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Summary of Professional Designations

The below summary of professional designations is provided to assist you in evaluating the credentials noted in this brochure supplement that are held by certain investment associates of SVB Private. We encourage you also to view the specific websites noted under each designation description as well as “Understanding Professional Designations,” a public resource offered by FINRA at the following website: https://www.finra.org/investors/professional-designations

Certified Investment Management AnalystSM - CIMA®

Issued by: Investments & Wealth Institute
Prerequisites/Experience required:
  • Submit CIMA® certification application and pass a background check
  • Study for (100 hours) and pass a two-hour Qualification Examination
Educational Requirements:
  • Successfully complete an in-person or online executive education program at a top-20 business school registered with the institute
Examination Type:
  • Two examinations multiple choice
Continuing Education/Experience Requirements:
  • Document a minimum of three years work experience in financial services, pass a secondary background check, pay initial certification fee, sign a license agreement, and agree to adhere to the institutes Ethics and other ongoing standards
Website: www.investmentsandwealth.org/CIMA

Chartered Financial Analyst - CFA®

Issued by: CFA® Institute
Prerequisites/Experience required:

Candidates must meet one of the following:
  • Undergraduate degree and 4 years of professional experience involving investment decision making or
  • 4 years qualified work experience (full time, but not necessarily investment related)
Educational Requirements:
  • Study program (250 hours of study for each of the 3 levels)
Examination Type:
  • 3 course examinations
Continuing Education/Experience Requirements:
  • None
Website: https://www.cfainstitute.org/en/programs/cfa

Certified Financial Planner - CFP®

Issued by: Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc.
Prerequisites/Experience required:

Candidates must meet one of the following:
  • A bachelor’s degree (or higher) from an accredited college or university, and
  • 3 years full-time personal financial planning experience
Educational Requirements:
  • Complete a CFP®-board registered program or hold one of the following
  • CPA
  • Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC)
  • Charter Life Underwriter (CLU)
  • Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA)
  • Attorney’s License
  • Doctor of Business Administration
  • Ph.D. in business or economics
Examination Type:
  • CFP® Certification Examination
Continuing Education/Experience Requirements:
  • 30 hours every 2 (two) years
Website: www.cfp.com/become

Certified Private Wealth Advisor® - CPWA®

Issued by: Investments & Wealth Institute
Prerequisites/Experience required:
  • At least five years of relevant financial services experience and a clean regulatory record
Educational Requirements:
  • Complete executive education at a top 25 global business school
Examination Type:
  • Five–hour examination
Continuing Education/Experience Requirements:
  • Stay updated on industry trends, laws, and products with 40 hours of continuing education every two years, including two hours of ethics education.
Website: www.investmentsandwealth.org/CPWA

Accredited Wealth Management Advisor - AWMA®

Issued by: College for Financial Planning
Prerequisites/Experience required:
  • None
Educational Requirements:
  • Successfully complete the program
Examination Type:
  • No exam required
Continuing Education/Experience Requirements:
  • Accepted for continuing education hours for CIMA®, CIMC®, CPWA®, and CRP® designations.
Website: www.cffpinfo.com/crpc.htm

Chartered Alternative Investment Analysist Association - CAIASM

Issued by: Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst Association®
Prerequisites/Experience required:
  • None
Educational Requirements:
  • Successfully complete the CAIA program
Examination Type:
  • 2 Multiple-choice exams
  • Level I
  • Level II
Continuing Education/Experience Requirements:
  • None
Website: www.caia.org/

Accredited Investment Fiduciary - AIF®

Issued by: fi360®
Prerequisites/Experience required:
  • 2 years relevant experience B.S. and a professional designation, or
  • 5 years relevant experience B.S. or a professional designation, or
  • 8 years relevant experience
Educational Requirements:
  • AIF® Training (between 21 and 28 hours)
  • AIF® Examination
Examination Type:
  • Multiple choice
Continuing Education/Experience Requirements:
  • 6 hours of CE per year
Website: www.fi360.com

Certified Wealth Strategist - CWS®

Issued by: Cannon Financial
Prerequisites/Experience required:
  • Three years industry experience and a four-year degree from an accredited college or university OR
  • Five years industry experience
Educational Requirements:
  • Complete an approved study program
  • Agree and sign the CWS® Professional Ethics and Code of Conduct Standards
  • Pass the CWS® exam
Examination Type:
  • Multiple choice
Continuing Education/Experience Requirements:
  • 30 hours of continuing education every two years
Website: https://certifiedwealthstrategist.com/

Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor - CPFA®

Issued by: National Association of Plan Advisors (NAPA)
Prerequisites/Experience required:
  • None
Educational Requirements:
  • Completion of the Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA) examination
Examination Type:
  • Final certification exam (proctored, closed book)
Continuing Education/Experience Requirements:
  • 20 credits every two years
Website: www.napacpfa.org

Certified Trust and Financial Advisor

Issued by: American Bankers Association®
Prerequisites/Experience/Educational requirements:
  • 3 years’ experience in wealth management and completion of an ICB-approved wealth management training program; or
  • 5 years’ experience in wealth management and a bachelor’s degree; or
  • 10 years’ experience in wealth management
Application:
  • Complete application and adhere to ICB’s Professional Code of Ethics
Examination Type:
  • Multiple-choice exam
Continuing Education/Experience Requirements:
  • Forty five (45) continuing education credits every
  • three (3) years
Website: https://www.aba.com/

Certified Divorce Financial Advisor - CDFA®

Issued by: The Institute for Divorce Financial Analysts (IDFA™)
Prerequisites/Experience required:
  • Bachelor’s degree with three years of on-the job experience or,
  • Five years of relevant experience
Educational Requirements:
  • Completion of the Certified Divorce Financial Analyst examination
Examination Type:
  • Multiple Choice
Continuing Education/Experience Requirements:
  • 30 hours of divorce-related continuing education every two years.
Website: https://institutedfa.com/

Chartered Financial Consultant - ChFC®

Issued by: The American College of Financial Services
Prerequisites/Experience required:
  • Three years of relevant business experience and,
  • High school diploma
Educational Requirements:
  • Completion of the eight required courses
  • Agree to comply with The American College Code of Ethics and Procedures
Examination Type:
  • Multiple Choice
Continuing Education/Experience Requirements:
  • 30 hours of continuing education every two years and adhere to The American College Code of Ethics and Procedures.
Website: theamericancollege.edu

Personal Financial Specialist - PFS

Issued by: The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)
Prerequisites/Experience required:
  • Be a member of the AICPA,
  • Hold an unrevoked CPA certificate issued by a state authority, and
  • Have at least 2 years of full-time teaching or business experience (or 3000 hours equivalent) in personal financial planning within the five-year period preceding the data of the CPA/PFS application
Educational Requirements:
  • Minimum of 75 hours of personal financial planning education within the five-year period preceding the date of the PFS application
Examination Type:
  • Final certification exam
Continuing Education/Experience Requirements:
  • 60 hours (or its equivalent) of continuing professional education every three years
Website: www.aicpa.org