Certified Tax Specialist™
The designation for advisors who turn tax planning into measurable client value. Income strategies, Roth conversions, business owner planning, estate tax coordination. Not tax preparation. Strategic thinking that helps clients keep more.
What you will learn
Tax planning is not the CPA’s job alone. Every recommendation an advisor makes has a tax consequence, and the advisor who understands those consequences gives better advice. The CTS® program covers the tax code the way financial advisors actually use it. Across 20 chapters, you will learn how income recognition, deductions, credits, and entity structures affect every planning decision you make.
When you finish, you will know how to evaluate asset location across taxable and tax-deferred accounts, model Roth conversion strategies, manage capital gains harvesting, plan distributions to minimize lifetime tax liability, and coordinate with CPAs using the same language they use. This is the designation for advisors who are tired of finding out after the fact that a recommendation cost their client money in taxes.
“The IBF program is under-valued. This means that I got more than my money's worth. The items and subjects that I learned while taking my Certified Tax Specialist designation enhanced my knowledge of business planning tremendously. Going through the coursework was not only interesting but enlightening. This is exactly what I needed to prepare myself to be a game changer in my industry. I find myself already going back to the resources and notes from my IBF studies on an ongoing basis. The credibility and prestige gained through my association with the IBF will, no doubt, be invaluable to my profession.”
Hakeem Muhammad, CTS®
What the program covers
See what the CTS® teaches before you enroll
Free tools and guides built by the same team that wrote the curriculum. No sales pitch. Just substance.
Is this the right designation for you?
Everything you need to learn and pass
Books are the foundation. The digital materials cover the same ground in different formats, so you can start learning the day you enroll.
How it works
- All 20 chapters across 2 printed textbooks, shipped to you
- Digital study materials: Roundtables, Blueprints, Snapshots
- Practice questions for every chapter
- Online proctored certification exam
- Reference Atlas with annually updated data
- Up to 55 CE credits upon completion
“The IBF program is under-valued. This means that I got more than my money's worth. The items and subjects that I learned while taking my Certified Tax Specialist designation enhanced my knowledge of business planning tremendously. Going through the coursework was not only interesting but enlightening. This is exactly what I needed to prepare myself to be a game changer in my industry. I find myself already going back to the resources and notes from my IBF studies on an ongoing basis. The credibility and prestige gained through my association with the IBF will, no doubt, be invaluable to my profession.”
Earn up to 55 CE credits
IBF programs are approved for CE credit by state insurance departments, the CFP Board, and other regulatory bodies. Hours vary by program and state. See the full breakdown for your situation.
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Ready to earn your CTS®?
Up to 55 CE credits. 55–70 study hours. Four ways to learn every chapter. Start today.