The designation that changes your Monday morning.
For licensed advisors ready to go deeper. One of these eight specializations will change the conversations you have with clients on Monday morning.
Everything You Need to Earn and Maintain Your Designation
Find Your Practice Area
Each designation maps to a specific area of financial advisory practice. Find your area below, then explore the certifications that go deepest in that space. Not sure? Take a quiz →
You advise on funds, ETFs, portfolios, or digital assets. Your clients need product depth.
You help clients plan for retirement or turn savings into income. Distribution strategies, annuities, and making money last.
You integrate tax strategy or legacy planning into your advice. Protecting what clients have built and transferring it wisely.
You serve clients navigating divorce, benefit elections, or Medicare decisions. Deep knowledge for high-stakes conversations.
Compare All Eight Programs
All programs are $1,495, self-paced, and include the same study materials. The difference is the subject matter.
| Designation | Focus Area | Chapters | When Clients Ask… | Pairs Well With | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ✓ CFS® | Funds, ETFs, managed portfolios | 21 | “Which funds should I be in?” | CASCIS | |
| ✓ CAS® | Annuity products and strategies | 18 | “Is an annuity right for me?” | CFSCIS | |
| ✓ CIS™ | Retirement income planning | 20 | “Will my money last through retirement?” | CASCSS | |
| ✓ CDAS™ | Digital assets, blockchain, crypto | 18 | “Should I invest in crypto?” | CFS | |
| ✓ CES™ | Estate planning, trusts, wealth transfer | 16 | “How do I protect what I’ve built?” | CTSCIS | |
| ✓ CTS® | Tax planning and tax-efficient investing | 20 | “Am I paying more tax than I should?” | CESCFS | |
| ✓ CDFS™ | Divorce financial analysis | 18 | “How do we divide everything fairly?” | CESCTS | |
| ✓ CSS™ | Social Security and Medicare | 18 | “When should I file for Social Security?” | CISCAS |
Many advisors earn two or more designations to match the full scope of their practice.
Not sure where to start?
You don’t have to pick today. Try one of these free tools to explore before you decide.
Free Tools and Resources
Explore before you commit. Every resource below is free.
Practice Benchmarks
See how your process compares across three tiers of due diligence.
Start a Benchmark →CE and Continuing Education
Approved for CFP Board and State Insurance CE credit.
View CE Options →The Specialist’s Desk
Articles and research that practicing advisors actually use. No paywall.
Read Articles →Self-paced. 12 months to complete. All study materials included.
Ready to choose?
Answer three quick questions and we’ll match you with the designation that fits your practice.