How to Help Your Clients Retire In Peace

Since 2008, there's one thing that Generation X and Generation Y have in common: They are worried about whether they will be able to comfortably retire when the time comes. For financial advisors, this has led to the rise of the Retired Income Certified Professional® (RICP®) designation, which swiftly became the "fasting growing financial credential" offered by The American College of Financial Services. The RICP® advanced financial designation offers a number of exciting benefits that can help financial advisors ensure that their clients retire in peace.

Be Certain About Uncertainty

The chief reason for multi-generational retirement worries is an increasing public awareness of just how fragile—and volatile—the economy can be at any given moment. The RICP® provides advisors with the information and training they need to help clients develop a comprehensive retirement plan around factors like current and future investment climates, their health, and the increasing life expectancy that pleasantly surprises many retirees' families before it unpleasantly surprises their wallets due to unexpected costs. Advisors who earn the RICP® designation can also help clients turn other factors to their advantage, such as maximizing the benefits of Social Security and different tax savings plans.

Accessible Education

For current financial advisors, returning to a physical classroom may not be an exciting prospect. It represents a commitment of time they don’t have because of existing employment obligations. Fortunately, all three of The College's RICP® courses are available online and require no specific prerequisite courses. These online courses allow advisors to pursue the financial designation at their own pace without disrupting their personal lives and careers. These courses offer a combination of text, video, and presentations by financial experts. All of the courses center on practical advice, so even as current advisors work on training that will benefit countless future clients, they also learn useful skills to help their current clients.

Proven Results

Some advisors may express skepticism when they hear about the RICP® designation. How, after all, can they tell if it will really benefit their career and business? The easiest way to find out if a financial designation is the right fit is to ask those who have already earned it. When The College surveyed a panel of advisors who had received the RICP®, 83% of respondents said it changed how they approached retirement planning. Furthermore, 98% thought that the industry as a whole would benefit from more individuals receiving RICP® training, and a whopping 99% expressed that the RICP® financial designation helped them succeed in their position.

Bottom Line

Ultimately, the RICP® designation is something that advisors can understand very well as an investment:

• It's an investment in your clients: Considering that 80 percent of retirement-age Americans cannot pass a simple quiz on making their investments last through retirement, the RICP® places you in a better position to give them advice on creating a steady income stream throughout retirement.
• It's an investment in your company:  Attaining this special training and designation helps improve your chances of obtaining a leadership role within an organization.
• It's an investment in yourself:  Earning the RICP® financial designation is a chance for you to push yourself further than you've ever gone and to achieve more than you've ever imagined.

You can learn more about or enroll in the RICP® designation by visiting The College's website. We also have a team of knowledgeable advisors who can help you determine if obtaining an advanced financial designation like the RICP® makes sense for your career.  Call them at 1-888-263-7265 or download our free guide with information on becoming a successful retirement income planner for expert insight and tips.