledge and Trust
If you earn the ChFC® designation, you may also earn the CLU® designation by completing a minimum of three additional courses. For the CLU®, you must complete the remaining core courses and select from the electives list for that program if additional courses are still needed; electives in the ChFC® program may not be used as electives in the CLU® program.
Additional Study Support
Cost-effective supplementary study materials, developed in partnership with Kier Educational Resources, are also available for select ChFC® courses.
Refund Requests
All requests for refunds must be made in writing to the Office of Professional Education, The American College, 270 S. Bryn Mawr Ave., Bryn Mawr, PA 19010. We will refund your course tuition less a $170 cancellation fee for 30 days into the quarter for which you are registered. Textbooks do not need to be returned and no refund will be given for these textbooks.
Register Today
Online: Click Here to Begin
PDF: Mail or Fax a PDF Application
Phone: 888-263-7265
Email: Send Us an Email
Hours: M–F 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. ET
Program Price—Best Value!
On Your Time Package: $4,698
Includes the full package of nine self-study classes with the best support in the business. Enjoy extensive online study materials including practice exams, audio reviews, video clips and more.
Pricing For Single Courses
Tuition: $640 (per course)
Admission Fee: $145*
Shipping: $25 (per course)
Self-paced study with the best support in the business. Enjoy extensive online study materials including practice exams, audio reviews, video clips and more.
*One-time, nonrefundable fee for new enrollees at The College.
