The Credential Decoder
Your money deserves the right team behind it.
Those letters after your advisor’s name (CFP, CPA, EA) actually mean something. We decoded 25 financial credentials so you can build a team that speaks your language.
● Powered by FINRA’s Official Designation Database
- 25 credentials, explained in plain English
- ✓ No jargon. No pressure. Real guidance.
“CHIP exists to change how individuals prosper, by connecting people with vetted financial professionals who speak their language and build their confidence.”
How It Works
Start with what you need. We’ll help you understand who can get you there.
1
Name your goal
Retirement, taxes, divorce, estate planning: pick the area of your life you want to get right. No financial background required.
2
Meet the credential
Each card shows you exactly who earns this designation, what they do, and when you’d actually need them, in real language.
3
Build your team
You don’t need just one advisor. You need the right combination: financial planner, CPA, estate attorney, coach. CHIP helps you find them.
Browse by Goal
What kind of help do you need?
Click a category to filter the credential cards below.
Certified Financial Planner
Financial Planning
In plain English
Your go-to for a complete money plan. They look at the big picture: where you are now, where you want to be, and how to get there. Think of them as a doctor for your finances.
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree + 6,000 hours of professional experience + ethics exam
Key Terms
Fiduciary, financial plan, holistic planning, goal-based investing
Chartered Financial Analyst
Investment Management
In plain English
A Wall Street-level investment expert. Unless you're investing millions, you're more likely to encounter their work through mutual funds than hire one directly.
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree + 4,000 hours of relevant work experience
Key Terms
Portfolio management, equity analysis, fixed income, derivatives
Certified Public Accountant
Tax Strategy & Accounting
In plain English
The licensed tax and accounting pro you call for tax prep, audits, and financial records. When the IRS is involved or you're starting a business: a CPA has your back.
Prerequisites
150 credit hours of college education + state licensure exam (4 parts)
Key Terms
GAAP, audit, tax return, Schedule C, balance sheet
Enrolled Agent
Tax Strategy & Accounting
In plain English
An IRS-licensed tax specialist. Got an audit letter? Owe back taxes? This is your person: they can fight for you directly in front of the IRS.
Prerequisites
Pass the IRS Special Enrollment Exam (3 parts) OR 5+ years IRS employment
Key Terms
IRS representation, Offer in Compromise, installment agreement, penalty abatement
Chartered Financial Consultant
Financial Planning
In plain English
Similar to a CFP but with extra coursework, especially around money psychology and behavioral finance. Strong in complex situations involving both finances and life transitions.
Prerequisites
3 years of full-time financial services experience + 9 college-level courses
Key Terms
Behavioral finance, money psychology, comprehensive planning
Accredited Estate Planner
Estate Planning
In plain English
The specialist for what happens to your money and property after you're gone. They help make sure everything goes to the right people, and the government gets as little as legally possible.
Prerequisites
Must hold JD, CPA, CFP, CLU, ChFC, or CTFA + 5 years estate planning experience
Key Terms
Will, trust, probate, estate tax, beneficiary, power of attorney
Certified Trust and Fiduciary Advisor
Estate Planning
In plain English
A bank trust officer who manages trusts and estates for families. They're the person who makes sure a trust actually does what it was set up to do.
Prerequisites
3 years of experience in trust, financial planning, or related field
Key Terms
Trust administration, fiduciary duty, estate settlement, asset distribution
Retirement Income Certified Professional
Retirement Planning
In plain English
A retirement specialist who focuses on making your money last throughout retirement, not just on saving up for it. They master the 'spending down' phase most advisors gloss over.
Prerequisites
3 years of experience in financial services
Key Terms
Required Minimum Distribution, Social Security optimization, sequence of returns risk
Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor
Retirement Planning
In plain English
A retirement planner covering both the saving and spending phases. Good for people in their 40s–60s getting serious about their retirement roadmap.
Prerequisites
No prerequisite: exam-based with self-study program
Key Terms
401(k), IRA rollover, required minimum distributions, retirement income gap
Accredited Investment Fiduciary
Retirement Planning
In plain English
An advisor trained to manage retirement plans responsibly and legally. Critical if you're a business owner or HR manager overseeing employee retirement benefits.
Prerequisites
2 years of relevant experience in financial services or plan management
Key Terms
ERISA, fiduciary standard, prudent investor rule, plan sponsor
Certified Employee Benefit Specialist
Retirement Planning
In plain English
An expert in workplace benefits: 401(k), health insurance, life insurance. If your HR department has one, they really know their stuff.
Prerequisites
5 courses covering group benefits, retirement plans, and compensation
Key Terms
ERISA, defined benefit, defined contribution, COBRA, FSA, HSA
Certified Retirement Counselor
Retirement Planning
In plain English
A retirement educator often found in public sector jobs or HR departments. They help employees understand their retirement benefits and make smart decisions, not sell them products.
Prerequisites
2 years of retirement counseling experience
Key Terms
Pension, defined benefit plan, distribution options, vesting schedule
Chartered Life Underwriter
Insurance & Risk Management
In plain English
A life insurance expert who goes well beyond selling policies. They help you figure out how much coverage you actually need and how it fits into your estate and business plans.
Prerequisites
3 years of full-time business experience + 8 college-level courses
Key Terms
Death benefit, term vs. whole life, universal life, business continuation insurance
Certification in Long-Term Care
Insurance & Risk Management
In plain English
A specialist in long-term care insurance: the coverage that pays for nursing homes, in-home care, and assisted living. One of the most important and overlooked financial risks in retirement.
Prerequisites
Licensed insurance professional with state licensure in good standing
Key Terms
Elimination period, benefit period, inflation rider, hybrid LTC policy
Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter
Insurance & Risk Management
In plain English
The expert in home, auto, business, and liability insurance. The gold standard for P&C insurance professionals: someone who truly understands risk and coverage.
Prerequisites
2 years of insurance experience + 8 exam modules
Key Terms
Liability coverage, umbrella policy, underwriting, claims management
Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst
Investment Management
In plain English
A specialist in non-traditional investments: hedge funds, private equity, real estate funds. Usually for high-net-worth individuals and institutional investors.
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree + 1 year of professional experience (or 4 years without degree)
Key Terms
Hedge fund, private equity, real assets, illiquidity premium, accredited investor
Certified Investment Management Analyst
Investment Management
In plain English
An advanced investment consultant who builds sophisticated portfolios and evaluates money managers. Usually works with high-net-worth clients or large institutional accounts.
Prerequisites
3 years of financial services experience + executive education program
Key Terms
Asset allocation, manager due diligence, investment policy statement, risk-adjusted returns
Chartered Market Technician
Investment Management
In plain English
A technical analysis expert who reads price charts and market patterns. More relevant for active traders than long-term investors.
Prerequisites
Member of CMT Association + 3 levels of examination
Key Terms
Technical analysis, support/resistance, moving averages, chart patterns
Financial Risk Manager
Investment Management
In plain English
A risk expert at banks and financial institutions. You won't hire one directly, but they work behind the scenes ensuring financial firms you work with stay stable.
Prerequisites
2 years of full-time work in financial risk management
Key Terms
Market risk, credit risk, operational risk, VaR (Value at Risk)
Personal Financial Specialist
Financial Planning
In plain English
A CPA who also does financial planning: the best of both worlds when your finances are heavily tax-driven. Deep tax knowledge is built into every recommendation.
Prerequisites
Must hold active CPA license + 3,000 hours of financial planning experience
Key Terms
Tax-integrated planning, estate tax, charitable giving strategies, Roth conversion
Certified Private Wealth Advisor
Financial Planning
In plain English
An elite advisor for very wealthy families. If you have $5M+ in investable assets, a family business, or complex generational wealth goals: this credential signals expertise at that level.
Prerequisites
5 years of experience + executive education program at Yale SOM or Chicago Booth
Key Terms
Dynasty trust, family governance, family office, ultra-high-net-worth, concentrated position
Accredited Financial Counselor
Financial Coaching
In plain English
A financial coach and counselor who helps people get a handle on the basics: debt, budgeting, building an emergency fund. Often works in nonprofits, the military, and community programs.
Prerequisites
1,000 hours of financial counseling experience + coursework
Key Terms
Debt management, credit counseling, cash flow, financial behavior
Certified Divorce Financial Analyst
Specialized Planning
In plain English
A financial specialist who helps people navigate the money side of divorce: splitting assets fairly, understanding what happens to the 401(k), and projecting your financial life after.
Prerequisites
2 years of financial or legal experience related to divorce
Key Terms
QDRO (Qualified Domestic Relations Order), marital estate, asset division, COBRA
Certified Senior Advisor
Specialized Planning
In plain English
An advisor who deeply understands the financial, health, and life challenges of aging. Works with older adults on Medicare, housing decisions, long-term care, and protecting against financial exploitation.
Prerequisites
Open to all: requires passing the CSA exam and ongoing education
Key Terms
Medicare, Medicaid, eldercare, elder financial abuse, aging in place
Certified Military Financial Advisor
Specialized Planning
In plain English
A financial advisor trained in the unique money world of military life: military pay, the Thrift Savings Plan, VA benefits, and the financial stress of moving every 2–3 years.
Prerequisites
Financial services background + military financial planning coursework
Key Terms
TSP (Thrift Savings Plan), BAH, BAS, VA loan, SCRA, SGLI, PCS
No credentials match your search.
Common Questions
You asked. We answered.
Do I actually need a financial advisor?
Not always, but most people benefit from one at key life moments. The question isn’t whether you need an advisor, it’s which type and when. A financial coach (AFC) might be right when you’re getting out of debt; a CFP makes sense when you’re building a comprehensive plan. CHIP helps you figure out who you actually need.
What’s the difference between a CFP and a CFA?
A CFP (Certified Financial Planner) works with everyday individuals and families on comprehensive planning: budgeting, retirement, insurance, estate planning. A CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) is an institutional investment credential. Most people will work with a CFP.
What does “fiduciary” mean and why should I care?
A fiduciary is legally required to act in your best interest, not their own or their firm’s. Not all professionals are fiduciaries; some operate under a weaker “suitability” standard. Always ask: “Are you a fiduciary, and will you put that in writing?” If they hesitate, that’s your answer.
I got an IRS letter. Who do I call?
Call an Enrolled Agent (EA) or a CPA first. An EA has unlimited authority to represent you before the IRS and specializes in audits, back taxes, payment plans, and penalty removal. Don’t ignore IRS letters: the problem gets more expensive the longer you wait.
I’m going through a divorce. Where do I start?
Start with a CDFA (Certified Divorce Financial Analyst) alongside your attorney. The financial decisions made during divorce have long-term consequences most attorneys aren’t trained to model: taxes on asset transfers, retirement accounts, housing costs. Don’t sign anything without understanding the impact.
Does a credential guarantee a good advisor?
No, but it raises the floor significantly. A credential means someone passed rigorous exams and commits to ethics standards. It doesn’t guarantee personality fit. Verify credentials at BrokerCheck.finra.org, then use the intro conversation to decide if they make your team.
You don’t need a better budget: you need your team.
CHIP connects you with vetted financial professionals who understand where you are and where you’re going.
Financial guidance that speaks your language.
Important: FINRA does not approve or endorse any professional credential or designation. This guide is for educational purposes only and is not a recommendation of any specific advisor or firm. Always verify credentials and check for complaints at BrokerCheck.finra.org before working with a financial professional. Credential data sourced from FINRA’s Professional Designations Database. CHIP Professionals Inc. is not affiliated with FINRA.