Salomon Smith Barney is rolling out an Advanced Planning specialist designation that will enable brokers to offer estate-planning services for a fee, according to the firm.
To earn the designation, brokers must qualify as Registered Investment Advisers. The Advance Planning specialist designation covers a variety of areas in comprehensive wealth planning, including advanced gift techniques, trusts, estate planning, advanced uses of insurance, charitable giving income tax planning and planning for equity positions, according to the firm.
"There’s a great demand on the part of FCs to be able to study in depth in areas of great interest and value to their clients," says Bob Seaberg, the firm’s managing director of advanced planning and philanthropic services.
The training is free and the firm is encouraging reps to get the designation. "In this environment, every penny counts," said one broker/dealer. A rep can set his or her own pace, taking courses days or evenings.
"As a result of that studying, FCs would be able to show clients through that designation that they have spent a great deal of time in continuing education in those areas," Seaberg says.
A fee plan for the planning services will be in place by year’s end, according to Seaberg. "The full details are not finalized," he says. "We don’t have all of the elements of the program in place yet."