ChFC®
Chartered Financial Consultant®
Best For
Financial professionals seeking applied skills in financial planning.
Timing
<18 Months
Format
Set yourself apart with the knowledge and skill to deliver sound advice with confidence through a 100% online curriculum and support from preeminent financial planning thought leaders. Take a Tour.
100% Online
Tuition
Starting at
$955/course
Packages available with reduced tuition.
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Deliver Sound Advice With Confidence
Get Applied Planning Knowledge
Don’t just learn about financial planning — put your knowledge into practice with a focus on application of your skills.
Two Marks, One Program
Earning your ChFC® designation also qualifies you to sit for the CFP® exam!
Enroll Now
Flexible Learning Options
Our all-online program for financial professionals lets you study and complete coursework on your schedule.
Financial Planning for Today’s Complexities
Tour the Program Now
Join Program Director Chet Bennetts, PhD, CFP®, ChFC®, CLU®, RICP®, CLF® for a look inside the ChFC® Program and a curriculum overview!
ChFC® Program Overview
Admissions Requirements
There are no prerequisites required to begin ChFC® courses (other than a high school diploma or equivalent — no bachelor’s degree required), but at least three years of experience in financial planning or a related profession is required to use this financial planning designation.
To receive the ChFC® designation, you must:
- Successfully complete the eight required courses and related examinations
- Agree to comply with The American College Code of Ethics and Procedures
Participation in the annual Professional Recertification Program (PRP) is required to maintain the designation.
What You'll Learn
The all-online ChFC® Program offers extensive knowledge through essential financial planning education courses on insurance, taxation, retirement, and estate planning. It also addresses advanced areas such as behavioral finance, non-traditional family structures, and small business planning, with a focus on application of your skills.
Your learning outcomes include:
- Understanding the basics of financial planning and risk management
- Insights on income tax strategies for individuals, small businesses, and corporations
- Knowledge of retirement planning, investing, and estate planning strategies for success
- Skills for special needs planning, gift planning and inheritance, and insurance planning
- Applying your knowledge to real-world planning situations
Course Delivery
Earn your ChFC® designation online while studying the curriculum at your own pace and get support from our academic advising team and the top thought leaders in the industry today.
- All-Online Resources: All-virtual lessons organized in sequential units and supported by short videos, knowledge checks, quizzes, and case studies.
- Testing: There is no high-stakes cumulative exam in the ChFC® Program; each course features its own quizzes, knowledge checks, and a final course exam.
- Expert Instruction: Get the latest insights delivered by preeminent thought leaders and researchers.
- Flexible E-learning: So you can complete coursework on your schedule.
- Two Marks, One Program: Completing the ChFC® Program satisfies the education requirement to sit for the CFP® exam and gives you the chance to double down on your success!
Tuition Overview
Single Courses
Starting at $955
Packages
Starting at $6,395
Single Courses
Just $955 per course
Single courses in the ChFC® Program are only $955 each, excluding HS 333 (case study course) and HS 347 (contemporary applications course). To complete the full program, complete the required courses below — all of which will also help you complete the CFP® Certification Education Program and prepare to sit for your CFP® exam! Eligible courses include:
- HS 300 Financial Planning: Process and Environment — Provides an overview of the financial planning process.
- HS 311 Fundamentals of Insurance Planning — Focuses on the role of planning for risk management needs.
- HS 321 Fundamentals of Income Taxation — Examines the federal income tax system with particular emphasis on the taxation of individuals.
- HS 326 Planning for Retirement Needs — Focuses on helping businesses and individuals plan for retirement.
- HS 328 Investments — Learn about the principles of investments and their application to financial planning.
- HS 330 Fundamentals of Estate Planning — Covers various aspects of estate and gift tax planning processes.
Case Study Course
$1,175
The case study course, HS 333 Personal Financial Planning: Comprehensive Case Analysis, can be purchased individually for $1,175 or as part of an eight-course program package (see package pricing). This course is also the final course you will need to complete the CFP® Certification Education Program and prepare to sit for the CFP® exam.
Planning Applications Course
$1,695
The contemporary applications course, HS 347 Contemporary Applications in Financial Planning, is unique to the ChFC® Program and is the final course you will need to complete the ChFC® Program. It can be purchased individually for $1,695 or as part of an eight-course program package (see package pricing).
Eight-Course Package
$6,395
Purchase the full ChFC® Program containing all eight required courses for only $6,395 (a $2,205 savings from individual course purchases!).
- HS 300 Financial Planning: Process and Environment — Provides an overview of the financial planning process.*
- HS 311 Fundamentals of Insurance Planning — Focuses on the role of planning for risk management needs.*
- HS 321 Fundamentals of Income Taxation — Examines the federal income tax system with particular emphasis on the taxation of individuals.*
- HS 326 Planning for Retirement Needs — Focuses on helping businesses and individuals plan for retirement.*
- HS 328 Investments — Learn about the principles of investments and their application to financial planning.*
- HS 330 Fundamentals of Estate Planning — Covers various aspects of estate and gift tax planning processes.*
- HS 333 Personal Financial Planning: Comprehensive Case Analysis — Applies students' knowledge and skill set in personal financial planning techniques to a comprehensive case study.*
- HS 347 Contemporary Applications in Financial Planning — Examines the unique challenges associated with comprehensive financial planning through case studies on all aspects of planning.
*Denotes courses also required to complete the CFP® Certification Education Program.
Enroll Now If:
What Your Peers Say
80%
Of ChFC® designees report notable improvement in their comprehensive financial planning skills.1
75%
Higher growth in client retention among ChFC® designees than advisors with no designations.1
50,000+
Professionals have earned the well-recognized, well-regarded ChFC® designation.
Course Overview
Financial planning courses to complete
Eight
Typical Completion Time
<18 Months
HS 300 Financial Planning: Process and Environment
Provides an overview of the financial planning process.
Upon completion of this ChFC® course, you’ll be able to:
- Demonstrate an understanding of and apply the steps of the financial planning process
- Differentiate between various communication techniques used by advisors
- Utilize the various financial planning approaches to provide actionable recommendations
- Review personal financial statements and perform financial statement analysis
- Build a foundation in quantitative techniques and basic economic concepts
- Apply education planning and funding techniques to help clients achieve their goals
- Review and apply the ethics of personal financial planning within various frameworks
HS 311 Fundamentals of Insurance Planning (Required)
Focuses on the role of planning for risk management needs.
Upon completion of this ChFC® course, you’ll be able to:
- Demonstrate an understanding of the basic concepts and principles of risk management
- Compare and contrast the different health insurance options available
- Differentiate among the various types of life insurance
- Discuss principles of disability income insurance, long-term care, and annuities
- Identify the sources and uses of homeowners, property, and liability insurance
- Identify sources of identity theft and utilize debt management techniques
- Demonstrate an understanding of social insurance programs like Social Security
HS 321 Fundamentals of Income Taxation
Examines the federal income tax system with particular emphasis on the taxation of individuals.
Upon completion of this ChFC® course, you’ll be able to:
- Demonstrate an understanding of federal income taxation
- Compare taxation of income generated from personal and investment activities
- Explain the taxation of income and expenses generated from different activities
- Understand and apply the fundamentals of deductions against adjusted gross income
- Identify different types of tax credits and tax deductions
- Demonstrate an understanding of how basis is determined
- Identify the tax advantages that certain types of business assets receive
- Explain how provisions in the tax code allow for tax avoidance and tax deferral
- Explain the complexities of the passive activity loss rules and alternative minimum tax
- Compare and contrast the tax consequences of distributions from business entities
HS 326 Planning for Retirement Needs (Required)
Focuses on helping businesses and individuals plan for retirement.
Upon completion of this ChFC® course, you’ll be able to:
- Analyze the factors affecting retirement planning
- Understand the fundamental principles of qualified plans
- Compare and contrast the various types of qualified pension plans
- Compare and contrast profit sharing plans, stock bonus plans, and ESOPs
- Understand the tax treatment of distributions from qualified plans
- Describe the steps involved to manage a qualified plan
- Discuss the advantages, limitations, and taxation of IRAs and SEPs
- Compare and contrast SIMPLE, 403(b), and 457 retirement plans
- Discuss the taxation of nonqualified plans and Social Security claiming strategies
- Compare and contrast employee fringe and group benefits
HS 328 Investments
Learn about the principles of investments and their application to financial planning.
Upon completion of this ChFC® course, you’ll be able to:
- Understand the institutional framework surrounding investments
- Measure investment returns using various methodologies
- Apply the modern portfolio theory framework to the task of managing portfolios
- Evaluate portfolio performance using attribution and ratio analysis
- Understand how fixed income securities function
- Compare and contrast the various types of equity securities
- Evaluate the factors that can affect the performance expectations of equity securities
- Identify the features of valuing securities using absolute and relative valuation models
- Identify the features of investment companies and evaluate fund selection techniques
- Compare and contrast the features of derivative securities
HS 330 Fundamentals of Estate Planning
Covers various aspects of estate and gift tax planning processes.
Upon completion of this ChFC® course, you’ll be able to:
- Identify the steps in the estate planning and probate processes
- Identify and describe the basic estate planning documents
- Compare and contrast the most common types of property titling
- Understand and apply the fundamentals of the gift tax system
- Identify and classify different trust arrangements
- Understand and apply the fundamentals of the generation-skipping transfer tax system
- Compare and contrast advanced charitable planning strategies
- Understand and apply the fundamentals of the estate tax
- Demonstrate the advantages of using life insurance in estate planning
HS 333 Personal Financial Planning: Comprehensive Case Analysis
Applies students' knowledge and skill set in personal financial planning techniques to a comprehensive case study.
Upon completion of this ChFC® course, you’ll be able to:
- Bring together elements from all of the previous foundation courses to synthesize and apply knowledge of the financial planning process, insurance, taxation, investments, retirement, and estate planning through the delivery of a comprehensive financial plan
HS 347 Contemporary Applications in Financial Planning
Examines the unique challenges associated with comprehensive financial planning through case studies on all aspects of planning.
Upon completion of this ChFC® course, you’ll be able to:
- Construct financial plans encompassing: estate planning; special needs; divorce; business succession; behavioral finance; financial plan development; and retirement planning
Earning my ChFC® took time but was well worth the journey! The College made the process so easy to navigate and their instructors were top notch and always accessible.
David Rich, ChFC®
The College's ChFC® Program allowed me to stay active in my business and learn the topics I needed to get a professional designation. The professors are responsive and approachable.
Andrea Aslanides, ChFC®
Every professional in the industry needs to have the ChFC® designation. Not only is the material critical to know, but it will add more value to your name.
Alan Naguit, ChFC®
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Which Program Is Right For You?
Save time with a quick view of how the ChFC® Program compares to our CFP® Certification Education Program.
Scroll left to right to compare
Which Program Is Right For You?Save time with a quick view of how the ChFC® Program compares to our CFP® Certification Education Program. |
|
|
|---|---|---|
ISSUING ORGANIZATION |
CFP Board of Standards |
The American College of Financial Services |
NUMBER OF COURSES |
7 |
8 (CFP® Certification Education Program + one additional course) |
EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS |
Bachelor’s degree |
High school diploma or equivalent |
EDUCATION LEVEL |
Foundational financial planning knowledge |
Mastery of financial planning application in practice |
TUITION |
$5,395 (CFP® Certification Education Program) |
$6,395 (full program) |
COMPREHENSIVE EXAM |
Yes (CFP Board conducts three times annually) |
Not required |
GOVERNANCE |
CFP Board Fiduciary Standard |
The American College Code of Ethics |
Learn from the Leaders in Financial Planning Today
Chet R. Bennetts
PhD, CFP®, ChFC®, CLU®, RICP®, CLF®
Program Director, CFP®, ChFC®
Assistant Professor, Financial Planning
Larry R. Pike Chair for Insurance and Investments
Department Chair, Academics
Associate Provost
Read Bio
Michael Finke
PhD, CFP®
Professor of Wealth Management, WMCP® Program Director, Director for the Granum Center for Financial Security, Frank M. Engle Distinguished Chair in Economic Security
Connect on LinkedIn
Read Bio
Steve Parrish
JD, RICP®, CLU®, ChFC®, AEP®
Professor of Practice and a Scholar in Residence at the Cary M. Maguire Center for Ethics in Financial Services
Connect on LinkedIn
Read Bio
Thomas M. Brinker, Jr.
JD, LLM, PFS/CPA, AEP®, ChFC®
Adjunct Professor of Taxation and Special Needs Planning
Connect on LinkedIn
Read Bio
Sophia Duffy
JD, CPA, AEP®
Associate Professor of Business Planning and Program Director, Tax Planning Certified Professional® (TPCP®) Program
Connect on LinkedIn
Read Bio
Zipporah Evania
CFP®, CLU®, ChFC®, CASL®, CAP®, RICP®, CLTC®, WMCP®
Adjunct Professor of Retirement Planning
Connect on LinkedIn
Read Bio
James Karthaus
CFP®, CLU®, ChFC®, MA
Assistant Professor of Financial Planning, CFP® Certification Education and ChFC® Programs
Connect on LinkedIn
Read Bio
Mark McLennon
JD, CLU®, ChFC®, CFP®, CPA/PFS
Assistant Professor of Tax and Estate Planning, Clark/Bardes Chair in Retirement Planning and Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation
Connect on LinkedIn
Read Bio
Kimberly Turner
PhD, MSFS, CFP®, ChFC®, CLU®, CAP®, AEP®, CLTC®
Adjunct Professor of Financial Planning
Connect on LinkedIn
Read Bio
Steven H. Steidinger
MBA, FLMI®, CFP®, CLU®, ChFC®, CASL®, RICP®
Adjunct Professor, ChFC® Program
Connect on LinkedIn
Read Bio
01 / 00
Chet R. Bennetts
PhD, CFP®, ChFC®, CLU®, RICP®, CLF®
Program Director, CFP®, ChFC®
Assistant Professor, Financial Planning
Larry R. Pike Chair for Insurance and Investments
Department Chair, Academics
Associate Provost
Read Bio
Michael Finke
PhD, CFP®
Professor of Wealth Management, WMCP® Program Director, Director for the Granum Center for Financial Security, Frank M. Engle Distinguished Chair in Economic Security
Connect on LinkedIn
Read Bio
Steve Parrish
JD, RICP®, CLU®, ChFC®, AEP®
Professor of Practice and a Scholar in Residence at the Cary M. Maguire Center for Ethics in Financial Services
Connect on LinkedIn
Read Bio
Thomas M. Brinker, Jr.
JD, LLM, PFS/CPA, AEP®, ChFC®
Adjunct Professor of Taxation and Special Needs Planning
Connect on LinkedIn
Read Bio
Sophia Duffy
JD, CPA, AEP®
Associate Professor of Business Planning and Program Director, Tax Planning Certified Professional® (TPCP®) Program
Connect on LinkedIn
Read Bio
Zipporah Evania
CFP®, CLU®, ChFC®, CASL®, CAP®, RICP®, CLTC®, WMCP®
Adjunct Professor of Retirement Planning
Connect on LinkedIn
Read Bio
James Karthaus
CFP®, CLU®, ChFC®, MA
Assistant Professor of Financial Planning, CFP® Certification Education and ChFC® Programs
Connect on LinkedIn
Read Bio
Mark McLennon
JD, CLU®, ChFC®, CFP®, CPA/PFS
Assistant Professor of Tax and Estate Planning, Clark/Bardes Chair in Retirement Planning and Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation
Connect on LinkedIn
Read Bio
Kimberly Turner
PhD, MSFS, CFP®, ChFC®, CLU®, CAP®, AEP®, CLTC®
Adjunct Professor of Financial Planning
Connect on LinkedIn
Read Bio
Steven H. Steidinger
MBA, FLMI®, CFP®, CLU®, ChFC®, CASL®, RICP®
Adjunct Professor, ChFC® Program
Connect on LinkedIn
Read Bio
There’s Even More to Explore
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ChFC® Program FAQs
The Chartered Financial Consultant® (ChFC®) designation is a financial planning certification meant to provide a strong foundation for a financial advisor career. The ChFC® designation supplies insights and knowledge on the basics of financial planning and risk management, tax strategies for individuals, small businesses, and corporations, retirement, investment, and estate planning, special needs planning, and more. These financial planning courses will help you become a financial planner who can serve a myriad of clients with different needs and from different backgrounds.
To become a financial planner with the ChFC® designation, you must complete the eight-course program, including all associated classwork and a final exam for each course. These online financial planning courses make earning the ChFC® certification easier to tailor to your busy schedule.
The Chartered Financial Consultant® (ChFC®) designation is comparable to the CFP® certification; however, ChFC® features deeper insights than the average CFP® certification education and an added practical application component to ensure professionals can use the knowledge they gain immediately. In addition, the eight-course ChFC® designation program makes financial advisors eligible to sit for their CFP® exam. For those without a four-year degree, the ChFC® is a valuable foundational financial planning certification, as the CFP Board requires you to have a bachelor’s degree to take the CFP® exam. Typical students can complete the program in 18 months or less.
In conjunction with FUSE Research Network, The American College of Financial Services found in its 2024 Designation Outcomes Study that the ChFC® designation greatly assists a financial advisor’s career with foundational knowledge for financial consulting. Over a three-year period, professionals who earned this financial planning certification reported 75% higher growth in client retention, 49% higher growth in their number of clients, and 32% higher growth in earnings than professionals without a designation.
You only need a high school diploma or the equivalent to begin the program. However, in order to be awarded and use the designation, you must have at least three years of experience in financial planning or a related profession. For more information, view Admissions Requirements above.
For those holding the CFP® certification, it’s easy to transfer your existing credit to our programs and enable an accelerated path to ChFC®. By filling out our Transfer of Credit (TOC) form, students may complete the ChFC® Program with only one additional course: HS 347. You can complete the TOC form in My Learning Hub.
You will have 10 weeks to complete all course requirements then a four-week window to schedule, prepare for and take your exam.
Studying in the Chartered Financial Consultant®(ChFC®) and CFP® Certification Education Programs with The College lets you work toward two prestigious professional achievements simultaneously – saving you time and money to maximize your knowledge ROI. The programs share a common core curriculum with the structure and flexibility of our Personal Pathway® learning experience to allow you to choose your path to success. Learn more about the benefits of taking both programs.
While The College’s CLU®, ChFC®, and CFP® Certification Education Programs offer different educational outcomes and areas of specialization, shared courses make it easy to grow in expertise and work toward completing multiple programs at once. The three programs share several common core courses, and all electives available in the CLU® Program are also part of the CFP® Certification Education Program and ChFC® Program. By earning the CLU® designation, you are six courses away from earning your ChFC® and five courses away from completing the CFP® Certification Education Program. Use this comparison chart to learn more about how you can expand your opportunities most efficiently.
Take the Next Step
As a ChFC®, you’ll go above and beyond foundational financial planning knowledge, delivering sound guidance and distinguishing yourself with comprehensive and applied planning strategies to serve a wide variety of client needs.
1 FUSE Research Network. The American College of Financial Services Designation Outcomes Study. 2024. Based on reported three-year growth.