Hollis,
NH - CFP®, ChFC, PFS, CFA, RIA,
CLU, CSA, CDP, … With
the recent proliferation of titles, qualifications,
and designations being used by financial professionals,
consumers seeking a qualified financial planner often
feel like they're swimming in an alphabet soup
of acronyms. How to cut through the confusion?
Experts say that, while many of these credentials
do indicate valuable expertise, the place to start
is spelled CFP®. "Who qualifies as
a 'genuine' planner? For me, it's
a certified financial planner," writes noted
financial author Jane Bryant Quinn in her recent Newsweek
column.
Locally, Sherrill St. Germain of Hollis-based New
Means Financial Planning is pleased to announce that
she has completed the criteria to become a CFP® certificant. These
criteria include:
- An extensive educational program covering topics
including insurance, retirement planning, estate
planning, taxes and investments.
- A passing grade on a comprehensive two-day exam
with an historical pass rate of only 57%.
- A minimum of three years of work experience.
- At least 30 hours of continuing education every
two years.
These rigorous requirements are the reason why CNN's
Gerri Willis calls the CFP® "the gold standard." Both
Willis and Quinn recommend looking for a CFP® who,
like St. Germain, is "fee-only." Unlike
traditional planners who take sales commissions for
selling financial products, fee-only planners charge
only for their services. "It's worth
your while to check out fee-only advisors so you don't
have to worry about anyone selling you a product for
their personal gain," says Willis.
About Sherrill St. Germain: Sherrill
St. Germain, MBA, CFP®, owner of New Means Financial
Planning of Hollis, NH, is a member of The Garrett
Planning Network (GPN), a national network of fee-only
financial advisors which has been profiled in Smart
Money, Business Week, Wall Street Journal, New York
Times, Money, and numerous other consumer publications. Like
other GPN members, Ms. St. Germain is dedicated to
providing financial advice on an hourly, as-needed
basis. Her firm does not sell products for commissions,
nor does it impose account minimums. Visit www.newmeans.com to
learn more.
