Course helping CFPs reach federal employees is accepted by CFP Board for continuing education credits.
(PRWEB) August 3, 2005 –- The Board of Certified Financial Planners (CFP) has recently accepted the Certified Federal Employee Benefits Specialist (CFEBS) course for continuing education credit.
There are more than 48,000 CFP certificants in the United States today, and each certificant must complete at least 30 hours of continuing education every two years, according to the CFP website.
CFP certificants can receive 14 continuing education credits for the "live" two-day CFEBS seminar, or 5 credits for the self-study CFEBS course.
"We are pleased to be a continuing education sponsor for the CFP board," stated Judy Snow, founder of the Federal Employee Benefits Specialist, Inc. (http://www.FEBSI.com). Federal employee benefits programs are very complicated. Only the best trained financial planners are able to service this market," Snow continued.
The CFEBS program equips financial planners, insurance agents, accountants, investment advisors, stock brokers, tax preparers, and other professionals with a thorough understanding of federal employee benefits and associated retirement planning.
"Achieving CFEBS certification helps Certified Financial Planners to learn the ins and outs of these benefits programs and to reach federal employees who are in need of quality financial planning services," Snow explained. Snow is a 20-year veteran financial and estate planner, who has more than 10 years experience in assisting federal employees.
Snow says the federal and postal employee market – consisting of more than. 2.5 million workers – is often overlooked by the financial planning community. U.S. federal government employment statistics indicate that approximately 50% of federal workers will be eligible to retire in the next five years.
The opportunity in this market for Certified Financial Planners is a goldmine. Thousands of federal employees have $500,000 or more invested in a 401(k)-like savings plan. These are funds that can be rolled over into other investment options at retirement," Snow states. Snow also points out that in addition to investment options, federal employees face many important decisions regarding health, life and long-term care insurance options, as well as special tax considerations.
CFEBS training courses – offered by independent study or conducted on-site at financial service firms -- provide professionals with numerous helpful training materials. The materials include resources to help the professional identify the retirement needs of federal employees, as well as strategies on the best ways to reach potential clients in this market.
Snow states that hundreds of financial professionals now hold the CFEBS certification or are enrolled in the course, which was first offered in 2003.
Information on the CFEBS program can be found at http://www.FEBSI.com or by calling FEBSI at 1-800-696-3505.
Federal Employee Benefits Specialist, Inc. is a private, woman-owned small business in Castle Rock, Colorado.
###
|
