Additional Certification Recommendations

Nov 13, 2008 6:19 pm

I have recently accepted a position with Edward Jones as an FA.  I am retiring from a 20+ year military career and will begin in June '09.  Part of my Army brainwashing is that I develop timelines and plans for the road ahead–looking 3-5 years.  I understand the EDJ timeline for their study program, and subsequently getting the Series 7 and 66 licenses, but I’m looking for advice for other certifications.


I know that I cannot even attempt the CFP until I have a minimum of three years experience, but what about the others in the long list of accronyms (CFA, AIF...).  My primary focus will be learning my area, job, and principles, but are other certifications worth pursuing earlier in the process?
Thanks for any help as I put together a long-range calendar with goals.    
Nov 13, 2008 6:42 pm

No, not right now.  You’ll be so overwhelmed by the 7 and 66, not to mention ins. licensing that you’ll be glad to break from that stuff for a while!  You will have to achieve your AAMS certification when you reach Seg 3, so until then I wouldn’t worry about it. Best of luck to you and thanks for your service!

Nov 14, 2008 1:02 am

AAMS is useless as are most paid for certification(home study with a test, essentially paying for credentials)… CFP and CFA i think are much different especially the CFA, but you don’t need it and will take too much time early on… T



THERE IS A TOPIC about this already… Use the search key…

Nov 14, 2008 4:06 pm

I appreciate the information.  I guess my first lesson will be in using the search key, I must have missed the thread.


I appreciate the insights.
Nov 14, 2008 4:52 pm

Your statement regarding the CFP is incorrect.

  I began working on my CFP as soon as i passed the 66. You can take the courses through the American College Online. My company paid for everything.  I would reccomend this strategy so you have the certification on day 1 year 3.   Some previous fields do count towards the 3 years
Nov 14, 2008 5:21 pm

I’d suggest you knock out the CFA over the next few months.

Nov 14, 2008 6:06 pm

I was referring to testing for the CFP after 3 years of experience, my lack of clarity.  I also recognize my learning curve will be somewhere around straight up, so I’m not sure about starting immediately upon the tests, but hopefully relatively soon after.  If nothing else, the courses will help in competence and skills to do the best job possible.


Thanks
Nov 14, 2008 7:51 pm

I would recommend developing a business strategy for bringing in assets and clients in a very volatile market.  That more than any certification will help you get business and succeed.