American College Introduces Wealth Management Designation

BRYN MAWR, Pa., December 18, 2017 – As the leader in advanced planning education for financial advisors, The American College of Financial Services has launched the Wealth Management Certified Professional (WMCP™) designation, a comprehensive curriculum in goals-based investment management.

The WMCP™ curriculum is designed for practicing advisors who understand the fundamentals of planning but would benefit from a much deeper dive into applied wealth management techniques that help clients meet their goals.  The program has been designed by some of the top thought-leaders in wealth management and financial planning, including Dr. Michael Finke, Dr. Wade Pfau, Dr. David Blanchett, and more than 20 other experts in the field.

The designation begins with a foundational knowledge of financial economics, including portfolio and life-cycle theory, and adds applied techniques on such topics as:

• Creating tax-efficient, diversified investment portfolios to fund future client goals
• Analyzing a broad range of financial instruments
• Evaluating the unique wealth management needs of business owners and executives
• Developing strategies to meet estate and charitable planning goals
• Incorporating behavioral finance to improve client outcomes

 

“We designed the curriculum to build knowledge in concepts that go beyond a traditional investment education by focusing on how investments can be used to meet the goals of individual investors,” said Michael Finke, Dean and Chief Academic Officer at The American College. “No other designation provides such a deep overview of tax strategies, financial instruments commonly used by advisors, applied behavioral finance, sophisticated wealth management techniques, and an in-depth overview of estate, charitable, and small business planning issues faced by wealth managers.”

 

In an effort to redesign wealth management education, the WMCP™ uses five simulations to illustrate, teach and integrate complex wealth and investment management concepts in an engaging yet easy-to-understand format. These simulations provide an opportunity for experiential learning, where students can practice the concepts emphasized in the curriculum. Topics covered in the simulations include life-cycle planning strategies, asset allocation and asset location decisions, and research-based investment analysis.  The case-study simulations encourage students to prioritize and evaluate relevant factors for wealth management decisions at multiple points along a client’s life cycle as they progress towards achieving their goals.

The curriculum and simulations are designed to build advisors’ competence and confidence in wealth management so that they can be prepared to address a wide range of client situations.  The WMCP™ provides context for advisors as they advise clients, helping them better understand their role as wealth management professionals.

Delivered through state-of-the-art digital coursework, the WMCP™ incorporates engaging video with faculty, animation, and expert interviews to teach and emphasize wealth management concepts. The innovative instructional design is intended to efficiently move students through the rigorous course material while providing a deep-dive into the most practical strategies for managing client wealth today.

To learn more about the WMCP™ program, visit TheAmericanCollege.edu/WMCP.