Accredited Asset Management Specialist (AAMS): Definition Vs. CFP
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What Is an Accredited Asset Management Specialist (AAMS)?
The Accredited Asset Management Specialist (AAMS) is a professional designation awarded by the College for Financial Planning to financial professionals who complete a self-study program, pass an exam, and agree to comply with a code of ethics.
Successful applicants earn the right to use the AAMS designation with their names for two years, which can improve job opportunities, professional reputation, and pay.
Key Takeaways
- The Accredited Asset Management Specialist (AAMS) professional designation is recognized as an industry benchmark for asset management credentials and is endorsed by the top financial firms.
- To earn the AAMS, financial professionals must complete a rigorous self-study program, pass an exam, and agree to comply with a code of ethics.
- To maintain the designation, AAMS holders must complete 16 hours of continuing education every two years and pay a $95 renewal fee.
Understanding the AAMS Designation
The AAMS program began in 1994 and is taught exclusively online using the CFP’s platform. The College for Financial Planning (owned by Kaplan) is a financial education provider for working adults in the financial services industry.
The AAMS program consists of 10 modules, starting with a review of the asset management process, and then covers a broad range of topics, such as investments, insurance, taxation, retirement, and estate planning issues.
To keep the privileges associated with the designation, AAMS professionals must complete 16 hours of continuing education every two years and pay a fee. The AAMS continuing education program is developed alongside some of the nation’s top investment firms. Applicants explore case studies based on real-life scenarios designed to prepare them for effectiveness in the real world and help them build lasting relationships with clients.
What Does an AAMS Do?
The AAMS certification is designed to equip new advisors with the information they need to help clients plan for and accomplish their personal financial goals. The specialists help people plan college savings, taxes, and retirement savings.
An AAMS focuses on personal finances, over and above checking and savings account management—asset management, investments, and much more.
How to Attain AAMS Certification
The AAMS certification is granted by the College of Financial Planning, the college that created the Certified Financial Planner certification.
To achieve certification, you’ll need to enroll at the College of Financial Planning. This process is not similar to traditionally enrolling in a college. You select the program from the college’s website, choose your options, and pay for the materials. You’re given an opportunity to choose printed study materials when you’re checking out.
Once you receive your materials, you have 120 days from the day you’re granted access to the online material to complete testing and pass the final exam. You follow the course online—using prerecorded videos, self-study, and printed study materials if you buy them.
The final exam for the AAMS program contains 80 questions. A passing score on the AAMS final examination is 70% or better. The time limit for the final exam is three hours, and you’re allowed two attempts to pass.
The self-study program covers several topics:
- The asset management process
- Investment strategies
- Policy and change
- Risk, return, and investment performance
- Asset allocation and selection
- Taxation of investment products
- Investment opportunities for individual retirement
- Investment considerations for small business owners
- Executive compensation and benefit plans
- Insurance products for investment clients
- Estate planning
- Regulatory and ethical issues.
Once you receive your AAMS certification, you must complete 16 hours of continuing education credits per year and pay a renewal fee of $95 once every two years to maintain your certification.
AAMS vs. CFP
AAMS certification focuses on personal finance, asset management, and investments. It is intended for newer financial planners or planners transitioning from other financial work.
Certified Financial Planners (CFP) are finance professionals certified by the College of Financial Planning to help people plan and achieve their financial goals. A CFP can assist someone throughout their lifetime, helping them adjust their finances to meet changing life events and updated financial goals.
The CFP certification is the highest accreditation available for financial planners, requiring 6,000 hours of professional planning experience within the ten years preceding the certification exam.
Special Considerations
The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) specifies that it does not approve or endorse any professional credential or designation. Still, it does list the AAMS as one of the available designations in the financial services industry. According to the College for Financial Planning (CFP), some organizations recognize the AAMS designation as representing 28 hours of continuing education credit.
The CFP maintains an accessible database of the names of all certificate holders and their status. When AAMS students pass their final exam, they receive credit for completing module FP511 from the CFP course.
What Does AAMS Stand for?
An Accredited Asset Management Specialist is certified by the College of Financial Planning to advise clients about personal finance matters, asset management, and investments.
Which Is Better AAMS or CFP?
The AAMS is more for entry-level advisors or those that enjoy advising clients about personal finances, investments, and asset management. A CFP professional helps clients plan their finances throughout their lifetimes, advising them on everything from savings to retirement funds to investment portfolios.
How Long Does It Take to Study for AAMS?
Once you receive access to the online material, you have 120 days to pass your final exam. How long it takes depends on your study habits and knowledge retention.
The Bottom Line
An AAMS is a financial advisor certified by the College of Financial Planning to advise clients about personal finances, asset management, and investments. It is a challenging course of study for those unfamiliar with investing and assets, but it is also a stepping stone for achieving the highly coveted Certified Financial Planner designation.
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